Popcaan, Ravers on YVAs high
POPCAAN was the big winner at last Saturday’s Your View Awards (YVAs), held at the National Indoor Sports Centre in St Andrew.
The singjay, who did not attend the event, won four categories — Favourite Caribbean Artiste of The Year, Favourite Local International Artiste of The Year — Favourite Male Local Artiste of The Year, and shared with Dre Island Favourite Music Collaboration (We Pray).
Ding Dong and his Ravers Clavers dance outfit also took home four awards.
Ding Dong won Favourite Male Dancer of The Year, while Ravers Clavers secured Favourite Dance Group. Desha Ravers won Favourite Female Dancer of the Year, while the Kool Ravers collected an award for Favourite Dance Move for Fling Yuh Shoulders.
“People gravitate to us because we put in the work an’ we’re real in the streets. I have been winning this award for years, from the show first started. I feel we should give the younger dancers coming up a chance to win awards like this. Look at Desha, she won her award, an’ Kool Ravers won his award. There are so many talented dancers out there an’ a fi dem time fi shine now,” Ding Dong told Jamaica Observer.
Chronixx and Spice each received two awards. The Rastafarian singer’s sister collected his award for Favourite Local Chart-Topping Song of the Year (Likes); and Favourite Local Album of The Year — Chronology. Spice, who is off the island, was awarded Favourite Local Artiste of The Year (Female) and Favourite Local Music Video Concept: Xtreme Arts for Sheets.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. Dunbar collected on behalf of the duo.
Despite leading with seven nominations, Alkaline was only able to secure Favourite Dancehall Artiste of The Year. Hottest Summer Song went to Aidonia’s Yeah Yeah. Both were absent.
The no-shows and a near 45-minute late start aside, the YVAs ran fairly smoothly.
“We’ve done all that we can do. Perhaps in time they will mature and understand that this is something that’s important to celebrate not only the artiste, but other artistes,” event conceptualiser Karen Clarke told the Jamaica Observer in relation to the no-shows.
Early in proceedings, Lanz brought some excitement as, surrounded by two dancers, acted out his hilarious song, She Naa Leggo. Soca star Nailah Blackman started her performance with an acoustic version of Workout. Her display of talent set the bar and heightened audience interaction when Shenseea joined in for their collaboration Badishh.
Bugle and Wayne Marshall turned their song Social Media into a dance-fest when they were joined by dancer Shakespeare. They transformed proceedings into a real ‘Rasta Party’.
Shane O had the crowd singing along to his popular songs A Million and Last Days in a short but well- received performance.
Ding Dong, backed by Ravers Clavers, closed the show on a high. He ordered that the barrier between the VIP and general sections be removed and invited the crowd to the front of the stage. They eagerly obliged, and he ripped through his dance hits to a confetti-filled finish.
“I thought the production was great. I thought the energy in the room was great. I was happy that we were able to fuse in a regional artiste (Nailah Blackman) and also the international aspect of the Kinjaz (dancers). I was glad that we had the theatre involved. I would have hoped that we would have gotten more, but there were a lot of events happening tonight, but we’re happy,” she said.
The remaining winners are as follows:
• Favorite Music Video Director:
Ruption
• Favorite Sound System:
Chromatic
• Favorite Social Media Personality
of the Year: Quite Perry
• Favorite Breakout Celebrity of the
Year: Govana.
• Favorite Gospel Artist: Kevin
Downswell
• Favorite Producer: Romeich
• Favorite Local Theatre Actress:
Delicita
• Favorite Local Theatre Actor:
Shebada
• Favorite Theatre Play: What
Sweet Nanny Goat
• Favorite DJ (selector): DJ
Antsman.
— Additional reporting by Sade