Sting 2004 may not have pulled a bumper crowd but most of the performances were of good quality.
By Karyl WalkerTurbulance must be given high marks for his performance at Sting. At the end of his stint, patrons were overheard complimenting the DJ, dubbing him a 'modern rasta'.
He caused roars of approval when he mentioned that he used condoms and when he berated Rastas who don't bathe regularly. It was social commentary in a comedic form and the Sting audience just loved it.
The audience was highly appreciative. The popularity of Capleton's catalogue was evident and he lived up to his star billing. With the absence of the usual throng of flag-waving supporters, the prophet had more space on stage to prance, stomp and chant, to the delight of his many fans who illuminated the venue with lighters, torches and fireworks.
He was followed by show-closer, Beenie Man, who although giving a good performance, did not spark as expected. No marks should be taken away from "The Doctor", however, as he was hampered in his efforts by the slight downpour and the fact that many members of the audience were tired at that time of the morning and started to trudge out of the Jamworld Entertainment Centre.
The Fifth Element Family of Richie Spice and Chuck Fenda again did their cause well at Sting. Richie Spice has been, by far, the leading singer this year and he used his hits to good effect. The crowd just loved him and his penetrative lyrics and he poured it on them.
When he called up Chuck Fenda to join him on stage, the place erupted as Fenda reeled off his popular hits. The duo was definitely among the top performers for the night.
Impressive performances were also given by Perfect, I Wayne and Fantan Mojah, who were all billed as part of the 2004 Sting Magnificent Seven.
Enough cannot be said of the positive impact these three artistes have had on dancehall this year and the audience really warmed to their musical offerings.
Particularly disappointing was the performance of Kris Kelly. Kelly seemed to be on the wrong stage and failed to move the small crowd when she opened with a rendition of Jah Cure's popular Longing For. By the time she went into her Uptown Top Ranking, the crowd was not convinced.
Ghandi and Bascom X were also far from convincing. Chezidek, on the contrary was awesome and should be one for the future if he continues on the same path. Chezidek's hit Leave The Trees was a big favourite, Lutan Fyah was also one of the performers worthy of mention. He gave an explosive performance, which should auger well for his career. He also created waves with his dance moves. Ninja Man, despite not pulling off any of his antics of previous years, could not be considered a failure as he showed his versatility by chanting some on-the-spot lyrics which drew a few roars from the crowd.
Others who did well at Sting included Bushman, Beetle Bailey, DYCR, the duo of Sugar Roy and Conrad Crystal, and Hero.
According to the Sting promoters, Anthony B breached his contract when he uttered words critical of the Prime Minister, Operation Kingfish and former head of the now defunct Crime management Unit, Senior Superintendent Reneto Adams.
But the crowd seemed to love his brazenness and flung bottles and a single rock after Anthony B left the stage. Adams, who appeared briefly in an attempt to appease the crowd, was met with a chorus of boos. A single plastic bottle landed near to where he stood.
In the early segment where budding artistes were given a chance to prove their mettle, Black Lion, Mikey Pelpa, YT and Cutty Corn were among those who shone through.
Magnum Sting 2004 was not as glamorous as in previous years but the music on offer was less violent and the show was more organised.
