THE MARK LYNDERSAY EXPERIENCE.

I have not been posting much of my own stuff these days, school, work, and other responsibilities have yuh boy busy these days , but when my lunch break comes around I do read up, what I consider the best Carnival centric blogs I’ve read in a long time.
The Mark Lyndersay blog/web site simply fascinates me. His photographic summery of the 2008 Carnival, is in my opinion supreme, check out some of the photos here.

If you want to se the rest hit this link.

Mark Lyndersay writes articles for the Trinidad Guardian and a lot of his articles can be found in his blog, “Just talking loud”.

As a student of this art form that is mas, and a devotee of my nations culture, I urge all you carnivalist out there , who know, and think you know about this 'mas game', take some time to read the thoughts and words of Mark Lyndersay,(if reading is your thing) you might learn a little something or two.

PHOTOS ARE FROM THE MARK LYNDERSAY WEBSITE.

SOME OF BRAZIL’S CARNIVAL 2008.

Controversy hit the Rio de Janeiro Carnival when samba group San Clemente was punished with relegation, to 2^nd division next year, when their Drum Queen Viviane Castro appeared on stage with “exposed genitalia”. Apparently Miss Castro lost her ‘tapasexo’ that glittered triangle
that covers the nether regions.

Her technicians managed to improvise another one for her that was glued on, it’s said to have measured 4cm (1.6in) this is believed to be the smallest tapasexo in the history of the Rio parade.

This did not go down well with the judges however because it broke a rule that prevents people from displaying their genitalia decorated or painted, you see folks while the dancers are allowed to be topless going 100% nude at the Carnival is forbidden.

Even in Brazil Carnival have pasa pasa.

HEY IF YOU WANT TO SEE  BRAZIL 2009 HERE IS A LINK 

Mac Farlane does it again.

A female masquerader from Brian Mac Farlane’s presentation Earth—Cries of Despair, Wings of Hope, dances in her earth-toned costume and twisted headpiece at South Quay, Port- of- Spain, on Carnival Tuesday.
Photo: Jennifer Watson

By Shaliza Hassanali

PROMINENT bandleader Brian Mac Farlane has captured the George Bailey Band of the Year title in the National Carnival Commission (NCC) Parade of the Bands competition, making it his second consecutive victory.

Mac Farlane, who accumulated 1,350 points in the large band category, walked away with $300,000 for his portrayal, Earth—Cries of Despair, Wings of Hope.

In addition to capturing the George Bailey title, Mac Farlane also placed second in the Band of the Day Downtown award, earning 379 points. He also placed third in the Band of the Day at the Queen’s Park Savannah venue, with a score of 339 points.

Copping second position was Trini Revellers with its presentation Que Viva Mexico, which earned them 1,308 points.

Placing third was Legacy, with its portrayal, Passage.

Fourth, fifth and sixth positions went to D Crew, Evolution Carnival and Tribe, with 1,110,1,078 and 863 points, respectively.

Ronnie and Caro—The Mas Band ran away with the Harold Saldenha award.

Capturing the Lil Hart small band title were Belmont Original Stylish Sailors (De Boss), who portrayed Come Fly.

NCC’s chief judge Theodore Viarruel made the announcement in the presence of NCC’s chairman Keston Nancoo and CEO Clarence Moe at the VIP lounge at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.

Viarruel also announced the names of several bands that made it to winner’s row with their Carnival 2008 presentations.

Operations manager and executive officer of the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA)David Lopez said NCBA had budgeted $450,000 for this year’s Band of the Year first prize.

Although Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs Marlene Mc Donald announced that $300,000 was the first prize for Band of the Year title at a post-Cabinet meeting last month, Lopez said: “We are sticking for $450,000 as the first prize.”

Last year Mac Farlane was paid $450,000 for winning the Band of Year award.

“The $450,000 prize was paid last year because NCBA had already sent in their budget for the band of the year. We had nothing to do with that.”

Legacy bandleader Mike “Big Mike” Antoine said Mac Farlane deserved the crown.

“I think the judges did a fantastic job. I would support Mac Farlane, 100 per cent.”

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news4.html

LOOKS LIKE FAY ANN AND MAC FARLANE RULE THE ROAD FOR 2008.

So far all reports point at Fay Ann Lyons with "GET ON" and Brian Mac Farlane's "EARTH" dominated the streets for Carnival this year,
word is too that Island People had big fights and had to lock off early what a thing!
Any way take alook at what the press said.


