T&T: Exodus's Marine chant sets stage for victory

I missed Panorama last night, just as I missed the Dimanche Gras show tonight. Anyway, here are some excerpts from Peter Ray Blood's analysis of the Panorama.

On a night when just one of eight finalists in the large conventional category was awarded less than its semi-final score, Exodus totalled an insurmountable 468 points, playing Goddard’s arrangement of De Fosto’s “War 2004.”

From the opening bars, using the well known marching rally chant of the US Marines Corps, to its explosive climax, 12 seconds over the allotted eight-minute performance time, Exodus kept a large Savannah crowd enthralled throughout. Without the benefit of seeing the judges’ score sheets, I can only surmise that Exodus scored the highest marks in the areas of interpretation and arrangement and the band’s exceptional tonal quality, jointly produced by tuners Herman “Guppy” Brown, Wallace “Wire” Austin and Andy Neils.

Throughout the piece, Goddard remained faithful to the title and theme of De Fosto’s work, embellished, as well, by vocals from the band’s pannists. Goddard’s harmonisation and melodic progression of “War” were a joy to behold.
...
Many were disappointed with the 455 points awarded to Witco Desperadoes, and the band’s fourth placing for Clive Bradley’s unique arrangement of Shadow’s “Whop Cocoyea.” In terms of execution, arrangement and original treatment of a composition, I could find no fault in the Desperadoes’ performance.
...
Northern Illinois University professor Liam Teague made everyone sit up and take notice of his beautiful interpretation and arrangement of “War” for TCL Group Skiffle Bunch. In contrast to the title and intent of its selection, Skiffle Bunch amplified the message of peace instead, its musicians wearing white outfits bearing large peace motifs on their chests, and the band festooned with huge, white flags, also decorated with peace signs.

Tonight was the Dimanche Gras show. Who is Calypso Monarch 2004? I'm not holding my breath that that info will be out until the morning.