Conscious Minds November to Remember 2 – Night of Divas

Soca Queen Destra Garcia
Soca Queen Destra Garcia

Divas, both big and small (and fluffy and slim) congregated at the Guyana National Stadium for Conscious Minds’ “November to Remember 2 – Night of the Divas” concert last Saturday, November 17, 2012.

I understand that with November being the month to raise awareness for Domestic Violence, head of Conscious Minds thought it wise and timely to hold an event showcasing Caribbean Dancehall & Soca Divas. However, he neglected to include his own Guyanese divas but I guess we’ll discuss that later, first let me tell you about the show.
The show was hosted by Lisa Punch and Mondale Smith. Lisa, though not slated to perform opened up with a song (a song the DJ took forever to find) before she introduced the first act of the evening. Rags up! Flags up! If you’re not a soca loving diva then you would really find it hard to appreciate Destra Garcia’s music. Bringing the revelry and excitement of Carnival, Destra took us from hits to hits of her sweet sweet soca music. Many of the stiletto wearers decided to forego their ridiculous heels for flats to jump and frolic around to hits such as Max It Up, In D Air, Carnival, Jumpin’ and many more. She had patrons moving from one side of the stadium to the other. She even called a young lady from the crowd to represent for the Guyanese ladies. No one from the VIP opted to represent so a very willing young girl from General jumped the barricade to join Destra on stage. Her jumping did not go in vain because she surely didn’t disappoint.

Denise "Saucy" Belfon

In the middle of her performance Destra introduced on stage with her another one of Trinidad’s soca sensations, Denise ‘Saucy Wow’ Belfon. Saucy wasted no time in getting down to business and displaying her agility as she did the bicycle and many other gyrations. She even schooled the divas on what to do to their men when they got home, I hope many took notes. Saucy Wow’s energetic performance featured hits such as “Saucy Baby” and one of the best impersonations of Tina Turner’s song, “Private Dancer”. Destra got back on stage and the soca duo performed “Obsessive Winers” together before Destra finished off her performance and culminated the soca aspect of the show. Yes, I can tell you that many persons were dripping at the end of all that wining.

Tanya Stephens
Tanya Stephens

From Trinidad to Jamaica, from soca to dancehall, from the revelry of Carnival to stimulating social commentary, from the soca queen to the dancehall queen, from Destra to Tanya Stephens. The ladies (and surprisingly some men) all rushed to the front of the stage to get a little closer to Tanya. Women respect Tanya because they can relate to each and every one of her songs, some of the few she shared included “Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet”, “Tek Him Back”, “Boom Wuk”, “It’s a Pity”, “What a Day”, “Good Ride”, “These Streets” and many more. A for Amazing Tanya!

Spice

The show got a little hyper when dancehall diva Spice came on stage, the very vulgar Ms. Jim Screechie , who looked much better in her outfit last night then the clown suit she wore in August belted out the few tracks she has and then invited fluffy Pamputae on stage with her. Pamputae might be fluffy but she can move thus her recent single Slim vs. Fluffy which she sang with help from Spice and two girls, one fluffy and one slim from the crowd. The fluffy girl outdid the slim girl just like the song says. LOL. Pamputae ended her performance with her signature “Pat Yuh Pu$$y” and left Spice on stage who did an amazing but very raw rendition of the Power of Love.

Dancehall Queen Lady Saw
Dancehall Queen Lady Saw

The last diva to grace the stage was the Queen of Dancehall, the one, the only Lady Saw who got right down to business by taking off her heels and belting out hits such as “If Him Lef”, “Woman Mi Name”, “Sycamore Tree”, “Gal No Worry”, “Wife a Wife”, “Hardcore (It’s Raining)”, “It’s a Pity”, “Push

Over” and concluded with her very recent “Heels On”.
The show was an epic one I must say. Kudos to the Divas!
But I would have really liked to have at least two Guyanese divas on stage maybe Timeka Marshall & Jackie Hanover (sticking to the dancehall genre) and one last thing before I go, why was the show so scarcely attended?

Click to view album –> November to Remember 2 – Night of Divas

Celebrity All Stars Game Release

Trophy and Prizes
Trophy and Prizes

Thirty-two (32) local celebrities including West Indies Cricketer Ramnaresh Sarwan and reigning Sportswoman of the Year Shondell Alfred will be competing on Saturday August 20th at The Knights Basketball Club Second Annual Celebrity Basketball Game.

The event is billed for this Saturday at 19:00hrs at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and apart from the Celebrity Game, There will be three supporting games featured top local teams. The Celebrity Game cast has been beefed up this year to include a wider pool of celebrities.

The list includes twice the amount of females from last year, athletes from more sports disciplines and even prominent professionals.  Proceeds from last year’s event were donated to Joshua’s House and this year The Support Group for Deaf Persons has been earmarked.  Scotia Bank and Republic Bank will play the first supporting game followed by Giftland Office Max versus Qualfon and Youth Basketball Guyana’s (YBG) Elite versus Knights.

