From left, Lady Saw and Tanya Stevens
Tyrone Reid and Chaos, Staff Reporter/Freelance Writer
CELEBRITIES USUALLY get away with behaviour that is way out of the ordinary. For example, a regular individual could hardly expect to gyrate with a total stranger before thousands of people without getting into trouble with their partner. However, entertainers who entertain fans on-stage get away with it because they are 'on the job'.
However, even celebrities have partners, quite often a good old 'regular' person and they may just have a thing or two to say about their partner being entwined with someone else on-stage, or putting on very sexy performances.
"He never really complains. He knows that at the end of the day it is just entertainment. He will not take it too personally, as he knows it's just my job," explained the saucy and often lyrically x-rated deejay Spice.
Tanya Stephens, who has been with her partner for more than four years, says that her beau does not have any issues with her sometimes 'male-critical' or sexually graphic lyrics. As a matter of fact, she said that he helps her with her lyrics and often makes suggestions that some men would probably not agree with.
"He is very supportive. He wants me to be the best at whatever I do, even if what I do is deflating men's oversized egos," said Ms. Stephens. An effort to get a formal comment from Tanya's other half proved futile.
While Tanya is not known for gyrating on-stage, dancehall's forever reigning diva, Lady Saw, has a no-holds-barred approach. She is so intense on-stage that some Montego Bay authorities attempted to ban her from performing in the second city. Nonetheless her companion, producer John John, pledges to stand by his woman.
Being in a relationship with a celebrity has its perks, but there are times the seat of privilege becomes rather hot. The platinum-selling deejay Mad Cobra sees eye-to-eye with the saying 'If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen'.
According to the versatile Cobra, individuals who are unable to handle the pressures of being an entertainer's significant other should leave the post empty for people who are willing and able. "They know what they are getting into, who they are talking to and they have to know that this is what you do for a living, so if they can't handle it they should not take it on," opined Cobra.
Seemingly willing and able to handle the hot spot is Spice's boyfriend, 'W'. According to Spice he never complains, because he is cognisant of the fact that when the slim lady sings, it is all about entertaining her fans.
For many onlookers, this is a hard pill to swallow, much less digest. Not for 'W', who is in the situation. "Well mi nuh have a problem, because as a man yuh affi know the woman weh yuh deh wid and mi know she jus' a she dem tings deh fi spice up the lyrics," he said.
According to 'W', before he and Spice started a relationship more than five years ago he acknowledged that she was talented and it was therefore very likely that she would become a prominent entertainer. Although not saying that he braced himself for her success, 'W' said that is just the way the cookie eventually crumbled, therefore he just has to deal with it.
THE OTHER SIDE
Keisha Blackburn, the girlfriend of 12 years of one of dancehall's elite, Spragga Benz, has had a very close look at the situation from the other side of the gender fence. "Spontaneously, girls jus' come on-stage and dance with him and I don't have a problem with it. I trust him and trust his judgement. I am miserable, but when it comes to that I don't have a problem," noted Ms. Blackburn.
According to Keisha, she is more nervous than jealous when she watches Spragga perform. "I get nervous when I watch him. It's like I can't contain myself, because I want him to do well. It is like my heart is at my throat." It is not until the first couple of songs are over that she calms down a bit, although she remains tense throughout the entire performance.
Keisha said that some of her common-law husband's lyrics come from personal experience. "It would be strange for him to jus' think it up, so with the songs I will ask questions, especially if these are things that we have not done, and he will say he is just rhyming or it is based on things he has observed and I will give him the benefit of the doubt," she said.
She also said that there are times that she will stumble across the lyrics before they are recorded and will approach him, asking why the song had to be written in that manner and even suggest alternatives. "He will say that is just the rough work and the song doesn't necessarily have to go the way he has it, but sometimes when I hear the song on record, it goes the way I had suggested," says Keisha.
