Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Maria Myrie at the Hilton Hotel's ball.
WESTERN BUREAU: THE JAMAICA Pegasus' dance floor was deeper than it was wide, a rectangle of floor space extending from before the bandstand between red dressed tables, inviting the many present to move to the 50/50 Band.
The Hilton went the lateral route, an extended area across the front of the ballroom containing the hundreds who rose from white dressed tables and chairs, set off by black napkins, to dance to the music of Errol Lee and the Bare Essentials.
And outside of New Kingston, near the top of Lady Musgrave Road, St. Andrew, the Front Page went the outdoor route, the moon doing a naturally excellent job in place of the chandeliers in the upscale hotels, as 2004 headed inexorably to a close on Friday night.
BUFFET LINE
With the buffet line moving at a good clip and the click of cutlery indicating the progress of those who had already got good fare for their fare, 50/50 opened with Satta Massagana shortly after 10:00 p.m., keeping in the 'yard' groove with Breakfast In Bed and a medley of Bob Andy hits, ending with Fire Burning.
A brave young couple broke the dancing ice, but by the time 50/50 hit No No No, they had plenty of company. When the pace had picked up with I'm In A Dancing Mood and hit ska speed with Carry Go Bring Come, the dance floor was full, enthusiasm taking precedence over skill as many a male dancer was out of sync with the rhythm.
One older gentleman tottered off the dance floor with the help of his partner, but was soon back to rend a space with his feet while his limbs twitched to the beat. A large lady in flowing black gown got rid of the heels, stood in one place at the edge of the dance floor, facing her partner, her hips keeping the timing and her lips doing the smiling to Seven Books of Moses.
KEEPING IT JAMAICAN
The band took the pace back down, still keeping it Jamaican, with Truly and Kiss You Once More, before taking the pace up just a notch to end with Feel Like Jumping to good applause.
The disco took over and kept the tempo going with Reggae Night and Electric Boogie.
A hop and a skip away, at the Hilton, the seats were empty and the dance floor full in the ballroom at 11:30 p.m. on News Year Eve, and Errol Lee and the Bare Essentials was in a soca mood with Ragga Ragga, after Maria Myrie's performance. As at the Pegasus, the hats for the men and 'happy new year' tiaras for the women as well as snappy dress numbers but the 'fee fees' were quiet.
That would change as the midnight hour approached, the call to synchronise the watches coming with 22 minutes to go.
"2004, we want to let it go!" the lead singer later urged, as the pace picked up appreciably. Turn Me On brought up 17 minutes, complete with swirling, multicoloured lights; Biting Insects and a soca dub brought up 10 minutes. "If there is anybody here vexed with anybody, go to the person and tell them let's be friends. Don't let the new year catch you in a bad mood!" the lead singer advised.
LAST MINUTES
Those last 10 minutes of 2004 literally flew, to the beat of the band. My Ding A Ling took it to within five minutes, laughter at talk of "playing with your ding-a-ling" taking it to 30 seconds.
The count down went from 29 seconds as the 'fee fees' were brought into action, the dance speed and the noise level built, hundreds of voices chanted along from 10 seconds, exploding into cheers of "Happy New Year". There was a crescendo of noise - as well as a few kisses, as couples clutched to a slow, then reggae rocking Auld Lang Syne and it was goodbye to 2004 and full welcome to 2005 with High Mas.
The thump of fireworks from the harbour front in downtown Kingston accompanied the hop and skip back to the Pegasus, where Maurice 'Lady Love' Charles had sung up to the midnight hour, brought up by 50/50 and Norma Brown-Bell. The band was in a Rockin' Robin mood and the party people were feeling no pain, with Judy Emmanuel to come.
At 1:15 a.m., the Front Page was relatively quiet, a few obeying the musical urge to Step In The Name of Love, under a beautiful moon, as the honking of horns signified the happy people cruising the streets in the new year.
