Post by kaya on Dec 25, 2005 9:23:44 GMT -5
ARTICLE:
Smirnoff Experience - TOK earns ire of promoters
Entertainment
by Roland Henry Observer staff reporter
Sunday, December 25, 2005
The much-anticipated Smirnoff Experience showcase at the palisadoes Kart Track on Friday night was interrupted by system operators, who muted the microphones during TOK's performance of the hit song, Chi-Chi Man, the lyrical content of which expresses anti-homosexual sentiments.
The crowd, at first, did not realise what had occurred, since the audio system had been problematic throughout the night. The four-member dancehall act attempted to go into another song but promoters kept the volume down. In an attempt to address what had just occurred, clearly frustrated group member Craig T declared to the audience: "Don't ever make your morals be compromised by cowardice."
TOK. refused to speak to media after their aborted performance
After the aborted performance, the group's members retreated to their backstage quarters, refusing to comment on the situation.
"We not talking to nobody. no reporter, no promoter, nobody," replied the group's lead singer Xavier 'Flex' Davidson.
The song, which is featured on the group's debut album My Crew, My Dawgs came under much flak in 2004, when British gay rights advocate group Outrage! organised an international boycott campaign against them and against other artistes, including Beenie Man and Capleton, for what they described as homophobic lyrics.
TOK's road manager, Steve Jones, in a phone interview, said yesterday that the group is not yet prepared to address the public about the incident. He said that the lock-off represents an attempt to control artistic creativity.
Sean Paul. invited fellow artiste Wayne Marshall on the stage for a performance
"All that we can say at the moment is that we feel very disrespected that the promoters cut off the microphone without saying a thing to us. nobody came to us, they just went and cut the music," said Jones. He said also that at this point, he is unsure whether the incident will affect the relationship between Smirnoff Experience promoters, Red Stripe and the group. He, however, said that it is totally dependent on the promoters.
"All we are interested in is music. we love music and we aim to please, it's a good song, the crowd loved it. We are in no way inciting violence on anyone, it's just part of the act," Jones told the Observer.
While Jones said no one consulted with the group's officials before turning the sound off, Red Stripe communications manager, Maxine Wittingham, said no one had to, since the company sent out a release informing the artistes what they should do during their performance.
"They should not have performed the song, according to our code of conduct, which stipulated that no song which incites violence on any group should be performed," Wittingham said in a backstage interview, adding that TOK's performance of the song goes against the contractual agreement.
The group's performance was, however, well received by the audience, who apparently had no problems with the content, cheering loudly during its introduction. Some patrons did, however, express discontent at the incident, but from different standpoints.
"A lot of artiste don't know their place. if Red Stripe said don't perform a certain type of song, don't do it.
If they as artistes feel that they can't perform without expressing their strong feelings against homosexuality, then maybe they shouldn't perform," said one patron who requested anonymity.
"I don't like the hypocrisy, Busy Signal came up and was referring to female private parts in a lewd way and nobody stopped him," said another patron, Taniesha Lawes. She said that she did not think the group had done anything wrong by performing the track.
"Everybody know that Jamaicans 'bun' b.yman, so what's the big deal?" Lawes asked.
For the rest of the show, the fair-sized crowd first saw Tami Chynn, who started off the performance section of the party with her single Hot Hot, followed by Gimme Good. Chynn was supported by backup singer and dancers in matching brown garb.
She maintained a high energy performance, especially during her delivery Tell Me Seh - the latest video release - which received thunderous applause. Chynn's Universal Records debut should be out early next year.
"I'm not sure what I'm going to call it, I want it to be something meaningful but fun," she said in a backstage interview.
Chynn's successor on the stage, Busy Signal, was also well received. Busy's set included Not Going Down and Step Out. He paused his delivery to comment on the crime and violence affecting the country.
"Jamaica is a dot on the map, what we doin' with the highest crime rate in the world?' he said. The still-young deejay's performance, however, was marred by his lewd content and frequent use of profanity.
The TOK incident put a damper on the rest of the night's proceedings, with international R&B singer, Bobby Valentino struggling to revive the despondent crowd, pulling stunts like throwing lingerie at the audience and covering some of R Kelly's material, as well as his popular single Slow Down.
It was Sean Paul, however, that managed to recreate the party vibe by rendering an electrifying performance complete with backup dancers, fireworks and a dynamic backing band. Among the tracks he performed were We Be Burnin' and Never Gonna Be the Same, both from his latest release, the platinum-selling The Trinity.
Sean Paul also invited fellow artiste and long-time friend Wayne Marshall to accompany him in delivering Yardie Bone, another track featured on the Grammy-nominated album.
"I don't have to kill up myself to do a duet with any foreign rapper because we have the local talent of Sean Paul," Marshall said during his performance. The deejay also performed Get Busy from his previous album, Dutty Rock.
The show ended at around 5:30 early Saturday morning.
