Although he vowed to ?change the number plate? of Iwer George?s LS 400 Lexus after his victory, 2004 Soca Monarch Bunji Garlin will have to settle for an occasional bligh in the luxury car...
News Source: Trinidad Guardian
After 2003 Soca Monarch Iwer publicly promised the keys to his motorcar to anyone who took his crown at this year?s competition, many of Bunji?s fans expected to see the artiste drive away with the bonus prize.
However, according to Iwer, who placed 11th in Friday night?s event, the Lexus itself was never up for grabs.
?A lot of the people misunderstood my statement. I said that I would hand over my keys, not the car,? joked Iwer yesterday. ?So from one champion to another, he?s free to use my car whenever he wants to,? said Iwer.
He and Bunji joked about the bet onstage at last night?s ?Girl Power? fete minutes after receiving news of Bunji?s victory.
Speaking to the Sunday Express as he prepared for his Children?s Concert yesterday in Arima, Bunji said he was proud of the victory but would have preferred stiffer competition.
?I like to fight for what I get but plenty of the big names that I was to compete against weren?t in the finals,? he said.
Bunji cited Shurwayne Winchester, who placed second with ?De Band Coming?, as the only competitor who daunted him for the night. ?If I tied with Shurwayne it wouldn?t be no scene,? he said. ?Shurwayne real talented and they never really give him what he deserve in the industry. This will be a chance for him to prove them wrong,? he said.
Both Bunji and Iwer expect Shurwayne to win the Road March Crown.
Bunji?s impressive onstage presentation of ?Warrior Cry?, which included a fire-breathing dragon float, flame-spraying back-up dancers and a flaming glove, was a clear winner with the large crowd that gathered for the competition. Bunji gave credit to Fire One Fireworks, masman Curtis Eustace and performer Fareid Carvalho, who manoeuvred the costume.
?Plenty people thought that I would come with a fire truck,? said Bunji.
?But I am the keeper of the flame, so I come with something different,? he said. Through it all, he said, he felt that God intervened.
Iwer was satisfied with the results of the competition, and voiced his support for Bunji?s victory. ?I saw the whole show and I really think Bunji deserved it and I can see how the judges could give him it,? he said.
Iwer had acknowledged Bunji?s chances of winning during his own performance, and had told the crowd that he was prepared to hand over the trophy to the young superstar.
?It was one of the better Soca Monarch performances I?ve seen. I didn?t think he was going to win but it was a spur of the moment vibes I felt,? said Iwer, who was unfazed by his own low placing.
?This is one of my struggling Carnival seasons. I have beautiful songs, but no ?hand in the air? tune, and Soca Monarch is a ?hand in the air? event. Over the years I?ve won a lot. It?s always good to know how to win or how to lose. I?m not querying my score,? he said.
He commented, however, that next year would be a different story. ?That?s the beauty of it. Two years ago we drew, last year I won, this year he won. Next year I may come and win again.?
