Carnival in Tobago (at least everywhere I happened to be) was quiet.
The most carnivalesque aspects I encountered were the longer than usual lines in Pennysavers (mainly visiting Trinis), social media Carnival posts, soca (mainly The Greatest Bend Over) playing from sidewalk speakers, hearing the J'Ouvert trucks streets away from home, and meeting up those very J'Ouvert bands while on an early bike ride.
I sat on my bike watching J’Ouvert bands pass along Milford Road to Crown Point. Other spectators, inclusive of a man seated comfortably in his beach chair, viewed from the roadside, with police officers close at hand, seemingly stationed at every corner.
Two female officers near to me, sometimes swooped to grab glass bottles of alcohol from revellers who seemed ignorant of the "no glass bottles allowed" rule.
The festivities seemed clean, somewhat innocent, with most revellers (locals and a few touristy-looking participants) appearing sober or pleasantly inebriated, chipping, walking or wining by, a few paint splatters, T-shirts, bra tops, shorts, tights and "dental floss" buried in ample, often jello-like "bumpers."
From my limited vantage point of Carnival 2025, the thing that stood out for me was Yung Bredda – a refreshing, impressive presence.
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Not only did he create a real earworm with The Greatest Bend Over, but the things that struck me about him were his life story, where he came from, how proud he is about being from Sea Lots, his individuality, originality, vintage-mixed-with-modern style, humble yet confident attitude, love of people, loyalty to those close to him, the way he helps those in need, etc. The list goes on.
Although I, and others, would love to have seen him win more points in the "competitive" arena, overall, he won something of great value – the hearts of multitudes of people who are all rooting to see him rise further and go bigger.
His song We Rise, while highlighting hope for the underprivileged, sowing seeds of love, national healing/cleansing, etc, for me also reflects the way he is with his "best friends" (as he referred to them in an interview I saw) – DJ Pimpin', etc. They rise together, supporting each other, wanting the best for each other. This attitude, they extend to youths around them by example.
It comes as no surprise that Yung Bredda is a Libran (October 4), appearing balanced, calm, non-judgmental, etc – touted traits of "the best sign of the zodiac" (as I always say, being Libran myself). There was one interview (Penny On Point) that showed Yung Bredda singing ABC in a soca style for some primary school children who were all looking up to him, excited, awestruck, singing along. Penny asked Yung Bredda how he felt in that moment, with all of those children being so focused on and in awe of him.
His answer: "I felt like a father."
At the time of that interview his daughter (now about a year old) was "on the way" and he reflected proudly on that. He resonates as someone with
