Guyana’s flag
tribute turns 20
dreds of times, even as he tried
to find something new to bring
to his audience. An indication
that Guyanese people love the
music.
The recording artist conveyed
that nationals in the homeland
have warmly embraced
the song that brought a sense
of pride to them, and inspired
them to start wearing the flag
as head wraps on Mashramani
day.
“In the diaspora there has
been a feeling of gratitude that
someone was articulating their
feelings of longing for their
homeland,” noted the vocalist,
who has big plans to celebrate
the song’s 20th anniversary,
both in the diaspora and at
home.
The infectious rhythm of
“Arrowhead” narrates, “From
the land of many waters come
a people of different cultures,
African! Indian! Amerindian!
Chinese! Portuguese! Coming
together in harmony, One People,
One Nation one destiny! I
love my Golden Arrowhead!
A land of “O gold an” diamonds
partner, times are hard
but we must work harder. Guyanese
abroad come back home,
come and see what’s really
going on, don’t believe all the
bookMG.
Driven told Caribbean Life
on Wednesday that Jennaske
calls fans to “’Sway’ back and
forth with her on a gonzo beat,
while listening to her signature
creative wordplay.
“Cathartic and energetic,
Ske channels the best of her
musical energy in this latest
single,” said Driven about Jennaske.
She said a visual is set to
drop soon that will wow viewers
with its amazing special
effects to go along with the
new song.
“For now, Jennaske hopes
fans dig more music from her,”
Driven said.
“I’m excited that I’m getting
the ball rolling with new
music in 2021, especially after
a tumultuous 2020 for the
world,” Jennaske said. “Music
is my outlet; so, it always feels
good to release new tunes.”
Driven added: “Music is her
dojo, and Jennaske continues
to be the sensei of a diverse
catalog of music set to take the
world by storm.
“Keep an eye out for her all
2021,’ Driven said. “She’s dropping
quality tunes.
“In the meantime, don’t be
stiff in your living room; get up
and ‘Sway’ to her new single on
your favorite DSP.”
Caribbean L 38 ife, FEB. 26-MAR. 4, 2021
Songwriter, singer and producer, Courtney Noel, performing
his hit song “Arrowhead” at the 2019 GCA Awards ceremony
at Brooklyn Borough Hall. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
rybody’,” Tomlinson said.
“Being an entertainer
doesn’t preclude you from
dealing with such unappreciative
people,” she added.
“Thus, Hoodcelebrityy has
not only delivered her music
gift to speak out against the
latter but also shared her
daily mantras depicted on the
artwork.
“Each message handwritten
by the artist herself is
meant to encourages fans to
repeat as affirmations the
same way that she does,”
Tomlinson continued.
“The handwritten notes are
things I have to remind myself
of everyday,” Hoodcelebrityy
said. “They help me a lot to
love myself and reaffirm that
things going to be okay. Put
myself first and understand I
could never make ungrateful
people happy.
“What inspired me to
write ‘Ungrateful’ is because
the pandemic gave me so
much time to really see people
for who they truly are,”
she added. “There comes a
time when they will ask for
something and, because you
are unable to provide at that
moment, they write you off or
forget all you did prior to this
very moment.”
Tomlinson said “Ungrateful”
will resonate with all
demographics and all nationalities.
“Many have experienced
ungratefulness and need that
extra motivation or drive
to push past the roadblock
before them,” she said.
But, for Hoodcelebrityy,
“despite the ungrateful acts
bestowed upon you, God’s
blessing will give you the
strength to persevere,”
Continued from Page 37
Album cover of “Sway.” Playbook
MG
Continued from Page 37
things they tell you, they got
a lie that they must sell you” I
love my Golden Arrowhead.”
Noel who has an affection for
patriotic melody, also recorded
“Pride” (is what I feel inside),
“Creation of a Nation,” (together
we pray), “Moving Forward
Together” (united Guyana), “El
Dorado” (city of gold), “Guyana’s
Sons and Daughters,”
“GT Woman Appreciation”
(put your country first) and
other ballads, has big plans for
Arrowhead’s 20th Anniversary.
“Arrowhead 20! Remix”
will be celebrated in a Special
Deluxe edition video package,
and hopefully with memorabili,
and performances to acknowledge
the success of the verses.
Noel, a Guyana Cultural
Association (GCA) honoree,
who drapes himself in the
colors of the Golden Arrowhead
flag when on stage, is
waiting patiently on the Government
of Guyana to invite
him to perform “Arrowhead”
at the national’s 55th Independence
Anniversary celebration
on May 26, 2021, when he
is at home to commemorate
the achievement of his historic
song.
He said he is hoping that
his proposal to the government
is approved if so “my next
planned performance will be in
the homeland.”
“New York continues to be
my base in the diaspora, and
it has been a singular honor
to represent my beloved native
land here. The journey continues,”
assured the performer.
Continued from Page 37
‘Sway’ ‘UNGRATEFUL’
Jamaican
reggae
artist U-Roy
dies at 78
By Nelson A. King
The famous voice that
brought reggae fans around
the world, “wake the town and
tell the people”, U-Roy has died,
reported CaribbeanNational-
Weekly (CNW) on Feb. 18.
It said U-Roy’s death was
announced the day before. He
was 78.
Born Ewart Beckford, CNW
said U-Roy was known as the
pioneer of toasting.
“Although he was not the
creator of the style, he is credited
for popularizing it on reggae
rhythms in the 1960s,” said
CNW, stating that toasting is a
style of lyrical chanting which,
in reggae/dancehall music,
involves a deejay “chanting”
(talking) over a riddim.
CNW said Jamaican-American
toaster DJ Kool Herc
brought the style of music
to America, adding that “it
became the blueprint for hip
hop music.”
“U-Roy was known as ‘the
originator’ and a true pioneer
of the current dancehall and
reggae sound,” CNW said.
It said U-Roy’s career began
as a DJ in 1961. He worked
with several producers, including
Keith Hudson and Lee
“Scratch” Perry.
“In 1970, Jamaican singer
John Holt, who was lead vocalist
of the Paragons at the time,
heard U-Roy toasting over a
track produced by record label
owner, Duke Reid. Holt told
Reid about the performance
and U-Roy later snagged a
recording deal,” CNW said.
It said U-Roy’s first two singles,
released on Reid’s Treasure
Isle label, “Wake the Town”
(1970) and “Wear You to the
Ball” (1970), were Jamaican
hits, which established U-Roy’s
reputation as “one of Jamaica’s
most popular toasters.”
In 1975, CNW said U-Roy’s
album “Dread in a Babylon”
was released in the US, Europe
and Jamaica by the popular
British label, Virgin Records.
“The album achieved significant
sales in the UK,” said
CNW, adding that the success
of “Dread in a Babylon” led to
a series of Tony Robinson-produced
albums: “Natty Rebel”
(1976), “Rasta Ambassador”
(1977) and “Jah Son of Africa”
(1978).