So its March now, Trinidad carnival 2013 is but a memory in the minds of all who took part, but this year many complained after carnival of a feeling that something was missing , I felt it too, it was good but not the best however that's another blog post.
Looking back at carnival 2013 I decided to list what were for me the top ten moments of Trinidad and Tobago carnival 2013, ten moments that made me stop and think, 'this is a moment to remember.
Here it is...
MASSASSINATION'S TOP 10 MOMENTS OF TRINIDAD CARNIVAL 2013
1 THE RETURN OF SUPER BLUE:
photo:http://studiolafoncette.com
Super Blue’s return did not
simply reveal that God given talent and determination can triumph over all
adversity, but it also portrayed that substance is king over style and hype.
Super Blue’s return also taught us that the foundation stones of culture can and
should never be forgotten for without the basic tenants of an art form its is
nothing.
2013 was the 2nd time that
Austin Lyons has made a victorious return to carnival and in this return or
rebirth he managed to inspire all generations, old and young with a style some
might today describe as dated but all agreed was spiritually infectious (its
substance).
Soca needed Super to return,
I believe Machel did too, even with Bunji and Fayann firing on all cylinders
Machel is an awesome combination of talent and showmanship a combination that
only one gifted with talent and a magnetic spirituality could have defeated
Machel.
On the days leading up to fantastic Friday to the
morning after the event the name super Blue could be heard in every barber-shop,
rum-shop, radio station, taxi maxitaxi and bus. Soca monarch judges tied the
two making them both Monarchs but by Ash Wednesday Carnival 2013 was
undoubtedly the carnival of Super Blue’s return. DE BOUNCING START!
2 POWDER!
Mac Farlan's Joy Down town POS.
Powder was a most present
aspect of carnival 2013, from Machel’s winning tune FOG with the lines ‘powder
this is how we celebrate’ to Super Blue’s opening call for ‘water and powder’
in Fantastic Friday. Powder was present in the fetes, on the road for Jouvert
and even in big bands on Tuesday harping back to the days of the fancy sailors
and even further back to the African use of powder in spiritual practices.
Powder in 2013 was an inspiring sight.
3 TED EUSTACE KING OF CARNIVAL 2013.
Even though the King of
carnival competition ended in a draw the crowning of Ted Eustace as a King of
Carnival in 2013(Moko in flames) signified the passing of a title and torch from father to son
to little brother Keeping the title King of Carnival and the Eustace name
synonymous for possibly another decade. From Tedder Eustace to Curtace Eustace
and now Ted the tradition successfully continues.
4 THE LAUNCH OF RITUALS OF POWER & REBELLION BY HOLLIS
CHALKDUST LIVERPOOL Ph.D
Launched on the 6th of
February 2013 the day before the calypso monarch finals in which teacher,
Calypsoian and author Hollis Liverpool better known as the Mighty Chalkdust was
to compete for a ninth title.
I first saw this book in the library of London
Metropolitan University when doing research for my dissertation in 2010.
By then the book was long out of print and
countless attempts to find it on line or in book shops on both sides of the
Atlantic proved fruitless for me. It was only in discussing the important role
the work played in my dissertation to the author was I informed it was never
available in Trinidad before.
In my opinion Rituals of Power & Rebellion is indeed a seminal text in the historical and intellectual construction of Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival, as well as those in the Caribbean. I advise everyone to get a copy and read it.
All cow joke aside Bunji Garlin the Viking of Soca with Nigel Rojas had arguably the most popular fete
tune for the 2013 Carnival season. From its time of release to carnival Tuesday
Differentology had the crowds singing out the chorus ‘we ready for the roooad’.
The tune that almost in fond retrospect takes
the listener through a carnival experience probably that of the last week of
carnival leading up to Jouvert and Tuesday. This mixture of dance and soca music was
favoured to dethrone Machel in the groovy Soca monarch competition but Bunji
pulled out to great disappointment and admiration of his fans. I have a feeling
this track has caused a shift in soca music that we will see next year..
I am a Bunji Garlin fan, I
am also a fan of the late Lord Maestro, one of the most revolutionary
Calypsoians in the early days of Soca. Bunji’s cover of Maestro’s Savage wasfor me a moment in carnival 2013 because it celebrated the underclass, the part
of the society like it or not that laid down many of the foundation blocks of
modern carnival. A group that today are being priced out of carnival by a
growing ambitious middle class that seem bent on taking over the culture and
transforming every aspect of what it looks like. Bunji’s Savage had many locals
and returnees alike claiming to be anti stush (or anti posh) thus returning the
festival to its roots with the stush being identified as undesirable .
7 MACFARLANE CROSSES THE SAVANNAH STAGE FOR THE LAST TIME
WITH JOY THE FINALY.