Taken from the Jamaica Observer
www.jamaicaobserver.com
Smirnoff Experience - TOK earns ire of promoters
Entertainment
by Roland Henry Observer staff reporter
Sunday, December 25, 2005
The much-anticipated Smirnoff Experience showcase at the palisadoes Kart Track on Friday night was interrupted by system operators, who muted the microphones during TOK's performance of the hit song, Chi-Chi Man, the lyrical content of which expresses anti-homosexual sentiments.
The crowd, at first, did not realise what had occurred, since the audio system had been problematic throughout the night. The four-member dancehall act attempted to go into another song but promoters kept the volume down. In an attempt to address what had just occurred, clearly frustrated group member Craig T declared to the audience: "Don't ever make your morals be compromised by cowardice."
TOK. refused to speak to media after their aborted performance
After the aborted performance, the group's members retreated to their backstage quarters, refusing to comment on the situation.
"We not talking to nobody. no reporter, no promoter, nobody," replied the group's lead singer Xavier 'Flex' Davidson.
The song, which is featured on the group's debut album My Crew, My Dawgs came under much flak in 2004, when British gay rights advocate group Outrage! organised an international boycott campaign against them and against other artistes, including Beenie Man and Capleton, for what they described as homophobic lyrics.
TOK's road manager, Steve Jones, in a phone interview, said yesterday that the group is not yet prepared to address the public about the incident. He said that the lock-off represents an attempt to control artistic creativity.
Sean Paul. invited fellow artiste Wayne Marshall on the stage for a performance
"All that we can say at the moment is that we feel very disrespected that the promoters cut off the microphone without saying a thing to us. nobody came to us, they just went and cut the music," said Jones. He said also that at this point, he is unsure whether the incident will affect the relationship between Smirnoff Experience promoters, Red Stripe and the group. He, however, said that it is totally dependent on the promoters.
"All we are interested in is music. we love music and we aim to please, it's a good song, the crowd loved it. We are in no way inciting violence on anyone, it's just part of the act," Jones told the Observer.
While Jones said no one consulted with the group's officials before turning the sound off, Red Stripe communications manager, Maxine Wittingham, said no one had to, since the company sent out a release informing the artistes what they should do during their performance.
"They should not have performed the song, according to our code of conduct, which stipulated that no song which incites violence on any group should be performed," Wittingham said in a backstage interview, adding that TOK's performance of the song goes against the contractual agreement.
The group's performance was, however, well received by the audience, who apparently had no problems with the content, cheering loudly during its introduction. Some patrons did, however, express discontent at the incident, but from different standpoints.
"A lot of artiste don't know their place. if Red Stripe said don't perform a certain type of song, don't do it.
If they as artistes feel that they can't perform without expressing their strong feelings against homosexuality, then maybe they shouldn't perform," said one patron who requested anonymity.
"I don't like the hypocrisy, Busy Signal came up and was referring to female private parts in a lewd way and nobody stopped him," said another patron, Taniesha Lawes. She said that she did not think the group had done anything wrong by performing the track.
"Everybody know that Jamaicans 'bun' b.yman, so what's the big deal?" Lawes asked.
For the rest of the show, the fair-sized crowd first saw Tami Chynn, who started off the performance section of the party with her single Hot Hot, followed by Gimme Good. Chynn was supported by backup singer and dancers in matching brown garb.
She maintained a high energy performance, especially during her delivery Tell Me Seh - the latest video release - which received thunderous applause. Chynn's Universal Records debut should be out early next year.
"I'm not sure what I'm going to call it, I want it to be something meaningful but fun," she said in a backstage interview.
Chynn's successor on the stage, Busy Signal, was also well received. Busy's set included Not Going Down and Step Out. He paused his delivery to comment on the crime and violence affecting the country.
"Jamaica is a dot on the map, what we doin' with the highest crime rate in the world?' he said. The still-young deejay's performance, however, was marred by his lewd content and frequent use of profanity.
The TOK incident put a damper on the rest of the night's proceedings, with international R&B singer, Bobby Valentino struggling to revive the despondent crowd, pulling stunts like throwing lingerie at the audience and covering some of R Kelly's material, as well as his popular single Slow Down.
It was Sean Paul, however, that managed to recreate the party vibe by rendering an electrifying performance complete with backup dancers, fireworks and a dynamic backing band. Among the tracks he performed were We Be Burnin' and Never Gonna Be the Same, both from his latest release, the platinum-selling The Trinity.
Sean Paul also invited fellow artiste and long-time friend Wayne Marshall to accompany him in delivering Yardie Bone, another track featured on the Grammy-nominated album.
"I don't have to kill up myself to do a duet with any foreign rapper because we have the local talent of Sean Paul," Marshall said during his performance. The deejay also performed Get Busy from his previous album, Dutty Rock.
The show ended at around 5:30 early Saturday morning.
Taken from the Jamaica Observer
www.jamaicaobserver.com