Pan saves the day

Bands went the extra mile to enhance their performances — Trinidad All Stars using lights and pyrotechnics, Renegades players dressed in sleepwear, Exodus using crowing roosters and chimes, and Silver Stars stirring up passion in its arrangement — captivating the audience until the last note sounded after 2.30 am.

In spite of the struggles with the Pan Trinbago executives, the panmen put all that aside to really deliver probably the best Panorama finals since 1987, when Phase II won its first Panorama and All Stars could only tie for fourth with Curry Tabanca.

I can’t wait for the other Panorama — Point Fortin Borough Day. But we must never have 58 bands for pan semi-finals again. They must change that.

A suggestion to NCC: when planning Dimanche Gras 2018, please have the Calypso Monarch finals with ten singers (singing one song each), the King and Queen of the Bands finals, and the champion single-pan band to end the show, leading off the audience chipping to sweet pan to start their Carnival.

And the show must not go beyond 1 am, even with other guest artistes.

RICHARD PATINO via email