After dominating the band
of the year competition for most of the first decade of the 21st century band
leader and designer Brian Mac Farlane has decided to call it a day. To the
average Mas player or tourist that comes for Carnival this fact might mean
nothing, but to fans of High Mas, love him or hate him, Brian Mac Farlane is
the last of the High Mas designers to dominate the face of Carnival, and while
there are young designers and small bands that keep the Mas of meaning alive,
none has been able to attract the numbers of masqueraders that are needed to
make epic presentations as the epic bands of the past did.
This could actually
be the end of an era in Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival history.
8 THE PASSING OF PENGUIN.
Road March King of 1982 and
Calypso Monarch of 1984 Seadley Joseph - the Penguin passed away on the 27th of
January 2013 just as Carnivals climax was on the horizon. The timing of his
passing during the heights of the Carnival season is almost an expected aspect
of Carnival these days, as it seems like every Carnival a legend now passes on,
as if to join some Grand Carnival in the sky. Penguin’s tunes in the 80s were
an integral part of the Carnival, one a personal note an integral part of my
childhood and his contribution will never be forgotten. May he rest in peace.
Dalton Narine, Peter Minshall and Tony Hall. Photo from http://repeatingislands.com
I could hit myself over the
head for missing this one, the TTFF 3rd Annual Carnival film series saw Peter
Minshall attend two screenings of his work, Rat Race, and Mas Man the complete work.
Both directed by Dalton Narine who was also present to answer questions. The
two for me are the greatest teachers I ever had in Mas Minshall the Mas Man and
Narine whose documentaries gave me insight to Minshall’s works through his
documentaries. The two of them in one room, an Epic moment indeed!!
10 BUNJI AND FAYANN BOTH PULL OUT OF FANTASTIC FRIDAY.
Bunji and fayann.
Photo:jayblessed.com
Bunji and Fayann pulling
out of the Soca Monarch competition was probably the biggest upset of carnival
2013. Bunji who arguably had the hottest groovy soca tune of the year with
Diffrentology was seeded to walk away with the title if he competed. Fayann
always coming strong, the POWER soca monarch final of 2013 had the potential of
being the biggest and best in its history. Had the couple decided to go head to
head with Machel and Super Blue in the national stadium on that night it would
have been mayhem. But the couple decided to pull out and the shockwaves went
right through the entire Carnival universe.
What would have been the
final outcome if they had stayed?!
On Sunday the 11th of November I attended the launch of Brian Mac Farlane's 2013 presentation 'JOY the finale'.(Thanks for the invite Ras Conrad)
The band is definitely his most colourful in years, and although he stated it was his last band for Trinidad's Carnival, we all know winners hardly ever walk away from the game, whatever the circumstances.
So time will tell.
In a press conference right after the launch MacFarlane said that Joy was 'gonna be a spectacular band' on the road in 2013.
The launch held as the Woodbrook mas camp was well attended by his supporters who, witnessed a colourful dramatic presentation that had a Cirque du Soleil feel to it. I will give you a review and footage of the press conference in another post, but for now here are some photos and a little video footage at the end of 'JOY'
Mac Farlane's last launch? You can see the entire collection of my pictures here.
Last Friday, 'leaders of the new school' K2K, released their carnival 2013 theme, 'The Human Race on the social network site face book. A video posted on the bands facebook page is preceded with an observation of today's society "...In today's society, intense pressure is often placed upon us to conform. We are pressured into viewing life as succession of predefined steps and encouraged to race along a well-worn path leading to societal goals. These goals are often defined by achieving a career or professional post, a financial target or some sort of personal relationship status. Dictated by society, we accept these goals as our own and enter the great race to become "successful". However, we learn that the journey is a dynamic process; our objectives and motivations change due to societal pressures and from the knowledge we acquire along the way. "
Our theme for 2013 is called "The Human Race". This year, we are using a classic sporting tradition as an analogy for LIFE'S RACE. The theme is based on the principles of "self belief" and ultimately "forging one's own destiny".
So the plot thickens, as they mentioned they are using a classic sporting tradition as an analogy for life's race. So what can we expect?
The music and images in the beginning of the trailer definitely give of an Olympic feel to it, but then the horse race and the term 'hold tight to the reins' indicate a horse race, a sporting tradition that is historically identified with wealth and social position.
So will we be seeing highly stylised headpieces, top hats and cravats fashioned after those worn by the upper class, wealthy, and socially ambitious, as seen at the Royal Ascot?
Or will it be the the silk colours and symbols of the jockeys, whips, baggy pants, boots and matching helmets, like us racing in a quest to be celebrated by those in high society?
Time will tell...your guess is as good as mine, unless one of you 'in the know' fill me in. Until then...
Well first they mentioned that they were moving from the sea to the land , and today Leaders of the New School and award winning band K2K, released their 'first hint' to their 2013 theme on facebook with a message to their present and future masquerders, it reads ... "Dear masqueraders, Many of you have been inquiring about the theme for our 2013 Collection.
We are excited to release our first hint. More details coming soon… Have a beautiful weekend & Kindest regards, K2K"
So they have moved from the sea to the land and the story of birth and self awareness has seemed to have moved on to that of self belief .
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