By Teino Evans, Staff Reporter
This group from the University Dance Society forms a pyramid at the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication's third-year social marketing group's fund-raiser 'Creative Youths in Action for Charity' held last Saturday at the Students' Union, University of the West Indies, Mona, St. Andrew. - Ricardo Makyn / Staff Photographer
THERE WAS high praise inside the main hall of the Hope United Church on Old Hope Road, St. Andrew when the Providence Methodist Junior Church in association with Love 101 presented 'Youth Explosion 2004'.
The event, which was filled with a blend of youthful talent, saw various groups singing, dancing and even doing poetry and drama.
Young talent like Danielle Byrd, the Providence Methodist church family choir, Men in Black, Kemal Stephenson and Shanique Sinclair unleashed the message of God on-stage.
SPECIAL GUEST
However, after the youngsters entertained the audience, it was time for some special guest artistes to enter.
Leading them off was Ziggy Soul, who did songs such as There Is Hope and Love One Another. Ziggy gave a very soulful performance and had members in the audience dazzled by his bright red suit with red shoes to match.
Then, former Main Street member Spiritual took his turn on-stage, showing his versatility, singing and deejaying. Starting out a capella, he sang There Is None Like You, before asking for track two on a rhythm CD. He then broke into a couple of his deejay-style songs like the crowd favourite, Christ Is Knocking At Your Door. Spiritual eventually invited Ziggy Soul back on-stage to do the song, What's Going On before the two took their leave and MC Craig McNally began to announce the next set of artistes.
Next on-stage was the Main Street crew with the likes of Jason Mighty, doing If God is for You; DJ Nicholas, the Rhyme Minister, doing God Him A Mi Barrier and Mr. Gallimore doing Yuh Mussy Tink Dat Mi Sick In Yah. They all gave energetic and vibrant performances with the backing music of the Radikal Band, setting the atmosphere for the evenings closing act, the Prodigal Son.
Prodigal, who entered the stage singing Praise Di Lord, got the crowd's undivided attention (well, at least the younger patrons), as he waved his little red rag while throwing down the lyrics.
Unfortunately, due to some bad feedback from the microphone system, Prodigal had to bring his performance to a brief halt to pray to the Lord.
After the problem was addressed, however, it was back to having some 'crazy fun in Christ', as Prodigal went into songs like Brush Yuhself Off And Try Again, Wow and Tell Mi If Yuh Ready.
EXCITEMENT
The atmosphere was definitely arousing a lot of excitement in the audience, especially among the teenagers who knew most of his songs word for word.
"It's getting a little hot up in here," Prodigal shouted, as he swirled his rag in the air and proceeded to have some church praise and worship in the concert. He broke into a chain of lively choruses.
At the close of the show, patrons were still screaming for more, but all in all, it was definitely an exciting evening of raw, youthful talent and an explosion of energetic and spirited performances by the invited guest artistes.
Youth Explosion 2004 definitely rocked!
