Panorama judging influenced by gimmickry

Posted By: E MARTIN
Date: Monday, 6 March 2006, at 4:22 p.m.

Panorama has passed but aspects have lingered on in my mind to the extent that I have to express myself via this medium. Pan Trinbago under Mr Arnold’s stewardship has experienced a level of innovativeness not experienced before but I still think panmen are living in the abstract and not the real world. Panmen and not the women (a clear distinction) are too pre-occupied with ancient ideals; it’s time modern expertise and skill outside of the pan movement be introduced to deliver what is needed to take the movement forward. It must be seen as a business and only folks with acumen and investment wisdom should be in certain positions.

Panorama judging is no longer based on musicality but merely on a good performance decorated with drama and gimmick to fool the people. Trinidad All Stars, thought they were smart but they were outsmarted; their professionalism, accuracy and showmanship displayed with a weak tune that was chosen because of its title failed to give them the edge. All Stars is a class act but their cockiness will always prove to be counter-productive. All the top bands (the Big Five) have a superior air about them but All Stars’ superiority lacks humility and Exodus is soon becoming like them. The law of karma has come back to haunt them; when they played the “Hammer” they were completely out of the running until the final night when they were able by some miracle, to beat Phase II by a half point, — utter rubbish.

Now they are crying foul which reminds me of a little boy who went pitching and lost all his marbles; I think they should listen to Mudada’s song this year about judges (laugh). I am not a Phase II fan but they deserved it if only because of their level of music, difficulty and intricacy to perform to a level of which All Stars had attained. I am a Despers fan but this is not about the boys from the Hill, but about the truth. Panorama has four major factors, as a performer, they are the position pulled, the count, the setting up of the instruments and the direction of the wind. The Panorama was about Bradley and not the Soca Warriors.

E MARTIN
Trincity