Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

Left: Queen Ifrica in majestic performance. Right: Tony Rebel in his element at the concert. - Photos by Janet Silvera

WESTERN BUREAU:

Echoing Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett's mantra, 'Her Majesty' Queen Ifrica added another dimension to the campaign when she appealed to individuals to clean up their minds at the 'Spruce Up 2' launch concert at the Old Hospital Park in Montego Bay, St James, last Wednesday night.

Chanting the proverb 'cleanliness, is next to godliness,' the Queen, garbed in the national colours - black, green and gold - also targeted the "nasty individuals who call themselves fathers".

"Daddy, don't touch me there," she reiterated to the audience that stood patiently, repeating every word to her hit song.

But the fathers were not the only ones who received the Queen's tongue-lashing, as the 'bleachers' (people using bleaching cream to change their skin colour from black to brown) were not spared.

A short and spicy set, the Rastafarian woman, had no need for a lighter to 'bun fire' on those incapable of comprehending the beauty of the black skin.

Raised to higher level

Queen Ifrica's magnetism on stage was complemented by the maestro, A.J. Brown. Raising the consciousness to another level, Brown used the stage as his pinnacle, looking up to the skies, he belted out You Raise Me Up, taking every possible musical note from his bowels. Showcasing inner strength and musical brilliance, Brown walked through his impressive catalogue, effortlessly delivering My Father, My Friend.

As if this was not enough for a free concert, when emcee Richard 'Richie B' Burgess announced western Jamaica's pride, Richie Stephens, "like a winner", Stephens answered the call, creating waves in the park, showing off vocal strength and dynamism. The prolific artiste, renowned for his powerful on-stage performances did not disappoint, and when he paid tribute to the late Garnett Silk, with Get On Up, Stand Up, Fight Back, the women in the audience screamed.

'Spruce Up 2', commenced as early as 5:30 p.m., with a host of tourism stakeholders taking centrestage, positing the importance of sustaining a clean country.

With formalities out of the way, the medium-size crowd that turned out at the 'Hip Strip' Gloucester Avenue venue, was treated to the likes of Lloyd 'Wild, Wild Gilbert' Lovindeer and cultural revolutionary Tony Rebel.

With Jah standing by his side, the Rebel's showmanship and ability to move from English to Spanish during his delivery on stage was the icing that the tourism minister's cake needed.