‘Pandora was the best choice’

FOLLOWING Exodus’ victory at the National Panorama 2003 competition last Saturday night, manager Ainsworth Mohammed and arranger Pelham Goddard journeyed with the players to their St. Augustine panyard to celebrate their third time around as National champs.

Playing De Fosto’s (Winston Scarborough) “Pandora” Exodus amassed a whopping 476 points to beat out their nearest rival Neal & Massy Trinidad all Stars which also played “Pandora” and was awarded 471 points. Mohammed said yesterday that it was a great feeling: “The hard work that the players put into it paid off with great results. The execution of the music was great, we had a great arrangement from Pelham Goddard, great drilling from Pat Bishop and with the commitment and hard work from the players, it was only a matter of proper execution on the night and that was done”. Goddard shared the feeling, stating: “It’s one way you feel when you win. You feel great, knowing that you worked towards it”. He said “Pandora” was chosen because it was popular and he introduced the song to the panyard on January 13. From there on everyone was serious with rehearsals every day up to last Saturday. Goddard went on: “Pandora had nothing to do with a box. When I heard the lyrics, I realised that Pandora was a jamette and plenty bacchanal so with a song like that my intention was to create that mood of Carnival and bacchanal on the stage”. He also recalled meeting with De Fosto last September, who predicted back then that “Pandora” will run 1-2 in the Panorama competition. When contacted yesterday, De Fosto confirmed the prediction, explaining that: “It was the best tune for the Panorama. It (the prediction) was easy because the right arrangers chose it and the song lends itself to the pan. I also believe in God and nothing comes to me without the Father”. De Fosto said when Pandora’s melody came to him, he knew it was from the late Kitchener’s medium and therefore was certain that the song would have ruled the Panorama competition. Four bands selected for the finals of the competition last Saturday played the song.