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MTV Tempo Launch - Jamaica - October 16 2005

It was wet, very wet, and muddy at the James Bond Beach in St Mary yet not even the heavy showers which have been pelting the island for the last two weeks, and the accompanying discomforts, could stop MTV from launching their signature Caribbean programme, Tempo.

"The show must go on, despite the rain," said Sharon Burke of Solid Agency, local producer of the launch. And go on it did, albeit 24 hours after its scheduled start and with much less patrons than anticipated.

The MTV launch of Tempo was originally planned to take place on Saturday (October 15) and Sunday (October 16) with a stellar line-up of Jamaican artistes, but the Saturday show was postponed due to persistent showers. Then the word from the principals was that the Saturday show would take place on Sunday and the Sunday show on Monday.

Probably fearing that there would be no abatement of the rain, the organisers finally condensed the two shows into one grand affair on Sunday night.

With a handful of people present, Bass Odyssey was given the task of warming up the audience as the rain continued to come down. Bass Odyssey, truth be told, did a really good job setting up good vibes for what was to come.

At 6:40 pm, the first act came on stage and patrons who were scattered across the expanse of James Bond Beach complex, looking for shelter more than anything else, moved closer to the stage to watch as some of the 'lesser lights' performed.

Then after a lengthy break of close to an hour and a half, Bass Odyssey again took control, this time with Point Blank providing the inspiration on microphone.

Vybz Kartel was the first big act to grace the stage in the second section of the show and thereafter it was a who's who parade of the best talents in local music. Bounty Killer, Buju Banton - who did a cameo with Bounty Killer - Voise Mail, Morgan Heritage, Assassin, Wayne Marshall, Elephant Man and Ce'Cile - with dancers in tow - all did short but very pleasing sets to allow MTV to get the requisite television footage they needed for the television launch of Tempo next month.

During the various performances, patrons, now numbering over 1,500, never lost faith. They braved the elements using from umbrellas to rags, towels and Tempo bandanas to ward off the rain. Some were, however, challenged by the frequent stops in the show for what hostess Doneisha Prendergast described as "stops to change tapes by the MTV video crew".

Since Jimmy Cliff's return to the local stage last year, patrons have grown accustomed to him performing lengthy sets with hits ranging from the 1960s to his present Black Magic album.

On Sunday night, Cliff was limited to just five songs, but he was masterful as ever. He also drew adoration from the younger ones in the audience when he showed off his dancing skills with the popular Willie Bounce dance. There was much laughter when he closed with I Can See Clearly Now (the rain is gone), amidst the continuing downpour.

Toots was as lively as ever but he too was limited by the short set nature of the show. Only Cliff and Toots performed with backing bands. All other performers did their stuff on tracks.

When we left the venue at 2:45 am, top overseas act The Game had yet to perform.