WENDY ALLEYNE did not disappoint.
Those who turned up at the National Stadium on Friday night to hear her, left wanting more. The occasion was the Wendy Alleyne In Concert show held to commemorate Barbados’ 50th anniversary of Independence.
Alleyne was in a giving mood for about an hour and a half. She sang all the hits that have made her a special Barbadian treasure. And who best to measure Alleyne’s longevity and fan base than those who would have travelled thousands of miles to be part of her concert, and defying even the prospects of rainy weather.
That was the reality. Locals and scores of Bajan Yankees boarded a time capsule for the 70s and relived their musical youth when the iconic Alleyne headlined an impressive list of local entertainers at the Waterford, St Michael site. The gods smiled on the location. The rains threatened but respite came after a short shower. From there, the atmosphere was beautiful and unspoilt, one in which the patrons basked until 12:30 a.m.
The show, scheduled for 8 p.m., began 30 minutes late. But the back-in-time posse were to see the girl who hails from St John. To see and hear Alleyne was a joy. Not because she is a purveyor of beautiful musical memories, but she showed a peace of mind that was contagious. There was no doubt that fans loved it.
There was also something special about Alleyne’s voice. It was authentic Bajan. Her rearrangement of a number of popular works revealed an enthusiasm by the veteran singer that says she can be around for some time. Her register was on point, whether in Depending On You, Can’t Control My Emotions, Midnight Blue, He is so Fine or Standby Love. Her team-up with calypso monarch Aziza for All I Want Is Music was memorable. Alleyne’s rendition of the movie track Take My Breath Away did just that.
The pace for a good show was set earlier in the evening.
The improvised seating arrangement in front of the off limit stadium stands was filled up by start time – a surprise given that there were hardly any patrons around at 7:30 p.m.
After emcee Wayne “Kool” Simmons apologised for the late start, it was then time for an avalanche of musical memories of what it was like for the past 50 years.
Colin Spencer, more familiar to the calypso lovers, showed his versatility with Sheryl Hackett’s Beautiful and Unspoilt and Lucy’s Door popularised here by ace singer Clarence Thompson.
Adrian Clarke, an advocate of the Barbados’ national spouge beat, fired up the laid back crowd with All I Need Is Another Try and Band of Gold; Carlyn Leacock rekindled her relationship with her followers with the spouge hit Hello There Baby, but she also reconnected with the present by speaking to the challenges facing Barbados through a rendition of Many Rivers to Cross.
Desmond “Fowl” Weekes of the Draytons Two fame – the other half is Lew Zorro Drayton – sustain the Bajan sound with Come Here To Drink Milk and an unfamiliar but equally infectious number Proud To Be A Bajan.
The nostalgic journey was broken somewhat when Aziza doing One People One Nation and former calypso monarch iWeb rendered Big Up, a tribute to those who he thought played a major role in building the local music industry.
Then it was on to Mike Grosvenor of Wendy Alleyne and The Dynamics fame. Grosvenor got an enthusiastic response to his Gimme Music and Independent Man. Smokey Burke was also embraced for his smooth delivery of Tell Her That I Am sorry, Bye Bye Bye Love and Help Me Love. Then there was Richard Stoute. Stoute’s is still strong and persuasive and heard in Any Day Now and I Got Sunshine. He even treated the audience to Rock Steady Christmas at the urging of emcee Simmons.
Tony Poser Grazette, who possesses a very soothing voice, was the ultimate showman and serenaded with a set that included his favourite The Cherry Song.
The Stadium, in its present state, was a challenging place to perform, but the entertainers, band and backup singers rose to the occasion.
After the show, the question remains: Why did we allow our music industry to slip so badly?