Sunday, March 9, 2014

The Most Outlandish, Crude & Sexy Trinidad Carnival In History

Was This The Lewdest Carnival In History of Trinidad and Tobago?


That's what the pillars of society are telling the population in hindsight. Religious leaders, politicians and many other civic organizations have put in their two cents.

They objected to the media, both print and television for showing all the lewdness without regards for the children in the society.  Gyrating pictures of Carnival masqueraders or people in fetes, they are pictures of people "enjoying themselves" letting go of the normal inhibitions. A controversy now rages in the country.

According to the web analytics, most of the returning visitors to the Caribbean Blogger are foreigners. Many belong to the global diaspora with the highest number in the United States but they also are in Russia, India, China, Singapore and other far off lands.  As such, most of you must have missed the Carnival,

Today you can share in the controversial slice of the 2014 Carnival Celebration in Port of Spain.
View the video below, look at it with an objective eye.  Think about what your local friends, where ever you are, would you share it as an example of how Trinibagonian enjoy Carnival?  Have our sense of morals and ethics degenerated to this level of behavior in a desperate attempt to get momentary attention of onlookers?.

These are some of the questions being asked in Trinidad and Tobago today.  People are talking about this, and maybe in a few days something else will hug the headlines but even if forgetten for now, it will be revisited annually.  Was this ever an issue? Why now?

Will it get worse? Will the society continue to accept the demonstrations of lewd and lascivious public  behavior without any controls?  The "Carnival Spirit" is offered as an excuse for their behavior. There are other odorous spirits we know that are always involved; we volunteer to succumb to these spirits.  On politician suggested that it only happens on Carnival, so it just might be OK.

Listen to the tunes that is played to encourage the behavior, it is not just the women behavior they are just doing what the music instructs them to do.  The fact is if it's legal to give these sort of instructions in a song and being played on the radios and on the road, what are people expected to do. Few can stand still after
throwing back a couple and catching the "Spirit".

You be the judge...





Take a look and leave your comments if you dare, it could even be anonymous. 

Monday, March 3, 2014

2014 Calypso Monarch - Pink Panther Loses Everything

"Chucky" Takes The Crown


Competition was hot but in the end Roderick "Chucky" Gordon took the grand prize, he is the new Calypso Monarch of Trinidad and Tobago.

He took the title from Pink Panther who ended up at 11th place. In retrospect, and to be honest, Pink Panther, last year's Calypso Monarch put up a weak fight in defending his crown. His first tune "D Richest Man"was told the audience about the difference between the death of a poor man and a rich man. His message will not be repeated here because it is what everyone already knows; dead is dead. His prop was to dress as a poor man complete with wrinkled shirt, a pair of floppy slippers, and one pant leg missing.  My question was; why didn't he choose a rich man costume?  It has only been 12 months since he won a million dollars. Bad advice, if he did get any, he was destined to lose it all as he did.

Hear The Champion...

Chucky's renditions of "Wey Yuh Think" and "Wedding Of De Century" took the crown in the eyes of the judges and the public Digicel text-in campaign. Here are the two winning renditions...

In his last delivery, Chucky celebrated the marriage of Soca and Chutney music in the "Wedding". This idea of the integration of the culture is important to the development of our country at a time when politicians seems bent on ripping it apart.  It is good that it was recognized by the judges and the people as a message that is worth to be noted.  To demonstrate the marriage he arranged to have icons come on stage and openly endorse the concept: for Chutney; Drupatee Ramgoonai, representing Soca; Superblue and Pan; Ray Holman.

Take a lesson and get the subliminal message...






Kurt Allen placed second and Selvon "Mistah Shak" Noel third at the Dimanche Gras at the Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain, late Sunday night.

Kurt Allen was the Island Man when he sung "Sweet Sizzling Summer" then delivered a super performance with his second tune "The Lost Psalm Of King David".  'The Last Badjohn of Calypso' was at his best, his performance was outstanding.


Even though he was denied the first place, he has earned a permanent stamp in any true history book on calypso.  True to his name, The "Last Badjohn of Calypso" is fighting his way to the top, now it's only one step to the coveted Monarch position.  He will be even better next year if he competes.




Noel was equally good in his delivery of "Bois" and "Crime Round De Clock".

