CROP-OVER 2008 climaxes tomorrow with the Rotherley Construction Grand Kadooment.

Twenty-eight bands will parade from the National Stadium via two routes to Spring Garden Highway.

As the revellers wind their way along the routes with plenty of food, drink and other spirits to fuel them, it is the music that will set the rhythm of their footsteps
and waists.

With the junior, party, people's and calypso monarchs already crowned, all attention will be on tomorrow's Grand Kadooment, after which the Tune-O-De-Crop winner will be announced.

There is no telling who will tally the most on the day, but based on rotation on the radio stations and the hot tunes at the parties and fetes, a number of artistes might be fancying their chances at the prize money – with $7 500 for the winner; $5 000 for second and $2 000 for third.

These include Natahlee's Sun Till Sun, Edwin's Nah Missing Me and Handle Yuh Business, Mr Dale's Till Um Dum, Mikey's We Love It and Explosion, Contone's Hard Times Hit Me, Pong's Offset, Red Plastic Bag's Wrong Gal, Gorg's Tipsy, Khiomal's Unleash De Beast and Breakaway by Li'l Rick and De Undadawg.

While Grynner is still the undisputed King of the Road with seven titles, including a hat trick 1983 to 1985, the competition is a lot more open and diverse now than when the Ugly Man was in his heyday.

Indeed, the race for king or queen has become more intriguing with the introduction of the Party Monarch competition in 1995, and to a lesser extent the People's Monarch, which came on the scene in 2003.

Those two competitions have attracted a much younger crop of artistes with a variety of styles.

Edwin Yearwood, Alison Hinds, Li'l Rick, Natahlee and Barry Chandler are among those who won the Party Monarch and Tune-O-De-Crop in the same year with the same song.

If that holds this time around, Khiomal looks good as the new Party Monarch. But there have been times when the second-placed person in that competition
went on to take the Tune-O-De-Crop title just over a week later. RPB's Volcano and Rupee's Jump are just two of them.

Mikey's chances are excellent under that scenario with Explosion. Though the songs are different, he should be of interest as well as runner-up for People's Monarch with We Love It. Natahlee was there in 2005 and her Colours emerged as the winning song on the road.

Edwin is in a similar position as Mr Dale last year as People's Monarch.
If fortunes turn out the same, don't be surprised if Edwin captures another road march.

There are many variables that could affect tomorrow's outcome, but it ultimately depends on the song being played when the bands pass the judging points.
The artiste(s) with the most plays will take home the prize.

yvettebest@nationnews.com