Teen Perspective: Mario in Jamaica

nuff drama at the K.O.K. ‘Unite the People’ concert

By Aisha Porter-Christie

The Kings of Kings International Promotion’s ‘Unite the People’ concert held at Cinema 2 in New Kingston on Saturday, June 4, was a resounding success. Overall, the entertainment was good, but…of course…the hype surrounded international hip-hop and R&B artiste Mario. I realized this when I was forced to endure the ear-shattering level of screaming every time his name was mentioned.

From as early as 7:00 p.m., people began to trickle in. Girls, girls and more girls, (many of whom were wearing the closest thing to their birthday suit they could find) all wanting to secure a spot directly behind the fence so they could get a perfect view of their lil’ ‘cutie pie’. I’ve never rolled my eyes so many times in one night. The show was originally slated to start at 8:00 p.m., but things got underway a little late, and MC for the first segment, Owen Brown, took the stage at around a quarter to nine. Opening acts such as Robert Mystic, Genie Slick, Chrisinti and Heather Cummings, did their part at the beginning to get the crowd in the mood. By 9:30 p.m. Cinema 2 really began to fill up. I had been under the impression that at least 70% of the audience would be made up of teenagers, but was I ever wrong!

When veterans in the music business like Judy Mowatt, U Roy and Ken Boothe took the stage they received huge support from more mature members of the audience who were very much out in their numbers. Louie Culture was in devastating form as he performed a series of 80’s tunes and had the crowd going crazy. This just goes to show that today’s teens are really into retro.

Mario had not yet arrived, but the ‘younger generation’ was not left idle. Artistes like Jah Mason, Desperado, Maxi Priest, Shane-O, Bushman and of course DA REAL BIG MAN ‘Mr. Notorious’ himself, Turbulence, got the teens all worked up…and of course even more eager to see the main acts ­ Beenie Man and pretty boy Mario.

I made use of my backstage pass and went to experience the somewhat calmer atmosphere where the 'privileged’ people were. This was around 2:00 a.m., but of course Mario had not yet arrived. I caught a glimpse of ‘The Doctor’ Beenie Man when he arrived with his entourage (why these entertainers travel with so many men is beyond me). Eventually I got bored and went back to where the action was ­ the crowd. The teeny-boppers didn’t have to wait long. The person they had been waiting for arrived minutes later and the girls all waited with bated breath while the stage was set up for him.

Finally, at about 2:30 a.m. the teen heartthrob took the stage and then the drama began. MY GOSH the noise!!! Girls screaming; girls crying (LITERALLY CRYING ­ are these people for real?) He hadn’t even been on the stage two minutes before they broke down the fence ­ dats right, a human demolition team of girls in short skirts and heels, after being unsuccessful at climbing over the fence, tore it down. Den dem bomrush di stage and try fi climb up pon it. Poor Mario…wait, FORGET HIM! Poor his bodyguard! I mean seriously, one man going up against a swarm of girls ­ Jamaican girls…impossible situation! It was like a "Girls Gone Wild" rerun. Mario stayed cool though, and used his charm to try and calm them down. It was the most pointless thing I’d ever seen in my life. The music had stopped and he was just there repeating “Can y’all just back up a lil’ bit please! Yeah, I love you too!” ­ ‘cute’ smile and everything. I’m still wondering how he actually thought that was going to work. Eventually he gave up and continued his performance with a whole bunch of girls half perched on the stage screaming in his face, reaching out their hands for him to touch. Smart people like myself were screaming too. We were saying something completely different though ­ “DON’T TOUCH DEM FOOL!! BODYGUARD CYAAN SAVE YOU IF DEM DRAG YOU OFF DI STAGE!!” Like I said people ­ pure drama.

Strangely enough, I have nothing to criticize. His performance was flawless. For real the boy is talented, and with nice skin tone and muscles…yeah, him DEFINITELY can work wid. The choreography was CRAZY!!! Mario’s slick moves were complemented by the rhythm of two extremely energetic male dancers. Then came more drama. The funniest thing happened. The girl who he chose, that’s right CHOSE, to come on stage with him had been having a little conversation with me earlier. She wasn’t one of the girls who mash up di fence (though she did take advantage of it ­ Lord knows how she reached the front when she had been standing beside me the whole time), nor was she one of the girls half perched on the stage screaming in his face. Him bypass ALLLLLL of those girls and chose her. Man, the bodyguard had problems getting her up on the stage. Other girls kept pushing her away and trying to get on. Well, eventually she reached and not only was she serenaded by Mario (I doubt she heard a word he was saying, she looked seriously dazed) but he also coaxed her into dancing with him…well, if you call that dancing (hint hint). I admit it, I would trade places with her any day. I mean Mario on his knees in front of me…need I say more? This little performance brought forth mixed reactions from the other ladies, however. While I was happy for her, the girl beside me was cursing like crazy saying that his ‘choice female neva look good and her hair neva do good ­ and a whole lot of other irrelevant stuff. Again jealousy rears its ugly head. The girls at the front still hadn’t given up trying to get up on the stage and hence they were blocking Mario from the view of the people behind them. Of course, as is traditional, a whole barrage of plastic bottles reached dem. They finally came down.

Mario’s vocals on ‘How Could You’ could not have been more perfect. He then ended his performance with ‘Let Me Love You’ to tremendous crowd support. This, after all, was what the crowd had been waiting for the whole night ­ duh.

It’s strange though, the crowd only knew three of the songs he did. They spent the rest of his performance screaming. Maybe they appreciated his ‘good looks more than his vocals, but I, on the other hand, admired his talent. I was never a big Mario fan, but I guess I’ve been converted. I’m actually tempted to go buy his album and that, dear readers, is saying something.

Unfortunately, I left while Richie Spice was performing, but he’d been off to an excellent start. Overall, I’m not sorry I went, even with all that 'drama’. The turnout was wonderful and the crowd response was great for most of the performances. The concert lived up to its name ­ it united the people through musical acts to suit every taste. I wasn’t disappointed in the least and I definitely got my free ticket’s worth. Big up to Kings of Kings (K.O.K) Productions on a job well done and congratulations on their 10th anniversary celebrations. Part-proceeds of the ‘Unite the People’ concert will go to the Haile Selassie High School and the Victoria Jubilee Hospital.

Aisha Porter-Christie is a student in Jamaica. This piece was recently published in the Jamaican teen paper, the Teen Herald.