Adrian Frater, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
A dazzling Sizzla emerged the toast of Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest 2005's Dancehall Night on Thursday, stunning the appreciative audience with an incredible lyrical display.
Following superb sets by female heavyweights Macka Diamond, Lady Saw and Spice, who had the traditional male dominance of Dancehall Night under serious threat prior to the arrival of Sizzla, the 'Boboman' came, saw and conquered in a memorable 40-minute blitz.
looming large
Amid his customary assault on homosexuals, which drew screams and booming firecrackers from the crowd, the diminutive Sizzla, who came minus the usual flag-waving entourage, loomed large from the outset, sending the fans into an early frenzy with Rise to the Occasion, Solid as Rock and Words of Divine.
As he settled into a groove Sizzla masterfully rolled back the clock, bringing further joy with Thank You Mama and snippets of other hits. Towards the end of his set, he implored the Government not to follow those countries which have legalised homosexual marriage, declaring that it is not the Bible's way. He then broke into Rastaman Don't Apologise, before making his exit singing Good Ways.
In the bid for female dominance, the X-rated Spice took the first swing and had the crowd buzzing when she opened with Fix Me Good. She then lifted the tempo higher when she was joined by three dancing couples and a single male, who offered her personal gyrating assistance.
It was all screams of approval as the dapper Spice pushed the button to the limit with other explicit songs such as Come Inna Mi Bed, Mi Salomie and Greatest Jockey.
Macka's fashion statement
Macka Diamond made a fashion statement with a stunning silver outfit, complemented by matching silver hair and high boots, and then delivered a superb performance. After jokingly declaring herself a 'thief', saying she took pleasure in conning men, she went on to rock the crowd as she expertly delivered her growing list of hits.
Showing supreme confidence and excellent stage control as she 'bubbled and wined', Macka Diamond was all the rage as she reeled off songs such as Me Nuh Chase Money, Tek Con and Lexus and Benz. She had the crowd in a constant frenzy as she continually asked, "A wha' me name?" which drew the response, "Thief!"
Lady Saw, who skilfully blended the 'raw' with the international and religious, gave a somewhat mature performance. She appeared uncomfortable at times as her tiny silver outfit slid up her body, exposing her underwear to the glare of the spotlights.
show of female power
However, like the true veteran she is, she rolled effortlessly through songs such as Round Here, Back Shot, Striptease and I've Got Your Man. She called up Ce'Cile and together they added another dimension of female power.
Sasha, who teamed with the gifted Turbulence on his well received set, shared Natty Pon the Frontline before stepping aside and allowing male power to seal the deal with Notorious.
Of the other acts, Conrad Crystal and Sugar Ray, Bascom X, Lutan Fire, Little Hero, Shane O, Chuck Fender and I-Wayne all impressed with their vocal styling and message-flavoured songs, which kept the firecrackers booming and the fans screaming. I-Wayne was exceptional and so too was Chuck Fender, who gave new child sensation QQ his Reggae Sumfest debut.
On the lighter side Twin of Twins was quite good, offering no-nonsense social commentary while taking hilarious jabs at the ills of society. Kiprich, who shared his slot with Lady G and singer Delicious, was brilliant in his delivery of Baby, Liquere and his red-hot single Telephone Ting, which he merely touched and left for the encore he never got.
Assassin, who preceded Sizzla, and Elephant Man, who followed the 'Boboman', both delivered classy international style sets, which the patrons soaked up with relish. However, Capleton fizzled as he seemed in a big hurry to end the show.
Assassin clearly found fertile ground among the ladies when he delivered Girls Gone Wild. Elephant Man, who climbed everything in sight in his usual high-energy performance, had a tender moment when he called his baby daughter on stage after telling her that "people seh yu Daddy have AIDS, what you have to tell them?" Her tiny voice broke into a love song and the DJ lovingly picked her up and planted a kiss on her forehead.
Top Montego Bay acts Fire Lion and Okono, who both performed prior to the big guns, did well enough to justify their inclusion in the star-studded line-up. Both had the crowd buzzing with their well-delivered sets.
