A breakdown of the festival: I am not a journalist. I am telling it like it is from what my 20/20 saw and what I heard. This is my take.
KING YELLOWMAN 'THIS IS THE REAL EMPEROR"
When I walked in I was told that KING YELLOW MAN (whom I think should be the Emperor but we will get back to that later) had already performed. I was shocked out of my wits. I said in this hot sun and amongst new artists...TOTAL DISRESPECT.
TANYA STEPHENS
I was looking forward to seeing TANYA, oh yes, my girl. I have never seen her live. I was sooooo looking forward to seeing her perform. I like her and her music. When Tanya came out I was like people paid there good hard earned money to see an artist who just hauled on anything from out of their closet and to make matters worst just stand on stage no stage presence whatsoever. If Tanya moved it was from one end of the stage to the other. No life, no energy nothing I was DISAPPOINTED. In speaking with others, I was told that was Tanya all the way. Some even said that she has not grown as a performer. I guess Tanya will be my artist on CD only, not a live performance.
MARCIA GRIFFITHS
Sister Marcia came on and perked up the crowd. I thought now we going to have a show today. Lo and behold her performance was good. The band sucked because they messed up a few of her numbers and at one point she had to utter something to the effect "a wha diss" The engineer was was in the back of the crowd in the production booth rocking. I thought to myself what the heck is he rocking too, when the sound is awful. Poor Sister Marcia She had to strain her voice and I am a novice and realized all this. I am sure she is hoarse today.
ASSASSIN
First off, I am like people are going to go off now because he is performing to tracks. Do I hear, "I paid $60 to hear tracks" ok. Assassin's performance was up beat he worked the stage and his audience, good. I am saying he has pull it off, it is working. Then I thought this guy is too intelligent for the crowd (curse me if you want but the truth is the truth). some of the things he deejayed about went over the heads of the crowd like flying saucers. Then they got it and realized this boy has something. I was proud of the audience then and there, when they started to get it and did not diss him like most of these crowds do when they feel an artist is uptown or well educated. Kudos goes to Assassin for his performance and respecting that time was of the essence, he did not go overboard.
At this point in time, the Emcee kept saying how important time is. Yet the band took so long to get going. They should have let Assassin continue. I cannot understand why our people work the way they do and we as an audience accept the crap year after year, show after show. We do not want to hear and see all the rumble and tumble of a band and hype of getting organized. The white bands are always prepared why can't they do likewise...toooooo much hype in this reggae/dancehall.
Emcee another mistake, you introduced Gregory then the band went into approx 6-7 of Gregory's tunes before he appeared which was nice but it was here you should have introduced the artist. I guess it is either no coordination or you being green to this. You are forgiven on this one.
Even if is a one liner. I must ay big up to Tek 9 you did a good job.
The man himself appeared in all white looking frail. He tried his utmost best to please the crowd. He did move the crowd. My concern was his health. I was thinking of Alton Ellis, as to why Gregory is doing this, why is he still working, he should be resting. However, Gregory did pull through and the crowd seemed ok with it.
BARRINGTON
The singer brought life to the show and the crowd went off. Now they were getting what they paid for. He was the crowd pleaser. He performed his you know what off and interacted with the crowd and that is what the crowd wanted. The night belonged to him. I was sorry for the next artist to come because I sure as hell would not have wanted to be in that position even if they paid me a million bucks.
NATURAL BLACKS
I thought why, why did they have to put Natural here. Natural performed to tracks and I was like oh no they did not. In all he tried and had his Guyanese supporters there to give him love.
Now I am thinking time is going and I know Shaggy, Shabba, Daville, Fabulos, D'Angel, Tony Matterhorn are slated for the show. When are they going to come on and do we have enough time, but I do not see the last three and I was like oh no not another one of these shows, false advertisement. To the latter I know it is business asual, these promoters do not respect time.
SHAGGY
Where I was standing people rushed forward when Shaggy's name was called. I was like ok good to see yard people ready to welcome him because you dun nuh how yard people feel about light skinned Jamaican artist, let us be real and worst still a light skinned national who has sold Diamond. Yes Diamond. Folks this page is about keeping it real and this is real. Again, I was happy to see this enthusiasm.
Shaggy appeared trying his best or should I say trying too hard because he dun nuh he is not really accepted by most Jamaican people. Yes, I am keeping it real whether or not readers like it and I am an insider and I know the real deal.
RED FOX
His first song did not work the crowd. Shaggy realized that I think at this time his mind went left field as to say WTF am I to do. I have to think quickly. He did another and his stage antics it did not work. He pulled from his hits Mr. Boombstic, the crowd roared and danced, Shaggy was now feeling relieved. Shaggy did the same again, went into his treasure chest and kept pulling his hits. The crowd realized the smarts he was pulling on them and did not buy into it. I was like he is up shit creek with these people and he know it. So like always when Shaggy is not getting love or hits what does Shaggy do, draw for Rayvon. Oh yes, the crowd loves Rayvon.