Below is a complete list of this year’s participants:

Athletes

  • Ronson Williams (National Football goal keeper)
  • Theodore Henry (National Rugby Coach/player )
  • Godfrey Munroe (Former National Table Tennis Champion)
  • Ramnaresh Sarwan (West Indies Cricketer)
  • Charles Ramson (Cricketer/Attorney-at-Law for Office of President)
  • Chris Barnwell (National Cricketer)
  • Kiev Chesney (2007 Junior National 800m champion /2010 Sports Reporter of the Year)
  • Steven Jacobs (National Cricketer)
  • Stephen Vieira (Superbike champion )
  • Edison Jefford (Former National Runner/Sports Reporter)
  • Leon Johnson (National Cricketer)
  • Paul DeNobrega (National Junior Cyclist Champion)
  • Leer Nunes (National Cyclist)
  • Jody-Ann Blake (National Female Tennis Champion)
  • Shondell Alfred (Guyana Female Boxing Champion/Sports Woman of the Year)
  • Kezqweyah Yisrael (Sports/Fitness Guru)

 

Entertainers

  • Chow Pow (Actor/Comedian)
  • Adrian Dutchin (Musician)
  • Jonthan Beepat (Wildfire Ent./Beepats)
  • James Bond (Attorney-at-Law)
  • Curtis MacKenzie (Curtis Workout/Fitness Guru}
  • Gialiani (Musician)
  • Lisa Punch (Musician)
  • Sheldon Brathwaite (Actor)
  • Compton Bobb (Artist/Marketing Manager Giftland OfficeMax)
  • Trevor Rose (Designer)
  • Joel Browne (Musician)
  • Michael Ignatious (Actor)
  • Dellon Peters (Graphics Designer Digicel/TV Host)
  • Vanila (Musician)
  • DJ Akelo (Stereo Sonics DJ)
  • DJ Casual (Radio DJ)

 

 

 

Jamzone Night of Jazz, Food and Fashion Review

Miss Jamzone international Delegates at Sidewalk Cafe
Miss Jamzone international Delegates at Sidewalk Cafe

Have you ever wondered why very few complain about the heat at the Sidewalk Café and Jazz Club? It’s because most are usually distracted by the smooth sounds of jazz music, the welcoming atmosphere and the calm and sophisticated crowd. On August 15, 2011 the Hits and Jams crew seized the opportunity to utilize this small but wonderful space to hold a Jazz, Fashion and Food Festival as part of their Jamzone Summer Break.

 

Jackie Hanover
Jackie Hanover

Upon entrance, attendees were immediately whisked away by the soothing sounds of the Georgetown Jazz Project, the pleasing scents permeating from the kitchen and the elegantly casually dressed audience. A small section of Guyana’s Who’s Who was there, including GT&T CEO Yog Mahadeo, GWI’s CEO (Acting) Nigel Niles and Sidewalk Café Proprietress, Cathy Hughes, wife of local legal legend Nigel Hughes. The smell, sound, sight and feel of this establishment gave one the sense of being in another world; even the vehicles parked on the street seemed cleaner and more upscale. And just when the Guyanalive.com team thought it could get no better we were pleasantly surprised by the Jamzone International Pageant delegates. They strutted their stuff in designs by Pat Coates, as well as items from Suriname-based Janelle Oosterling’s Janoos Collection; cameras flashed relentlessly.

Lisa Punch
Lisa Punch
Food
Food

During certain intervals, local songstresses Jackie Hanover and Lisa Punch serenaded the listeners with hits from the past. They were wonderfully backed up by the Georgetown Jazz Project as they belted out notes beyond our imagination and even provided a little amateur acting. Just to shake things up further, a steel pan player was added to the music ensemble for a short while, and the current Miss Jamzone International Queen graced us with her presence.

We at Guyanalive.com deem the Jazz, Fashion and Food Festival a success, and even though the heat was at times unbearable we have no reservations in giving our recommendations of the establishment as the service, atmosphere and style offered amply compensated for this weakness; an 8 out of a possible 10 on our Guyanalive.com scale. A closing note to all Guyanese: the next time you hear of a show at the Sidewalk Café, dress lightly and go early; you will not be disappointed.

View pictures from this event at –> GuyanaLive.com Gallery

By – Patrice Wishart

Lisa says “look out for the Punch”

Lisa PunchThe little girl with a big voice who brought down the National Cultural Center several years ago with Whitney Houston’s ‘I’ll Always Love you’ in record pitch is set to have her voice heard musically again.  Lisa Punch offering an update on what has been unfolding said “music wise I am working with Brutal Recording studios and I have been doing my music.”  In fact she has a new single out called ‘secret admirer’ and soon the video will be out for that song. Since Star Guyana she says that she’s been focused on school “because without an education I can’t go nowhere in terms of being successful.” She’s still in school and is also doing music. Lisa is advising persons who supported her at star Guyana and all other music enthusiasts to “look out for me because I am coming at u with a big PUNCH soon.” Aside from being focused on education and music Lisa recently began hosting the Hard Vibes television talk show on Btv2. That show thus far has been focused on girl talk regarding issues that effect and affect women but it is not limited to women.

In 2006 Lisa out performed some of Guyana’s best amateur talents at the national cultural center in dance, drama and singing to take home the U mobile Star Guyana crown. She remains the winner to date as there is yet to be another competition.  She is often used as a lead singer in the Bishops High school all girls’ choir.

A singer, dancer and an actress who is very friendly Lisa said above all things “I love the Lord and my family”. Her favorite quote is “You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to break him down”.

On her facebook page she states: I’m blessed, young, energetic, talented, amazing and above all an inspiration. I am who I am and your opinion is neither desired, nor required”. Lisa’s voice was the one that sang the CARIFESTA X theme  when Guyana hosted the event in 2008.

By Mondale Smith