Winchester shoots for SOCA FANS
‘SOCAPHILES’ who made the annual pilgrimage Saturday to Smirnoff Bacchanal Beach J’ouvert at James Bond Beach in Oracabessa in St Mary were left on a musical high after Shurwayne Winchester’s spirited performance.
The Trinidad and Tobago soca artiste had the thousands of ‘pilgrims’ — many of whom were baptised in paint earlier — dancing during his 90-minute jaunt.
“I believe in giving people their money’s worth and people appreciate good music. I never want to short-change anyone,” Winchester told the Jamaica Observer after his gig.
He greeted the sea of patrons with De Band Coming (2004), which earned him T&T’s Road March title. They showed their appreciation by gyrating and vigorously twirling their rags.
Like the biblical Moses, he parted them down the middle and had each side swaying to the left and right like waves.
He did the crowd favourites We Control D Road; Water Coming, Water Running; and Machel Montano’s Fog Up Di Place.
Winchester, who first performed in the island at Caribbean Traffic Jam in 2004, said he combines musical genres to suit his audience’s taste.
“There may be persons that do not like soca 100 per cent. So by doing the other genre of music, I keep them entertained and bring them back to soca,” he said.
He performed his Wine On It (Overproof ‘riddim) before delivering hits made popular by dancehall acts, Let’s Go (Beenie Man), Bad Gal (Konshens), Settle Down (Mavado), as well as techno-inspired Everyday I’m Shuffling (LMFAO) and We Found Love in a Hopeless Place (Rihanna).
Winchester has collaborations with Jamaican artistes including Ce’Cecile (Rough Wine), Serani (All I Need), Elephant Man (Adrenaline), and Maxi Priest (Make It Yours).
“Performing in Trinidad is similar to Jamaica. The ladies love to wine. And, once the ladies start wining, the men will follow to get a wine off the ladies,” he said.
Other soca artistes who performed on the evening were Patrice Roberts and Farmer Nappy.