By Lama Kanj
Special to The Dialog
Mr. Vegas, live at Ruhr Reggae Summer 2010. Photo: Celia Wagner / flickr.com
On Friday, Dec. 14, the Guvernment welcomed a crowd of 600 George Brown College students and friends. Although the main room and all-ages room were packed with attendees, the room designated for house music proved to be of little interest as a meager audience was present during the night.
Neil Cumberbatch, the Student Association’s senior coordinator for Student Life said, “There weren’t as many students as the Massive in September but they seemed to enjoy this one more.”
The electrified crowd danced to reggae, soca and dancehall music while they awaited the headlining performers. Skinny Fabulous started the show with his high-energy performance. When Mr. Vegas took to the stage he was met with loud applause. The performance of his hit single “Bruk It Down” produced a massive reaction from show-goers. Mr. Vegas wound the crowd down with a tribute to Bob Marley as the crowd sang along to “Three Little Birds”.
I had a chance to chat with the soft-spoken, international dancehall sensation Mr. Vegas prior to his performance. I asked him how it felt to have made it from Jamaica to touring internationally. He appeared humbled as he described his rise to fame, “some of these places I’ve gone to, I’ve never dreamt of going”. When asked what obstacles he’s had to overcome, Mr. Vegas replied plainly, “to basically stay relevant for so many years”.
With a drink in hand a relaxed Mr. Vegas said, “Reggae and dancehall music has influenced a lot of communities. I just try to take people’s mind off the stress that they’re going through and just let them have a good time”. He explained that reggae music also influences education, “If you listen to some Bob Marley or Jimmy Cliff you find out what’s going on in the world”. He said that these artists shed light on important cultural and political issues.
Mr. Vegas compared his commemorative album entitled “Sweet Jamaica” to his past releases by saying that it takes “people back to where Mr. Vegas’ inspiration is coming from. It’s a double-disc; it has one reggae disc and one dancehall disc. It’s what I grew up listening to. And of course we celebrated our 50th anniversary” – referring to the anniversary of reggae music.
Asked which current artist he would collaborate with if the opportunity arose, without hesitation he replied Kanye West. He spoke highly of Kanye West and stated, “I just like his production. He seems to be a perfectionist like myself.”
On a more serious note, I asked what his thoughts were on the topic of the LGBT community. He scrambled for a safe answer. He quickly replied, “Only God can judge and I think people are starting to realize that. Leave all judgment to God almighty.”
I asked where he sees his music heading within the next five years. Mr. Vegas replied simply, “I just hope my music will be spreading throughout, a bigger and more international audience”. Not an unimaginable feat for someone who has already come this far.
For Mr. Vegas what makes a great song is “something that you can always remember something about it. Something you can keep singing in your head.” With his catchy hooks and danceable music, Mr. Vegas is doing something right.