Newsday
Mac Farlane’s ‘Earth’ shakes town

By ROXANNE STAPLETON-WHYMS Wednesday, February 6 2008

REIGNING King of Carnival mas Brian Mac Farlane’s band “Earth; Cries of Despair, Wings of Hope”, dazzled the crowd at the Queen’s Park Savannah yesterday – Carnival Tuesday – as he mounted a spectacular defence of his crown.

Trini Revellers’ “Que Viva Mexico” also garnered steady applause and the roar of spectators’ approval at the main judging points around Port-of-Spain yesterday.

As the festival reached fever-pitch, it climaxed in an array of earth-tones and the perennial colourful beads, bikinis and feathers.

Mac Farlane’s environmentally friendly, “Earth: Cries of Despair, Wings of Hope” did not come charging at you with the majestic flash of colour, resplendent in Trini Revellers’ “Que Viva Mexico” or Hart’s “Lights, Camera, Action — A tribute to Hollywood”.

However, his presentation was rich, raw and trapped all of earth’s elements, capturing the state of decay, but not letting go of hope for the future.

It left several echoing that his work has definitely followed in the lineage of the legendary mas-makers, such as Peter Minshall, Wayne Berkeley and the Lee Heungs. His band’s theatrics on the “big stage” left many in awe and some close to tears. Mac Farlane’s presentation simply looked awesome.

Mac Farlane, who is the defending Band of the Year Champion, drew attention to his towering wings, intricate shapes and attachments, with several onlookers, in deep conversation as to what he was depicting.

Boasting the new King of Carnival Jhawhan Thomas with “Pandemic Rage”, Mac Farlane once again created quite a stir in the crowd with his tassa drummers’ elaborately designed individual costumes, while co-ordinated masqueraders threw potpourri at spectators.

Mac Farlane caught the splendorous effects of dawn at the Queen’s Park Savannah East, with confetti strewn in the evening sky resembling that of Sahara Dust. “He (Mac Farlane), will be hard to beat this year,” a spectator said yesterday.

“Earth Cries of Despair Wings of Hope” made its way “behind the bridge” at about 3.30 pm.
The crowd went silent as they watched Mac Farlane’s presentation to the judges with one woman saying, “this man knows what true mas is about.”

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,72769.html

Express.

EARTH QUAKE

MacFarlane wows with mas of destruction and hope

HE IMAGINATION of Brian MacFarlane's large band presentation Earth: Cries of Despair, Wings of Hope wowed audiences into silence at the various judging points yesterday, as he put up a tough defence of his Band of the Year title during Carnival Tuesday festivities.

He dominated both South Quay and the Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain with his portrayal, and at the second venue he received a standing ovation. He told the Express yesterday that he was happy with his elaborate presentation and contrasted it with the "beads" mas.

"We play mas and the true essence of Carnival, represent the culture how it should be," he said.

Carnival at the Queen's Park Savannah had begun promptly at 8 a.m. with new band D' Crewe's presentation Love.

Later in the day, "Big" Mike Antoine and Juliet de la Bastide's Legacy presentation, Passages-A Journey Through Africa, put on a strong showing.

Kicking off his presentation were three well executed African dances featuring women with pots, black and white African warriors, and warrior women in well co-ordinated performances.

De la Bastide said the band always tried to keep the performance factor and was mindful of the origins of Carnival.

Antoine, covered in grey and animal print body paint, said although there was some panic by various stakeholders early in this Carnival season, "everything came off successfully" and his band had no drop in numbers.

The band also held a moment of silence for Kewal "DJ Lalo" Ragbir, who died last week in a car accident, and both Tribe and Legacy had large posters with Ragbir on the side of music trucks. (See Pages 4 and 5)

Tribe's Myths and Magic was the largest band to cross the Savannah stage, but it was also one of the most disorganised, with some masqueraders simply walking across the judging point.

The day was a mix of the new and the traditional, with whipping jab jabs, grotesque blue devils, wild Indians, sailor bands and pan sides making their presence felt.

Security was also tight, as promised by Police Commissioner Trevor Paul, with many police and security officers on hand, and the airship flying above.

Another standout band was Island People's Animal Instincts, which had lions, red tigers and polar bears. At one point the stage became quite a jungle, as some people escaped from their sections to join their friends.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161274439

Boos at Kings final

Boos and accusations of thievery were hurled at the judges upon the announcement that Jhawhan Thomas had beaten Curtis Eustace into second place at the National King of Carnival finals.

