(Trinidad Express) Machel Montano successfully defended his International Power Soca Monarch title and also dethroned Kees Dieffenthaller to claim the Groovy Soca Monarch title at the finals of the competitions which took place at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, on Friday night and into Saturday morning.
Sealing victory for Montano in the Power category was the Rocketman taking flight at the end of Montano’s rendition of “Pump Yuh Flag”.
The crowd of 20,000-plus people cheered as a man with a jetpack strapped to his back flew over them wearing the same clothes Montano did during his performance.
As Montano prepared to exit the stage he tied his head with a bandana, bearing the national colours, declaring he was going to take soca to the moon and disappeared through a trapdoor at the far right front corner of the stage. Several seconds later there was a piercing sound and “Rocketman” took flight, but at least the people nearest the stage recognised it was not Montano, but rather a stuntman who has worked with the HD team before.
Montano made his way to the stage from inside the audience and was carried on a platform.
He walked onto the stage via a boardwalk leading from the fence to the stage. His presentation included the HD dancers, fireworks and a pyrotechnic banner reading “Pump Yuh Flag”.
Unlike some of his opponents, Montano did not make fun of them, telling the crowd he was not singing about anyone on the night.
He said he had flown the flag of Trinidad and Tobago the world over through soca and he wanted to honour others who have done the same, adding that he wanted the people to greet one who has flown the flag for sport.
Seconds later, former cricket superstar Brian Lara appeared.
Montano then said he was also honouring one who had flown the flag through fashion and Anya Ayoung Chee took the stage, waving to the people.
For his efforts in the Power category, Montano received $2 million, the most lucrative prize this Carnival.
He takes home $500,000 for winning the Groovy category with his performance of “Mr Fete” which did not receive as appreciative a response from the crowd as other competitors in that category.
In fact, the crowd’s response for “Pump Yuh Flag” was not as intense as the reactions for Iwer George’s performance of “No Pain” or even Swappi’s rendition of “Bucket”, both of which had nearly the entire venue in an uproar.
Dressed in gold, Montano appeared on stage pulled in a chariot and accompanied in it by stand-up comedienne Rachel Price who Montano said later on was his Mrs Fete.
Also taking the stage during his presentation were Peter Minshall’s “Tan Tan” and “Sagaboy” who Montano referred to as Mr and Mrs Fete.
In spite of the frills, Montano’s Groovy performance did not generate the measure of response as did those of Benjai, KI or Dieffenthaller.
In the Groovy category Crowd Response only carried five per cent and just ten per cent in the Power category and the artistes were also judged for presentation, performance, lyrics and other criteria.
Then there was also the text voting that meant votes would have been cast by people who were not at the venue and viewing the finals on television and online.
Iwer George for the second year running had to settle for second place in the Power category despite delivering a performance that had people from next to the stage, in the stands around the stadium, and down to the back of the football field jumping with their hands in the air, especially when Iwer asked, “If yuh want me to beat Machel put yuh two hands in the air.”
Iwer’s stage props included a boat, oil derricks and oil-covered devils and jab jabs.
Before leaving the stage with some three minutes and 57 seconds left on the eight-minute clock for the Power category, Iwer instructed the audience, “All who say they cyah rob meh dis year, put yuh two hands in the air,” and hands shot up all over the stadium.
Minutes after Iwer had ended his performance people were chanting, “Iwer, Iwer, Iwer.”
And the chanting began again during Montano’s performance.
Even Destra who placed third endorsed Iwer George during her performance of “Link Up” for which she began the performance coming to the stage from the back of a flatbed.
Declaring: “We go mash up the Big Truck,” Destra climbed over the fence between the stage and audience wearing white coveralls and as she hit the stage, she shed that outfit, revealing a short red costume.
Blaxx and Prophet Benjamin tied for fourth place, with Blaxx doing, “In A Band”.
He was carried on stage and was dressed as a Pharaoh and accompanied by dancers and other characters.
Benjamin’s props for his performance of “Throw Wine” included the façade of a court house, a prisoner van and a magistrate named “Jack Winer”.
The Rastafarian performer had the audience cheering throughout because he added new lyrics to the song that poked fun at his opponents including Montano who Benjamin sang was caught “throwing wine on Shal (Marshall)”.
Benjamin also brought a woman, resembling Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, whom “he threw wine on” in a variety of positions.
As he exited the stage, Benjamin told everyone to meet him on the Brian Lara Promenade today after he won the title because he was buying apples for everyone in celebration of his victory.
Dieffenthaller had to settle for fifth place in the Groovy Category with his rendition of “Stress Away” in which he used a Mad Hatter’s Ball theme in his presentation. People expected that American hip hop act Snoop Dogg who is featured on a remixed version of the song would have appeared alongside Dieffenthaller.
The leader of KES the Band declared he did not need any hip hop artiste to help him retain his title.
Placing second was Kerwin Du Bois who was the favourite to win the title throughout the season with his runaway hit, “Bacchanalist”.
His performance was simple and featured a cartoon of Du Bois flying through birds as he made his way to the Stadium.
There were also a number of percussionists on stage alongside Du Bois.
Before he exited the stage, Du Bois wished Dieffenthaller well, but cautioned him that he himself was the original bacchanalist. To Montano, Du Bois said, “Relax HD, you can’t win Power and you cyar win Groovy either.”
Benjai placed third with what was a simple yet fantastic performance, dressed as a boxer, with “People’s Champion” which had the crowd singing and waving.
Fourth was Nadia Batson who sang “No Pressure”.
Other notable performances that sent the crowd wild were those of reigning National Chutney Soca Monarch KI, Swappi and Super Jigga TC.
The show started shortly after 9 p.m. and was stopped by the police after 4 a.m. While people waited for the results, it was announced that the DJ would play one song and then everyone had to leave as the event had exceeded the time limit. Police instructed that the venue be cleared immediately, even without the results being announced. People left without much protest.
