‘Vanilla’ wins 2K9 Road March title

Mar 01, 2009 News

The Mash Secretariat has declared that Carib Soca Monarch runner-up, Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts is the 2009 Road March Queen.
Roberts had also won the title in 2007 with her song ‘Queen of the Band’. Last year her fellow KKR Krew member Michelle ‘Big Red’ King had pipped her by just one point. This win was special for Vanilla since of all her songs, ‘Rude’, her entry for the Soca Monarch and the road march segment, was the one she loved the most.

Road March winner, Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts.

Wilbur ‘Lilman’ Levans, now known as ‘B52’ created the melody and lyrics. The arrangement was done by her manager Burchmoore Simon, with steel pan solo by Colgrain Whyte.
The song ‘Rude’ is a heavy rhythm-driven composition that borrows heavily from the old school method of arrangement. Vanilla was in love with the song the very day she heard it and sensed it would have done well for her and her team. It was the most played song on Mash Day throughout the costume and float parade.
The new queen expressed a desire for Guyanese music to be played exclusively on the mash route.
Vanilla is extremely grateful to all the costume designers, bands and stereo sets that played her song during the Mash festivities. She also thanked Donna Shortt-Gill, Minister Priya Manickchand and Minister Manzoor Nadir for their support in allowing her to have a presence on their Ministries’ float.
‘Vanilla’ recognised her fans, along with Celeste David and Tennicia De Frietas who supported her on the road, and all the DJs that played her song for it to gain the popularity needed to win the contest.
She also expressed gratitude to her sponsor Digicel for their support, especially Mr. Alex Graham and Ms. Catherine Martin.
Winning the road march is a fitting end to a very successful Mashramani season for both ‘Vanilla’ and Kross Kolor Records.