Capleton... has been commercialising his lyrics so they are more marketable abroad according to one publicist.IS the "Fireman" still hot, lukewarm or has he burnt out?
That is the burning question some people are asking about deejay Capleton two years after he took the dancehall with a heat wave which had fans calling for "more fire".
In fact, 'the Fireman' was so hot; some people felt it would not be too long before someone came around to cool him down. At least one deejay, Beenie Man, tried doing so with a few counteractions.
Whether or not this has worked, people feel the Fireman has lost much of his heat mainly through his lyrics.
For example, Capleton's heat is certainly not felt in It Was Written a song that was done with Damion and Stephen Marley. Here, he sings:
"Fear is in the eyes of the beholder.
And love is in the presence of the love-maker.
Wise is the words of the comforter.
Endure much longer, live much longer.
Be careful how you entertain strangers..."
These lines are in contrast to his earlier fire-red lyrics:
"Red a go get redder, hot a go get hotter"
Mr. Gregory McFarlane, entertainment publicist, feels the fire from Capleton is not burning as bright as before. "If we not seeing much of Capleton here (in Jamaica) we have to believe the fire is not burning. Capleton has been commercialising his lyrics so they are more marketable abroad. So a lot of fire business is not heard as before."
Rastafarians like Ras Rod from Dub Traffickers feels Capleton's intensity has been cooling down. "If one look at his (Capleton) latest lyrics such as It Was Written, this shows the 'Fireman' is not hot like one time," he said.
Record producer, Jack Scorpio, also agrees with Rass Rod. He says, "Capleton the 'Fireman' is not putting out the many burning lyrics with a lot of fire words. His lyrics are more creative and I'll give you an example from the song Righteousness with lines:
"Seem like they don't love righteousness no more
Seems that they don't want dem heart to clean and pure
Well Rastafari seh a cleansings..."
He adds that, "Capleton is still popular as his songs are still like hot bread on the market."
Now talk to members of the David House Crew and they are quick to counteract anyone who feels Capleton is not hot. "The fire can't stop burn it ever in the prophet, even when wi nah hear nuh fire. The fire cannot cool no matter what the critics are saying," Little Capes, brother of Capleton told THE STAR.
The young chanter added that his brother supported the fire lyrics so much that the name of his coming album will be called Still Blazing. Show promoter, Heavy D, tends to agree with members of David House Crew. "Mi think the fire nuh out yet. It still is burning although it is not high as before.
Capleton is doing a lot of hot tunes and the people are responding to these," he said.
Other show promoters also feel that the 'Fireman' is still burning his fire on corruption, but fewer people are crying out.
