Road March monarchs JW (Jason Williams) and Blaze (Ancil Isaac Jr) say they are ready to face whatever resentment that might befall them from disgruntled soca artistes angry about their new found success in the sphere of soca/calypso music with the runaway hit "Palance." Kernel Roberts composed the ditty which earned the "palance kings," the bmobile/Blackberry International Power Monarch and Tuco/Vibe CT 105 Road March titles. Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez held both titles and had aimed to successfully defend them. She was also the defending National Lotteries Classic Groovy Soca Monarch, but Shurwayne Winchester reclaimed that prize. Speaking to the T&T Guardian minutes after they closed Saturday's after Carnival Champz of Steel–Plus, with an exhilarating performance, JW and Blaze said they would deal with any and all grudges if and when they surfaced during their reign.
The weekend event was staged by Pan Trinbago and held at the Grand Stand Queen's Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain.
A female vocalist, formerly attached to one of the country's leading and most established music bands, told the T&T Guardian that JW and Blaze would have to take the brunt of resentment and attacks for a lot of the problems affecting the growth of soca music and entertainers hoping to earn a living from the art form. She said: "JW and Blaze are really nice guys and I'm really glad for them and the success of their song, but it's sad that they would be in for a lot of resentment from artistes who would see them as getting in the way of their growth because they (JW and Blaze) are in the media and could have benefited from having an unfair advantage in term of airplay." JW and Blaze are employed at Red 96.7FM, a member of the Citadel Group. JW is also the host of Synergy Nights on Synergy TV. Responding, Blaze said: "Nobody likes to face resentment, but if it comes, we will have to deal with it." JW added: "With us is only love." Asked if their relationship with Fay-Ann became sour when they dethroned her, JW and Blaze said no.
Pointing to events backstage at Champz of Steel–Plus, the soca ?duo said they met Fay-Ann and exchanged the usual pleasantries. Last week, Marlan Hopkinson, president of the Media Association of T&T, scoffed at suggestions that JW and Blaze benefited from preferential treatment through radio DJs as it relates to airplay of Palance. JW said: "I don't get what us having this unfair advantage in terms of airplay is about. We have done music before. I based everything on the quality of the song. The video was clean and children-friendly. "When we did Bamseology and Work, we never received massive airplay across the board, although we had the opportunity to play our songs," he said. "Palance is a good song. Palance is a whole new concept in music and captured the hearts of the people. Before 1991, people weren't thinking about get something and wave in a song until Superblue (Austin Lyons) did it. Before 2010, no one thought of using Palance in a song. DJs want to play songs that get the crowd moving."
Three years after Pan Trinbago scrapped the Champs In Concert programme and replaced it with Creme de la Creme which did not aim to feature winners of Carnival exclusively, the newly-installed executive moved to restore the championship elements to the after Carnival showcase. Rebranded as Champz of Steel–Plus, and produced by Ian Wiltshire, the presentation which secured the best of Carnival 2010 commanded a large audience. Panorama champions in all categories sizzled. The line-up included St Margaret's Boys (Under-13); St Augustine Secondary (Under-21); La Horquetta Pan Groove (single pan) and Arima Golden Symphony (small conventional). The medium and large conventional victors were Steel Xplosion and PCS Silver Stars. Junior and senior Kings and Queens of Carnival were spirited as they paraded for the last time. Matthew Barnes, Junior King of Carnival portrayed of Sting In The Sandstorm, Denesha Jenning–Junior Queen–A Splash of Blue.
Spirit of Mandingo–An African Legend, the presentation that earned Curtis Eustace, the King of Carnival honour retained its spectacle before the captive audience as did Queen of Carnival Rosemarie Kuru-Jagessar–Waka-Nisha-The Sacred Water Bearer. UNC MP and extempo king Winston "Gypsy" Peters and Lingo added to the enlivened production with their extempo styles, while guest appearances from Fay-Ann, Bunji Garlin and Asylum truly proved special. Other well-loved performances at Champz of Steel–Plus were received from Junior Calypso Monarch Aaron Duncan; National Calypso Monarch Kurt Allen; and Groovy Soca Monarch Shurwayne Winchester. Bmobile/Blackberry International Power Monarch and Tuco/Vibe CT 105 Road March JW and Blaze closed the championship production.
