Guinness Greatness at the National Stadium
Published:Monday | October 25, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Krista Henry, Staff Reporter
Showcasing some of Jamaica's finest in the dancehall, the Arthur Guinness Celebration gave well-produced, non-stop entertainment to an audience which packed the football field and spilled into the stands of the National Stadium.
A well-behaved Lady Saw, the opening act, probably for the first time in many years, hit the stage with older hits like Chat To Mi Back before moving unto songs from her latest album, My Way.
Although she toned down the normally raunchy performance for the Guinness event (and for her husband who was backstage), the queen of the dancehall was still in top form.
She invited women on to the stage to be a little raunchy for her.
Three women danced with Flavour on the song, Muscle Control, before Saw called on Ding Dong, to perform another collaboration. Crooner Wayne Wonder followed.
Time for the big ship
Searching, Informer, Saddest Day and more took the audience back in time before it was time for the Big Ship.
The captain of the ship, Freddie McGregor, had the crowd singing along to classics from his catalogue like Push Come To Shove and Big Ship Sailing, before he called Chino, his son, to the stage.
The younger McGregor easily charmed the crowd with Pon Yuh Head, Redbull and Guinness and From Mawning, before he called his brother to the stage.
Stephen McGregor found the crowd just as receptive and the two seamlessly worked together, belting out songs like Protected, Cyaan Friend Again, Cyaan Tek We Life and more. The audience was pleased.
As is usual, Wyclef Jean changed the tone of the event, turning up at the top of scaffolding in the centre of the Stadium field, forcing the audience to turn from the stage.
Performing more as a selector than an artiste, Wyclef got constant 'forwards' from the crowd as he played a special dub from Romain Virgo before telling the crowd, "If I had one wish tonight, I'd free Buju Banton." Precariously positioned on the scaffolding reserved for sound systems, more than 20 feet above ground, Wyclef deejayed a few of his lyrics, but kept returning to playing music from local artistes like Mavado, Vybz Kartel and Khago.
He spoke about growing up in the ghetto and about his bid to become president of his native Haiti.
Acting as host, Wyclef introduced the other international act, Busta Rhymes who, alongside Spliff Star, ran through a collection of hits like Make It Clap, Put Your Hands Up and Give It To Me in a set that probably ran longer than some patrons would have liked.
Screams for Shaggy's hips
Shaggy was his usual self, gyrating his hips to the delight of the women in the crowd. His booming voice shook them to the core, as he called on singers Rayvon and Rik Rok for their collaborations before making way for singjay Mavado.
Getting the crowd to move closer to the stage for his performance, Mavado ran through his hits such as Touch Di Road, Real McKoy and Money Changer, before turning to more conscious songs like Nine Life and The Messiah.
Gully members Chase Cross and Flexxx made their presence felt with Better Days and Gyallist, respectively.
Bounty Killer and Beenie Man brought the night to its end in spectacular form.
The two deejays entered the stage together, Bounty in his classic black attire and Beenie in his white outfit; and the two exchanged hit after hit.
The duo used their bands Ruff Cut and Anger Management to good effect, getting the audience waving constantly, while they made the transition from earlier days in music to the present.
After performing together for an extended period, Bounty left the stage allowing Beenie to do his set.
'The Doctor' produced a typical performance, using the stage to good effect and drawing for hits like Mi Woman A Call Me and I'm OK. Mr G (Swaggerific), Khago (Nah Sell Out) and Future Troubles (Rum and Redbull) also joined Beenie Man onstage.
Bounty was back.
During his solo set, Rodney Price spoke about the woes of the country, as well as his personal woes saying, "I'm not an angel, but I'm not a devil, either," he said.
Bounty called on Patexx, and then Elephant Man for This Is How We Do It, with Elephant getting in some of his songs before the grand finale where Bounty called on surprise guest, Cham.
The crowd erupted.
Cyaan Believe, Babylon Boy, and Another Level brought back memories. Then the signal of the two artistes' reunion, Stronger.