8 months ago
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‘King of Fyah’, Capleton arrived at the Newport Commercial Centre in the early hours of Sunday morning blazing with an unquenchable energy to “bun out dutty wickedness and wicked man”, while sending out an equally impassioned plea for respect, as well as for the uplifting and preservation of the music and culture, even as he fired off some of his biggest hits.
Checking to ensure that fans had their “lightas” – and they did, even flaming torches were a part of their set – King Shango easily ascended to the musical highs he is known for, both literally and figuratively, with chants of “slew dem a bare feelings dem a carry! ... Dem nuh like we and we no like dem! ... Lotion mi nuh lotion man! ... Lef outta Jamaica gone a foreign pon tour preaching teaching di people for sure! ... Light up di chalice mek we bun dung Rome!”
Naturally, the full house at the wharf in Kingston had no choice but to make several attempts to “bun it dung”.
In rapid-fire succession, Capleton launched his attack. “Di bwoy dem who a trouble the lickle pickney dem ... oonu nuh get way. Di bwoy dem who a kill out di woman dem, oonu nuh get way,” he warned. “If yuh kill out di woman dem yuh kill out procreation. Don’t kill the children. If yuh kill the children yuh kill di future.”
And there was more message in between his songs. “If yuh don’t seh good ova evil, don’t put yuh hand inna di air; if yuh don’t seh life ova death, don’t put yuh hand inna the air; if yuh don’t respect yuh mother and yuh father, don’t put yuh hand inna di air. And if yuh nuh respect yourself as a true human being of value, oonu can lef’ outta da place yah. Whe yuh lightaaaaa? Whe yuh han’? Put up yuh han’ inna di air!”
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Making a bold fashion statement in a custom-made white suit beautifully adorned with the brightest red fabric, and shoes that matched perfectly, Capleton took a moment to offer some advice.
“Some bwoy see mi come pon di stage and a look pon mi suit and seh “Capleton hype.” What yuh mean? Mek dem know that fashion is a part of di ting,” he declared and moved right along with fiery lyrics on top of fiery lyrics.
It was 3:50 on Sunday morning when Capleton and his loyal flagman Fyah Stone exited centre stage at the Unleashed Entertainment event, which had kept its promise of entertaining patrons with music from the ‘90s and also showcased Aaron Silk, doing a tribute to this late brother, Garnett Silk. In a post-performance interview, he told The Gleaner that he is currently sorting out a new album and also working on a tour and other events. But he had things to say.
“Mi just deh yah a do it. We haffi a preserve the culture and preserve the music right now cause yuh see the state that the music is in. But as mi seh, authenticity.. yuh cannot tek that away from the people. People know what is good music, people know what mek sense and people know what is meaningful, especially out there across the globe, not just Jamaica or the Caribbean,” the veteran artiste stated.
He added, “We know [that] we are the creators so we just have to do what we do best and preserve what we know. We know that there will always be additions. The music a go evolve ... yute a go rise and experiment a go gwaan. But yuh still can’t forget where the music is coming from. Is like the student learn enough and dem nuh business with the teacher again. But the past determines the present and the future ... and that is our problem, we forget where we coming from.”
He cautioned those in the entertainment space to remember the struggles and “how you go through with the powers of the Almighty”.
For several hours prior to Capleton’s arrival at the venue, the Rich Sound Team, DJ Cub Rock, Team Wire and ZJ Johnny Cool kept the juggling “nice and easy; calm and smooth” with a rich mix of memories by the score from different genres to Songs such as First Love Never Dies, This Time I’ll be Sweeter, I Hope We Get to Love in Time, The Closer I get to you, Kiss and Say Goodbye, Reasons, Sharing the Night Together, Little Genie, One in a Million, and You Got it All Over Him were a hit, but there were no couples actually dancing together.
Among the reggae and dancehall hits Best Baby Father, Shelly Ann, Living Dangerously, Twice My Age, Sitting Here Watching, ( Girl Your Love is Like) Wild Fire, Waiting in Vain, Zion in a Vision, Brown Eyes, Mr Luxury, Rudie Don’t Fear no boy, Movie Star and Saddest Day in my Life.
English (US) ·