Not that the audience did not appreciate Thomas' presentation of "Pandemic Rage" from Brian MacFarlane's Earth-Cries of Despair Wings of Hope, but they were so enamoured by Eustace's "Chromatic Chaos" that they believed he was the winner hands down. The judges, however, thought differently.

Jhawhan scored 431 points for his performance that featured the stilted costume emitting a reddish-orange smoke with a strange odour in keeping with the costume's theme of a creature created by man's maltreatment of the earth. Highlights of yellow fabric had also been added to the thorax of the costume. At one point it seemed that the costume, which had fallen after it crossed the stage at the semi-final, was about to topple over. MacFarlane's crew came fast to the rescue assisting Jhawhan to make it safely off the stage and dismount from the costume.

Eustace took the stage to loud cheers and as he neared its centre the noise increased as the patrons observed the two additional moveable arms that had been added to the costume. The main stage lights came on too quickly though denying the audience the pleasure of seeing the effect created by the reflective diffusing of the red, blue and yellow gel lights on the costume. Disappointment was clearly etched on Eustace's face following the results. He told the Express he was shocked, but would not raise any objections. "That's how it is in this place. I just have to take that," Eustace said.

Susanne Low won the Queen of Carnival title with her costume, "Yemanja-Orisha Goddess of the Seas" from the presentation Nautica by Trevor Wallace and Associates. She scored 413 points for her performance. Second place with a score of 401 points was claimed by Lenore Caterson who portrayed "Peesunt the Daughter of Chief Kitwanga" from the band D Midas Associates, while Tamara Alleyne-Gittens placed third scoring 396 playing "A Splash of Scandal" from Evolution.

Wayne Bowman wbowman@trinidadexpress.com


Rage’ outs Eustace’s fire
BY ANDRE BAGOO Tuesday, February 5 2007

Tuesday, February 5th 2008
JHAWHAN THOMAS pulled off the upset of Sunday night’s Dimanche Gras, stopping Curtis Eustace from winning a record-breaking ninth King of Carnival title and taking the crown with a costume that will go down in history as the first ever King of Carnival on stilts since the competition began in 1963.

Thomas’s macabre “Pandemic Rage”, from Brian Mac Farlane’s Earth-Cries of Despair Wings of Hope, stunned the audience gathered at the Northern Greens, Queen’s Park Savannah coming on stage like a four-legged creature amidst a haze of orange smoke. Then, out of nowhere, masked figures, wearing all black, spewed from its side like the environmental effluence the costume is meant to be an indictment against. There was then tremendous applause as the orange, pink, black and gold costume — which resembled a cross between the exoskeleton of an insect and a giant lobster — danced across the stage with jerky motions.

Speaking with Newsday after his performance Thomas said he was dissatisfied with it.

“I had difficulty with the wind again but all in all it went well,” he said. Questions had been raised this week about the suitability of the Northern Greens venue, which does not have the benefit of a North Stand to shelter it from winds.

The judges, though, did not seem to notice Thomas’ troubles, awarding him 431 points, just four points more than Eustace’s “Chromatic Chaos”, which had gone into the finals as the hotly-tipped favourite. Third place went to Earl Thompson’s “Man” which earned 416 points.

Thomas’ victory has been long in the making as, year after year, designer Brian Mac Farlane has set out to win the contest with a King on stilts.

In 2006, Thomas wowed the crowd with a giant king sailor called “Dance and Rejoice” which featured a face on stilts. That costume only made it to the semi-finals and has since been made part of the subject of a documentary by TV host Mariel Brown.

Last year, Thomas seemed to have the title in the bag with Mac Farlane’s “Raj Kumar Boyle,” an elephant portrayal on stilts from the band India. But that costume collapsed just as it was about to go on-stage at the semi-finals.

This year, disaster almost struck once more in the semi-final round as “Rage” fell after crossing the stage in position number 13. Luckily, Thomas’ presentation had been complete before the mishap, thus not affecting his points and not endangering his passage through to the finals. He told Newsday that the steep gradient of the descending ramp of the Northern Greens venue was in part responsible for that mishap. As a result, on Sunday, “Rage” danced backwards to the edge of the stage where a specially built portable steel scaffold was used to wheel it backstage while Thomas remained inside the eerie costume.

It was a memorable night when costumes which took risks were given the top prizes.

Eustace too took a risk, modifying his costume for the finals. He surprised the audience by changing the simple sheen silver metallic body suit he had worn in the previous rounds. Instead, he paraded camouflaged against the glittering silver broadcast of the huge fan-like costume in a reptilian mask and then emerged with jerking motions as a six-armed creature; a chromatic freak of nature.