In a sentimental tone, she added that although she does not sport her emotions on her sleeve, she really appreciates Spragga altering the songs, since it shows that he is considerate of her feelings.
ALTERING PROFERMANCES
Cobra strongly disapproves of an artiste altering their performances or lyrics to suit their partner. "I don't think that an artiste should tone down their performance because his or her spouse is complaining. This can break your creativity and hurt your performance," stated Cobra.
As a result, Cobra supports the idea that it is best if the other half stays at home. "Out of respect I would prefer if they are not there, because the way you bring across some things they might be offended. But I don't have a problem with them being there," reasoned Cobra.
Numbered among the artistes who are hesitant about their partners watching them perform is Spice. "When I am on-stage I say things to guys to get their undivided attention and, if he is there, I will hold back a little and that can affect my performance. So I rather if he is not there so I can say what I want to say, tease who I want to tease, so that I can have a great performance," stated Spice.
On the other hand, there are celebrities who have no qualms with having the eyes of their significant other piercing them while they are in compromising situations - related to the job, that is. Among this brave pack is seasoned actress Karen Harriot. She told The Sunday Gleaner that she usually does not mind if her husband of almost 19 years sits in the front row while she is on the stage.
However, for her latest production Redemption, Karen said that she applied the brakes a little. "This particular play you have to simulate having sex on-stage and I was a little hesitant," she said.
However, after assessing the scenario and with a heavy emphasis on the duration of their marriage, she got over the bump. In the end, his appreciation of the production showed her that she was making a mountain out of a molehill.
Karen's husband, Mr. Wilson, pointed out that at the outset he was a tad uncomfortable with his wife playing certain roles. Nonetheless, over the years he has come to terms with his insecurities. "She does not write the script, she just plays the role, but I am sure that there are limits and I trust her judgement," reasoned Mr. Wilson.
A confidence booster for Mr. Wilson is the fact that his wife has turned down many a role that had required her to do things that she deemed inappropriate. The trust shared by Karen and Mr. Wilson is such that he does not feel the need to proof-read the roles she chooses to play.
"She doesn't consult with me. I sometimes get the script after the play is opened and that's alright with me until a mistake is made - and there has been none so far," stated Mr. Wilson as Karen laughed uncontrollably.
'QUICKIES'
The on-stage 'quickies' that artistes engage in usually have a short life span. However, in the theatre they are usually much more intimate and last longer. This is backed up by a popular notion that many 'real-life' relationships are born out of on-stage chemistry.
Karen Harriot begged to differ, since she believes that such romances are the exception to the general rule. "That is a rare thing," she noted. However, she conceded that in an effort to make the love scene seem authentic, an actor has to fall in love with the person on-stage. However, that emotion should stay where it started - on the stage.
Christina Fenton-McGregor, however, presents another side of the coin. Her husband, entertainer extraordinaire Wayne McGregor, has been entertaining people for ages. The guitarist and singer's act has been known to include playing his instrument with the sole of a woman's shoe - while still attached to the owner - as well as a few suggestive lyrics and the odd description of a woman and her underwear. Christina knows it is all part of the act and does not mind. What gets her back up, however, is when a member of the audience makes an open pass at her husband.
"It has happened, there was one time when this woman saw me and Wayne come in. He was playing and I was sitting to the side of the stage. I could see the crowd and everything, and she looks at me and then at Wayne and did a 'Basic Instinct!'
(Think of the scene from the movie of the same name where Sharon Stone opened her legs to show Michael Douglas' character... well, everything.) Then Wayne looked up and you could see the shoch and horror onhis face when he saw! The other band members were saying 'Go and pacify your wife' because I was clearly upset. But I wasn't vexe with Wayne, it's just that I was annoyed that another woman would be that disrespectful.
"In general it doesn't bother me (Wayne's stage act), it doesn't bother me at all. But women who look me straight in my face and then be disrespectful, it kind of rankles. It's not Wayne."
In other words ladies, hands off.
