Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Dancehall artiste Lady Saw commands the stage on Thursday night's staging of Dancehall Night at Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest. - PHOTO BY ADRIAN FRATER
WESTERN BUREAU:
DJ FRANCO and DJ Slim met in the second elimination of the 2005 Heineken Green Synergy on Friday afternoon at the Asylum Nightclub on Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston.
The music mixing competition runs every Friday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. until September 2, at the Asylum, with free entry to all who wish to see turntable talent in action.
LATEST MOVES
DJ Franco had on Sizzla's Give It A Try hip-hop style when The Gleaner negotiated its way up the steps and into the packed club, where work style dressing met hip styles and both rocked the latest moves with abandon.
DJ Franco soon moved on to dancing songs, gradually getting more dancers to come out of the loose arc around the dance floor and take the spotlight. There was a snippety of Elephant Man saying 'look outa road', which brought out the cheers, Franco bringing up the 'Applause' rhythm as the 'trunked one' chanted 'weddy weddy weddy weddy'.
Appropriately, the people cheered, then did the 'spin yu roll' as required.
Shane-O's Lightning Flash brought similar cheers and many agreed with Assassin that 'dem no like you'. Elephant Man led a merry crew down Sesame Street, Voisemail instructed the willing to 'part the crowd' and when the Willie Bounce came on, there was a flurry of co-ordinated movement inside Asylum.
And it got more intense for the Wacky Dip.
There was the rattle of slaps on the wall for DJ Franco's last selection, before FAME's Paula-Ann Porter called time and after a brief break, it was time for DJ Slim.
True to the name, a slender figure stepped up to the turntable. He removed his cap to show blonde-dyed hair before starting his segment, in which he successfully went for variety.
REGGAE START
Appropriately for a Friday after-work crowd (though it was not pay day), DJ Slim went for a reggae start in which the singer rejoiced 'just got paid and I have a lot of money to burn'. Mr. Easy's She Drives Me Crazy had the listening ear of the audience and they responded when he dropped in Sean Paul intoning 'feel that chant now'.
The audience response picked up for Kartel's hail to Mrs. Jaw then went a bit flat for his next couple songs, but they perked up again for Assassin's Roughest.
DJ Slim's 'Diwali' rhythm juggling ended with Elephant Message and he got the dancers moving again with Pon De River, Pon De Bank, which he gave extended playing time.
Slim tried a hand at remix, going the very fast route, which took a little time to connect with the audience. However, when they heard the familiar '7'o clock I'm in my drop top' they showed their delight and Slim continued in that vein before closing on a reggae note.
DJ Slim won the contest and moves on to the next round of Heineken Green Synergy 2005.
