ttgapers.com

JW and Blaze with Palance have undoubtedly won Road March 2010 in Trinidad by leaps and bounds. Even without the official results being announced, Palance was easily the most played tune for Carnival 2010. It will be more difficult to figure out who place second and third in the Road March race. An official with the NCC, has even stated there is really no reason to tally the figures.

When asked how many times Palance played yesterday, the official said they could not divulge any official information, but said there was no doubt that Palance seems to be taking the Road March crown. The official said the song played 95 per cent of the time bands appeared on Carnival Tuesday. A couple bands decided to give True Lies by Fay-Ann Lyons and No Behaviour by Machel Montano a play, but masqueraders misbehaved the most when Palance played.

True Lies was heard three times, No Behaviour once and Shurwayne Winchester’s Riding It was played once. Palance definitely mashed up downtown yesterday as revellers pranced in unison to the right and the left. The two radio personalities, now soca artistes, who have already copped the Soca Monarch title and was the favourite at fetes and events throughout the Carnival season, had already amassed a sizeable lead over the competition at the judging points yesterday. Even though in the minds of spectators and masqueraders, Palance has taken the Road March title, it would be officially declared today the number of times the song was played at all the judging points.

While Carnival 2010 packed a noticeably smaller punch than Carnivals past, tens of thousands of revellers still took to the streets yesterday. With a crowd of 4,000, Tribe, with its presentation Secret of Silk, appeared to be the band of choice for many local and regional celebrities and dignitaries, including President George Maxwell Richards and his wife, Jean Ramjohn Richards.

Former Black Entertainment Television (BET) host AJ Calloway, as well as local soca artistes Kees Dieffenthaller and Neil 'Iwer' George also crossed the stage with Tribe. Several Government ministers also opted to take to the streets with Tribe.

However, once again, the fans at the Savannah waited for most of the day to see the presentation of Brian MacFarlane Resurrection - The Mas. After the lengthy and sometimes frustrating wait, they got their chance at 8.30PM last night, when his band started with a theatrical presentation to introduce the band, which focused on traditional mas this year.

MacFarlane graced the stage with thousands of masqueraders dressed as contemporary versions of Jab Molassies, Burroquites, Red Indians, Stick Fighters, Mad Cows, Baby Dolls, Fancy Clowns, Minstrels, Soumayrees, Fire Men, Dame Lorraines, Sailors, Paywos, Black Indians, Bats and Jab Jabs.