"Look! Look Destra getting on bad!"
The spectator shouted at the top of her voice as she pointed excitedly to soca star Destra Garcia, who bounced in all her Carnival energy at Adam Smith Square on Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook, yesterday.
Garcia, adorned in a black, white and silver costume in the section Mirror, Mirror of the band Yuma, was the centre of attention as the band crossed the judging point.
Cameras clicked non-stop as Garcia and her fellow revellers masqueraded before the judges to Austin "SuperBlue" Lyons' "Fantastic Friday".
Powder works exploded on the avenue as white powder filled the air as Mirror, Mirror put on a dynamic show for the judges and spectators.
The love and passion for Carnival was visible on Garcia's face as she danced to SuperBlue's hit as the crowd cheered in the scorching sun. (See Page 5)
Today, the points will be tallied as to who will take home the Road March crown, but on the avenue yesterday, it was clear that SuperBlue was the people's choice.
Every music truck that reached the judging point at Adam Smith Square played "Fantastic Friday".
Even when the song was done, it was replayed several times, leaving no room for Machel Montano's "Float" to gain any headway.
It was the song of choice for the various bands to put on their best Carnival dance moves before the judges.
From the morning straight through the blazing midday sun and then the cool of the evening, only one song dominated the streets and "the bouncing start" was on everyone's lips.
The Express spoke to several spectators who were taking in the beauty of the mas and music on the avenue.
Questioned on who they think will be the next Road March king, the responses were unanimous: "SuperBlue!"
"BlueBoy, of course! He has my vote. I looked at the Soca Monarch and he (Lyons) was the last contestant at 4 a.m. and he came on and had the whole crowd going with that little jig he do. He move like Michael Jackson, make two moves and send the crowd crazy," said Ian Dumas.
"Blue song have melody, it have rhythm, it have a sing along part and that is what does make a Road March song, it have all the elements, a winning combination," said Keith Goddard.
Another spectator was in full praise of SuperBlue as she belted out a number of words to describe "Fantastic Friday".
"I love it! Like is an understatement! It is powerful, electrifying, infectious, it have the people jumping and there is no wining," said Jennifer Branche.
"I like the tempo, from the time it start you have people on their feet, even self if you feeling sleepy or tired, you just start to jump," added Myrtle Samuel.
"The song is the best song for the Carnival, for the road," said Rupert Ramrattan.
"This is a hit, this the Road March," added Vashti Salick.
However, one man, who did not divulge his name, held another view.
"They should do away with this Road March thing, if you look at it, it's all up to the DJs and what they choose to play. I only hearing one song right through and it have other nice songs for the Carnival. If you play one song over and over it leads to monotony," he said.
While the song of the Carnival season seemingly is in Lyons' favour, the judging of the mas bands would have been difficult for judges.
The creative genius of mas makers came to life on the avenue as band after band displayed some breathtakingly beautiful costumes.
Ronnie and Caro's Mystery in the Cascadura was a display of art in all forms and hues.
The intricate scales of the cascadura were carefully designed into the costumes of the section Curry Cascadura which dazzled in the sunlight.
The band also featured a section called Great House, where masqueraders were costumed in long flowing orange dresses made of light fabric accompanied by orange custom-designed umbrellas.
It was reminiscent of plantation days when the upper-class women walked about using their umbrellas to shade from the sun.
Another band, Visions of Crazy Horse by leaders Astil Alleyne and Gary Sealey, took a different approach to mas and instead of featuring bikinis and beads they opted to bring to life a band of native American Apaches.
The band, which looked as though it came straight out a storybook, featured all types of Apaches in bright costumes and large feathered head pieces.
The band Harvard Revellers took on a Tobago theme and showcased costumes such as "Cocrico" and "Dancing Crab".
Children as young as six years old and teenagers got an opportunity to show their talent and skills using the moko jumbie sticks as the band Keylemanjahro crossed the judging point.
It was a stunning patriotic show as the moko jumbies, dressed in red, white and black, jumped to "Fantastic Friday".
The band also featured traditional jab jabs with whips.
Although there was a smooth flow of the bands at the judging point as police and band security kept things moving there was a lull just after 2 p.m. when spectators waited almost an hour for the next band to cross the judging point.
Small groups such as rhythm sections, blue devils and sailors kept the crowd happy as they posed for pictures while waiting.
One group took a political approach and showcased the Section 34 fiasco.
They created dummy cannon and painted them black with the words "Cannon fire 4 Rum Low Gun" and "Fire for Volney" written on them.
The men were dressed in black and gripped large wooden guns as they walked solemnly through the avenue.
As night approached some weariness was seen on the faces of many but when "Fantastic Friday" was played the bouncing just started again, sending the crowd into a frenzy, singing a song most revellers and spectators probably know by heart today.