RAYVON
This guy worked his ass off and sang his lungs out, as always and can never get the break in this industry (that's another story). When Shaggy felt like Rayvon was shining too much, like Shaggy does always, he puts them back in place. Same was for Red Fox. Shaggy rids the band and turns to his personal sound system. It is like Shaggy has transformed from a DJ to a Rapper now, my thoughts he got's (yes got's) to be - - - - - - - kidding. This did not work LOL. Shaggy pulls yet another trick on the crowd. He is in Brooklyn, New York. What does he sing JayZ and Alicia's song. The crowd bought into it. Shaggy says oh yes got unno now. He goes for another cover and what he pulls out Junior Gong's "Welcome To Jamrock" oh yes the crowd is hyped and gone totally berserked. Shaggy throws in another the crowd wakes up from the hypnotic state now and come to their senses and stayed their ground not to be fooled anymore. The rest of the performance was a full struggle.
LADY SAW (the colors are killing my 20/20)
Oh Lady Saw your clothes. Who dressed you Saw? You could have knocked me over with a feather. Blue halter top, Hot pink pants and black shoes where were you going?
You came on stage, your first song you was off key, yes that one did not pass over my head nor the heads of veteran artists either. You got smart and corrected it though, I give you props. Speaking of veterans, I do not understand why it is so hard especially for women in this business to work together and get along (Friday night show is another to be discussed) but Saw you saw Junie Ranks and Lady Ann backstage, wha a gwaan wid dat not even a big up, to show some sort of respect, same for Tanya too. Is dem lead the way for artists like you.
We nuh you can put on a show but did you have to go there. All that pussy talk was uncalled for Saw. Didn't you see the little kids, Stevie Wonder saw them. Come on Saw, you have been in the business for such a long time now, you have traveled the world and you are going to tell me that you do not know any better.
By this time I am forced to go back stage to which I had no interest in being, as it is the same old B.S wanna be journalist, wasted passes LOL. Back there I heard the buzz about Tanya's poor performance, production, unorganized show, no show of Tony, D'Angel and Fabulos. The other hot topic was Daville being upset about DJ Roy wanting to introduce him, to which I can understand because I know the reason (that story toooooo hot to report on) and which I personally feel Roy should have recused himself from introducing the said artist (totally disrespectful) of him. Fans and artists alike told Daville to be the bigger man and do the show forget about Roy introducing, just do his show. I personally watched the artist with my God given 20/20 and saw the artist approach the top of the stage and did the olive branch thing, shook hands with Roy to which I have new found respect for the artist for doing so. Roy was puzzled LOL and did likewise.
At this point in time, Roy went with the mike to introduce Daville then to the stage unannounced was Shabba and his ENTOURAGE who calls himself the Emperor (I do not know where that has come from) literally took the mike out of Roy's hand and did his set. People were like WTF, did I see what I see. A lot of people like myself have lost respect for this artist who calls himself the Emperor. I say much was lost Shabba but much was gained for Daville.
SHABBA
Mr. Emperor himself and his subjects earlier had assaulted a poor little African man who was selling items with Shabb's likeness on it. Now we know how de ting go, we nuh how it set and Shabba nuh too. So why all your subjects have to jump a poor likkle man trying to make a living AND to make matters worst still why you Shabba have to jump in aswell. Not a good look nor is it becoming of an Emperor. I know you would not have tried that in Europe or Japan where selling products with an artist likeness is so prevalent. Do I hear HYPE. Yes, Shabba you too dam hype. If I was near that individual I would have told him to sue you and your entourage . $$$$$$$
Emperor takes the mike goes on gets a forward. The hype machine is turned up a notch and the dirty lyrics comes out and the poor likkle children are near the stage and out in the audience having to hear these words. Then when we hear them being repeated from the mouths of the youths, we wonder and cast judgement on the parents. This show is a family event but I know it was not going to be upheld to that standard that is why I left my kids at home and thanked the good Almighty I did so.
Emperor Shabba continued with his set along with his trailer load of flag wavers and yes those same people taxed the emperor for there services. The audience was here and there and Shabba like Shaggy found them hard to work with in that he at one point in time blurted something to the effect "Brooklyn a long time me nuh work in Brooklyn and a so you blood........ treat me" Who tell de Emperor to say such a thing. Brooklyn turned on him like cold turned cornmeal. At this time, I was making my way out of the venue. I saw some engaged in their own conversations, some leaving and some just not into him. Emperor then pulled the batty man ting to get a desperate forward, who tell him do this, big mistake. I turned and saw people leaving in and all of a sudden the plug was pulled. The Emperor and his subjects were left there looking like what should I say ...... readers can fill in the blanks.
I see from this show not even the Emperor himself who seemed to have stayed quiet when GLAAD were taking dancehall artists to task still has not learned. Some artists still do not have respect for fans and the ears of the little ones and are still hustling the businesses to make a quick dollar. They need to remember that they need to show and give respect and they will in return get the same. Also remember that promoters, producers and record labels have had enough and are looking toward the new young blood. Lastly, I see artists cannot take critical comments on their performances so they will continue to be in stuck mode. In today's new artists (women) in particular no other than Queen Ifrica is all ears to listen to critics and more so her manager with respect to her performance and for the ladies again, I say go back to videos back in the day or even today take a page out of Diana Kings performances.
2 comments:
Well said Michelle, Well said.
www.e3global.net
Thanks for this blog Michelle, it's chock full of good stuff.
Empress Bass
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