Had Eustace won, he would have surpassed Peter Samuel’s all-time record of eight wins. But this week Eustace described Samuels as an “inspiration”. “I tend to mimic Peter Samuel a lot,” he said.

CARNIVAL TUESDAY!

Carnival Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, or Super Tuesday, today it all kicks of for Carnival in Trinbago, and the rest of the Globe..

So far the Carnival has been one of upsets as the year of the pig comes romping to an end.

Bunji is Soca Monarch, Fay Ann looks set to rule the road, Aloes is Calypso Monarch, and there is a New King of Carnival in town.


King and Queen of Carnival 2008 Results
Posted: Monday, February 4, 2008

King of Carnival 2008

1 / Jhawan Thomas / Pandemic Rage / 431

2 / Curtis Eustace / Chromatic Chaos / 427

4 / Earl Thompson / Man / Wade Madray / Dingdaka "De Lion Heart" / 416

5 / Glen Turnbull / Amazula / 400

6 / Ronald Des Vignes / Cocoa in the Sun / 390

7 / Glenn Dave Larkhan / Master of the Wind / 382

8 / Theophilus Simmons / D'Great Tribal Warrior / 380

9 / Roland St. George / Obsession / 378

10 / Aaron Kalicharan / Bongo Beat / 363


Queen of Carnival 2008

1 / Susan Low / Yemaja-Orisha, Goddess of the Sea / 413

2 / Lenore Caterson / Peesunt, the Daughter of Chief Kitwanga / 401

3 / Tamara Alleyne/Gittens / A Splash of Scandal / 396

4 / Gloria Dallsingh / "Makeda" D'Warrior Queen / 395

5 / Peola Marchan / Matilda, Who Gathers Flowers of Life and Sings its Virtues / 385

6 / Alana Ward/Mike / Coatlicue, Yucatan Goddess / 373

7 / Savitri Holassie / A Brighter Way of Life / 370

8 / Anne/Marie Quammie Alleyne / Jewels of Marakech, The Ancient Berber Tribe / 355

9 / Inez Gould / Goddess of Fertility / 348

10 / Pamela Gordon / D'Devine Queen of Worship / 342

FIRST COUPLE OF SOCA Oval thousands give husband and wife top placings

Shock, anger and distress were the emotions expressed, especially by the thousands of women in the audience, when it was announced that Faye-Ann Lyons had placed third at Friday's final of the International Power Soca Monarch competition at the Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain.

The fury escalated when the MC revealed that Iwer George had beaten Lyons, placing second in the standings; but upon the announcement that Bunji Garlin had regained the coveted title, cheers erupted throughout the venue.

Performing his cover version of the late Maestro's classic "Fiery", Garlin worked the crowd of over 10,000 into a frenzy with his lyrical wizardry that was juxtaposed with pyrotechnics, acrobatics and other dramatic props. As the Asylum Band prepared to accompany Garlin, a gutted vehicle was hoisted over the audience at the left flank of the stage, leaving people to wonder if the car would be lit afire during Garlin's performance.

A person wearing white was then seen rapelling from the car just seconds before the stage was lit and the crowd saw a silver cocoon in the centre. From within this came Garlin with silver wings, symbolic of the rebirth of the spirit of Maestro manifested as Garlin. One of the major highlights of Garlin's presentation was a giant replica of the front page of the now defunct Express evening paper, The Sun, which reported on Maestro's accidental death.

Garlin then invited Maestro's cousin, a DJ known as Scientist, and nephew, Christian, to join him on stage, much to the delight of the audience. Garlin turned to the photograph of Maestro on the article and chanted, thanking Maestro for paving the way for artistes such as himself and promising the legendary artiste that he would carry on the calypso/soca legacy with honour, dignity and pride.

‘Minsh’ retreats to win the war

Mas luminary Peter Minshall is in a contemplative mood as he tries to figure where mas is heading. Photo: Keith Matthews

