Three crowns were won this week as Lucian Carnival goes into high gear leading up to Carnival Monday and Tuesday.  On Friday July 9th, seven ladies vied for the title of Carnival Queen 2010.  The show was not very well attended justifying the decision to move back to the National Cultural Centre as the venue.  'Queen Show with a difference' started late (which is usual); run long (which is usual); and ended with a queen being crowned (which is usual). There were some differences however, the most notable being the marked improvement in the overall production from the year before.  Having said that, the show still run a little longer than one would have liked.  

At the end of it all, Miss Louise Victor, sponsored by Red Unlimited Carnival Band wears the crown and carries the title of Carnival Queen 2010.  The victory came as part of what has been an unprecedented move by a carnival band to sponsor, endorse and prepare a Carnival Queen.  While carnival bands have always been involved in providing costumes for contestants this may well herald a new trend.  A carnival queen for each carnival band.    

The competition moved from the Cultural Centre to a newly transformed Mindoo Phillip Park where two monarch, the Groovy Soca Monarch and the Power Soca Monarch would be chosen.  The stage was set, way back from the crowd.  Those who came early were treated to much more than they bargained for as they had to suffer through the final sound checks for the band.  One hour after the advertised show start, Toya was asking for her key from her errant boyfriend.  Artistes after artistes performed until we had gotten to number fifteen.  We did not need the judges to know that Alpha had managed to return his crown.  It was more a matter of who would come second or third.

After a relatively short intermission, it was time for the ultimate showdown, the battle of the power socas for 2010.  While I had anticipated huge presentations and never before seen antics, the crowd was treated to a  series of lack lustre performances that seemed to lack the power behind them.  A few people stood out, none more than new comer, HP.  Backed by the seemingly indomitable 758, he had a song that had people 'pe meleing' across the field.  The supposed bomb of lyrics that was supposed to have come from former 758 super boys were effectively diffused by a young man on a mission.  

By the time the season ends, we will have five other kings or queens to add to Lucian Carnival 2010's royal family.  The rest of us, our subjects can continue to enjoy the season in the meantime.  Win, lose or draw we should be enjoying the sweetest ting in the world, Lucian Carnival.