Shaggy and Friends rock Jamaica House for charity

The thousands of Jamaicans who called Shaggy's bluff and turned out for the Shaggy and Friends concert held on the lawns of Jamaica House on Saturday night were treated to a seemingly endless line-up of quality performances, crowned by those from Elephant Man, soca-queen Alison Hinds and the man who dared people to come out and support the fund-raiser for the Bustamante Hospital for Children.

On a clear, chilly night, Elephant Man burned the place up with an electric performance that took patrons through a range of emotions. He took the stage after an emotional performance by Marion Hall, more popularly known as Lady Saw, and immediately transformed the mood. Dancing the Gully Creepa and the Nuh Linga dance moves that Usain Bolt made internationally famous during last year's Olympic Games, Elephant Man showed just why they call him the Energy God.

Dancing and deejaying

Dancing and deejaying from one side of the stage to the next, he had the crowd dancing, singing and laughing, especially when he asked for the lights to be shone on his face even though he was "not so cute". He even had a little boy come onstage and tried to learn his popular dance moves. However, the rhythmically challenged youth was unable to live up to expectations. After hugging the boy, a move that that drew 'aaaawwwws' from the audience, Elephant Man then said to him "Come offa mi stage." The audience laughed heartily.

As he performed, whenever he sensed the crowd was not a willing participant in the performance he would scream, "Are you tired?" to which the audience roared back, "No!"

Best for last

But he would save the best part for last. He said he was pleased to see so many people who came out to support the fund-raising effort to help the hospital. Then, acknowledging that he was not a singer, warned the audience that he was going to attempt to sing a song. He then broke out into We are the World. It wasn't long before the entire audience was singing along, thousands of hands swaying in the mild but chilly night breeze.

If Elephant Man is the god of energy, Alison Hinds is the goddess. On the night, she was all energy. Dressed in a black, deep halter-back jumpsuit, Hinds started out with her hit Roll It Gal and lit up the massive crowd like Christmas lights. Before long, it was like carnival. When she sang Togetherness, it was as if the audience was under her spell. Rags and waving implements suddenly appeared. And at her behest, they swung left like blades of grass in a stiff crosswind, then right, then left, right, left right again.

By the time she left the stage shortly after, the energy on the Jamaica House lawns would be unmatched for the remainder of the night.

The show was divided into three segments and Shaggy performed in all three, each time bringing his own unique style of great entertainment. He first appeared at the start of the first segment that was hosted by Milk and triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt, a slightly awkward relationship for the few minutes they were onstage together. However, that was soon forgotten as Shaggy, who followed a few incredible minutes from Dean Fraser, got into Boombastic. He was then joined onstage by Rik Rok and together they performed Bona fide Girl and perhaps their biggest hit It Wasn't Me. Both songs were crowd pleasers.

Shaggy returned shortly before 10 p.m. with Church Heathen before performing Summertime with Rayvon and then Oh Carolina. And then just like that he was gone again. He showed up again for engaging duets with Macy Gray - Thank You Lord - and Lady Saw with whom he performed his latest single Bad Man Don't Cry and the reply that he wrote for Lady Saw.

He closed out with Strength of a Woman and a short set with Tony Gold with whom he performed Sexy Lady.

Macy's delivery

Macy Gray delivered but at first it seemed as if she was going to have some trouble connecting with the audience. As she began her set, she had their attention but not their hearts. But then she reached for her trusty old hit I Try which had everyone singing along. Some patrons closed their eyes as they sang the lyrics to Gray's 10-year-old anthem.

There were really no poor performances on the night but the best of the others came from Morgan Heritage, Tarrus Riley, Marcia Griffiths, Luciano, Buju Banton, Tony Rebel, Freddie McGregor and a sweet 'brawta' from Barrington Levy.

Yes, Shaggy dared Jamaica to come out and support the cause. In the end, they were glad they did.