Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
Soca power couple Ian “Bunji Garlin” Alvarez and Fay-Ann Lyons are the first Road March champions of the post-Covid-19 pandemic era, as the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO) announced the husband and wife pair as the Visit Trinidad Road March champions.
Their popular song, Hard Fete, was played 135 times at the judging point this Carnival season. Come Home, sung by Nailah Blackman-Thornhill and Gamal “Skinny Fabulous” Doyle, played 106 times while Like Yuhself, sung by Machel Montano and Patrice Roberts, had 50 plays.
(Copyright David Allen Photography)
(The latter two songs were registered with TUCO under the names of Blackman-Thornhill and Montano exclusively.)
The 2023 TUCO gong is Bunji’s second Road March title after Famalay—his collaboration with Machel and Skinny Fabulous—got the nod in 2019. Fay-Ann, who co-wrote Hard Fete with Bunji, had three previous Road crowns, although this was her first win since 2009.
In a social media statement, Bunji credited Fay-Ann for her work as a co-writer.
“To every person that played a role in getting this song over the finish line—take a round of applause for yourself,” stated the soca star. “Thank you all so much with endless love from our team to you all.
“[…] Amazing writing and co-writing between @fayannlyons and I to get Hard Fete to its final vocabulary form. Big up again @thedjavalanche on such a power supply of a riddim.”
Incidentally, a soca artiste has not won the Road March with a solo performance since Machel’s Waiting on the Stage in 2016.
TUCO awards a TT$250,000 prize for the Road March winners. This year, the cash prize will go to one household.
“[...] Here in Trinidad and Tobago, the Road March results still rely on a manual system—TUCO officials physically count song Read more
Soca star Machel Montano landed a joint record 11th Road March title in Carnival 2025, as his song, Pardy, edged Read more
The Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation (TUCO) has sacked tabulator, Samantha Richards, for “unauthorised” comments on the then ongoing 2025 Road Read more
“[…] If you’re trying to build something, it’s up to you to decide whether or not you’re looking for fame, Read more
Emceeing the Revue Calypso Tent’s show in 1972, night after night, the Mighty Stalin introduced Kelvin Pope in the same Read more
“What shit you talking, bro?” Bobby asked, his jaw literally dropping. “We talking bout the same song?” Even before Calypso Read more
Congrats to Bunji – Arima peeps are proud of you!
I thought Hard Fete was a solo….I mean, I do not hear FayAnn unless she did some background singing and I didn’t really listen closely enough to hear it. Interesting stat though…collabs are clearly great for the music
I am ecstatic! Bunji is different,divinely unique,distinctly creative ,remains true to his styling.Soooo proud of them both, as well as the entire Asylum team.