I also thought that "Bodyguard" should have been much higher ranked in performance, but the judges did not agree.  He was last in the bunch, maybe because of his controversial rendition "False Papers"



The level of the competition was excellet with Brian London (5th), Victoria "Queen Victoria" Cooper (6th) and Dr Hollis "Chalkdust" Liverpool (4th), all delivering high standard performances.

The first, second and third received cash prizes of $1,000,000, $500,000 and $250,000, respectively.

The Mighty Sparrow, Dr Slinger Francisco came on as an invited guest..

The "Birdie", entertained the crowd with a spirited medley of past hits "Jean & Dinah", "The Lizard", "Melda" and "Drunk and Disorderly", to which patrons applauded lustily in appreciation.

Results


1. Roderick "Chucky" Gordon - 'Wey Yuh Think"/"Wedding Of De Century"

2. Kurt Allen - "Sweet Sizzling Summer"/"The Lost Psalm Of King David"

3. Selvon "Mistah Shak" Noel - "Bois"/"Crime Round De Clock"

4. Hollis "Chalkdust" Liverpool - "Ah Miss De Bards"/"De Guest List"

5. Brian London - "The Heart Of A Warrior"/"Call Dem Out"

6. Victoria "Queen Victoria" Cooper - "Political Love Affair"/"Congo Warrior"

7. Alana Sinnette - "Sea Lots"/"And Calling It Rain"

8. Weston "Cro Cro" Rawlins - "Pious, Poor But Proud"/"Goodness Delayed"

9. Carlos "Skatie" James - "Calypso Woman"/"Jack And Jill"

10. Myron "The Incredible Myron B" Bruce - "One More Sip"/"First Black Prime Minister"

11. Eric "Pink Panther" Taylor - "De Richest Man"/"Not Tonight"

12. Roger "Bodyguard" Mohammed - "Aloes Vendor"/"False Papers"


Do you agree with the results?  Did the winner surprise you?   Express your opinions?

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Phase Two Beat Their Way To The Top Again In 2014

Panorama Champions Twice In A Row


They did it again, beat a tune that the judges loved.


Petrotrin Phase Two Pan Groove now holds the title in the Large Band category. in the 2014 National Panorama finals at the Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain, on Saturday.

All eleven finalists trilled the crowd of thousands.


The Medium Band category, Pan Elders beat out the defending champion Buccooneers Steel Orchestra of Tobago.

See the results with the scores below...

Large Band

1. Petrotrin Phase Two Pan Groove = "Jump High" - 287

2. Trinidad All Stars - "Excitement" - 286
3. Bp Renegades - "In De Minor" - 283
4. Desperadoes - "Spankin-A Tribute" - 281
5. Exodus - "Pan Is Carnival" - 279
6. Silver Stars - "The Reason" - 274
7. Invaders - "Jam It" - 271
7. Skiffle - "The Wedding" - 271
9. Fonclaire - "Big In De Dance" - 267
10. Tropical Angel Harps - "In De Minor" - 262
10. La Brea Nightingales - "Pan In The Atmosphere" - 262

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Groovy Soca Monarch Winners 2014


2014 Groovy Soca Monarch Winners with videos of the winners, some perormances.  Presented in order of placement in the Groovy segment...

Groovy Soca Monarch

1. Kerwin Du Bois - "Too Real"

2. Machel Montano - "Happiest Man Alive"


3. Darryl "Farmer Nappy" Henry - "Big People Party"


4. Destra Garcia - "First Time"

Power Soca Monarch Results 2014

2014 Power Soca Monarch Results In Order of Placement With Videos

Hot competition this Year.  This year I opted to stay home and take it in on the TV. Bad move,  Instead of it starting at 8PM as advertised it started at 10PM and by that time my head was in lala land. Anyhow, still wanted to post the results for the foreign readers who usually check it out. Youtube videos of the winning tunes when available. 

The Results

Power Soca Monarch

First Place. Machel Montano - :Ministry Of The Road"





Second Place: Hollice "Mr Kill@" Mapp - "Rolly Polly"




Tied Second Place. Neil Iwer George - "Mama Oye"



Tied Second Place. Destra Garcia - "Mash Up"

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