Mas icon Peter Minshall has resurfaced after a noticeable absence, to criticise the new offering of mas, calling it cheap.
The Trinity Cross holder and Emmy Award winner has been out of the Carnival limelight since 2006’s Sacred Heart.
Speaking on CNC3’s Big Story on Wednesday night, Minshall said he stayed away for so long because he did not want to repeat himself.
“You don’t want to piss in the wind,” he said, requesting that he be called “Minsh.”
He said that as a wise general would retreat, studying where the action was, he was prepared to “lose a battle or two in order to win the war.
“For some time now, there has been a very battle on for the soul of this country, and as far as I am concerned, the good guys are losing.”
He said the people mistakenly put a wedge between what were known as culture and politics.
“Mas in politics is no less the playing of the mas on the streets.”
Minshall accused the population—and even more so the Government—of selling out to the Chinese.
He said the Prime Minister’s Residence and Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s and the Centre for Performing Arts on Keate Street in Port-of-Spain, were built by “architectural ghosts such as the Chinese.
“At the same time, the beads and the feathers are being made by the Chinese.
“Our country is falling into a chasm from which it will never return.”
When mas is bad, it’s awful
He said that “much noise” was being made about this man—Minshall—but reassured that his work was of and about the people.
“The mas happens only by the permission of the people. It is the most extraordinary marriage; it is the most beautiful collaboration.
“When it’s bad, it’s awful…Like when opera doesn’t work, it’s unbearable. That theatre is bad theatre, but brilliant mas surpasses opera.
“Mas comes at you like thunder and lightning. It comes at you with all the power and force of a tsunami…It is all great art, an entire painting, like the entire works of Shakespeare.
“It is there to tell you about history, about human tragedy, about comedy.
“It is about fancy clowns and devils and demons and angels…”
Minshall questioned why should T&T, an island “rich in ancestry of Africa, Europe and India—three pillars of civilisation—” look unto the world.
“This little island does not want to be a country like every other country.
“This little island wants to be a country like no other. This little island is but a true vision and true understanding of its destiny…The world should be following us by example.”
Minshall said since his 30 years of involvement in the Greatest Show on Earth—T&T Carnival—the production of costumes has been reduced to the “cheap and tawdry.”
Costumes on wheels
Minshall felt that Carnival was now restricted to big trucks, which supplied “the drinks, the food, the toilets, the air-conditioning, the personal massage and the costumes,” littered between these great chasms of trucks.
“Oh. I don’t call them mas, I call them costumes,” he said.
“They say I am European; they say I am white, but that is not my measure.
“I am Caribbean; I am a rare hybrid. I am a multi-layered, richly-textured creature.
©2005-2006 Trinidad Publishing Company Limited

Geraldo Vieira: My costume didn’t crash

By Shaliza Hassanali
VETERAN mas engineer Geraldo Vieira Snr has penned a letter of complaint to the National Carnival Commission’s (NCC) chief judge for being left out of the finals of the 2008 King of Carnival competition.
Vieira also asked judge Teddy Viarruel, in his letter dated January 30, to produce his scoresheet “to see the points awarded” under each criterion.
Vieira wrote: “I am forced to lodge this protest for being left out of the finals of the King of Carnival competition.”
But while Vieira has objected, other finalists for Sunday’s Dimanche Gras were not in support of Vieira’s move.
Vieira said what happened with his costume—Night of The Iguana—was a misunderstanding.
“The iguana came forward, never separating itself from the costume. This did not prevent me from being in complete control of the costume without any assistance whatsoever. My costume did not crash.”
Having placed first in the preliminaries with a score of 400 points, Vieira argued that by no stretch of the imagination “could I be placed 19th with a score of 330, based on a misconception of the judges.”
Well-known bandleader Brian Mac Farlane said he suffered the same fate last year, when his costume, India—The Story of Boyie—portrayed by Jhawhan Thomas, collapsed during the semi-final round.
He did not pursue the issue.
“It’s hard for me to say whether Vieira should be allowed into the competition. It depends on what the rules are. You need to go with the rules,” said Mac Farlane.
Masman Roland St George said as far as the judges were concerned, “their decision is final.”
St George said he, too, faced bad experiences in the past with his portrayals, and never once protested.
“I took it in stride. Vieira should be big about it and abide with the judges’ decision. He’s not showing true grit. It was an unfortunate incident.”
St George placed second in the semi-final with his costume Obsession.
St George said Vieira must understand that the structure of his costume changed shape after it collapsed, hence the reason why the judges placed him low down in the competition.
Wade Madray, one of ten finalists, said while he sympathised with Vieira, “I don’t think he should be given a chance to compete.
“What is good for one should be good for all. Vieira should stand up and take his licks like a man.”
©2005-2006 Trinidad Publishing Company Limited

I think he should take his licks like a man too!

I have never been a fan of Geraldo Vieira's King Costumes, while they are a visual delight, I find most of them mechanical and stiff.. lacking the sprit of Carnival. His costumes seem to be designed and built with bruth creative force and money but no style ...hard luck dey man.

Mas Assassin