Review of the 2008 Annual Barbados Music Awards

Are you ready for this year’s reviews of the 2008 Barbados Music Awards?

Kris attended the event, and we were able to get this inside scoop. We also feature some videos (sourced from You Tube)of perfromances for the evening on this page, so read to your hearts content.

The airways have been buzzing and newspapers have been blazing about how phenomenal last night’s Barbados Music Awards (BMA) was. Big things are happening!

January 28th- A review of The Barbados Music Awards – Interview with Kris

Kris: Upon arriving it didn’t seem like there was anywhere to park (he says and chuckles). I arrived at the show around 8 ‘o’ clock, it was scheduled to start at 7:00pm so I quickly made my way over to the red carpet to take pictures of the artists. Unfortunately, the artists arrived earlier this year than they did last year but the few I was able to capture were well dressed.

Before I go any further, I have to mention that on my way over to the red carpet there was a showcase of various BMW’s, compliments Warren’s Motors. And there was a raffle for a BMW convertible - buy a raffle ticket for bds. $10.00 fill out the necessary information, drop it in the box and the convertible could have been yours!

LNSB: What! Omg.

Kris: This year Abed’s was a major sponsor, their name was highly visible and ran throughout the red carpet.

LNSB: So what were some of the looks that dominated the red carpet this year?

Kris: The ladies were mainly wearing long dresses in lots of bold, bright colours, some solid and some patterned. The men had a little more fun on the red carpet this year, they showed off sophisticated suits and some extremely entertaining concoctions (he says while proceeding to laughed-out-loud).

LNSB: Who were you able to photograph?

Kris: I got a snap shot of Lil Rick arriving with his escort, Lil Rick wore all brown, snakes-skin-textured outfit, and we are talking hat, jacket, pants, shoes. His escort looked pretty in a bold yellow gown, and after photographing Lil Rick the paparazzi focused their attention on his escort because she looked so nice.

Sean from the Fraud Squad (the Fraud Squad is a local soca group). Sean was well-dressed, he wore an all white suit with a black and white vest. Actually when Sean was arriving I heard the crowd creating a little buzz. I thought he was just doing crazy poses or something to entertain the fans. Then I later discovered it was because he was so well dressed in a nice suit and when people looked down he was wearing slippers. The feet were a surprise!

One or two more artists passed through along with a few VIP’s.

LNSB: Okay, so what happened next?

Kris: I took a peak inside the gymnasium and saw that the crowd was huge. At that point, soul music artist Hal Linton was performing tracks and playing the guitar –his style is unique, the crowd loved him.

LNSB: What were the highlights out of all of the performances for the night?

Kris: Miasha, I have to say, this show was off-the-chain! Every single performance got a standing ovation. I have never seen anything like this. I left the show with goose bumps and that doesn’t happen to me, it would have to be something truly spectacular. This year without a doubt was the best Barbados Music Awards ever!

I have to mention, Livvi Franc, a Bajan artist who signed last year with Jive Records (the same label as Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Chris Brown and Usher). She has a pop sound and people are rumoring that after last night’s performance big things are ahead. She may even give Rihanna a run for her money. When Livvi started to sing, jaws dropped, some people in the crowed were even shouting “Look Out Rihanna!”.

See video of Livvi Franc's performance at the 2008 BMA

LNSB: So did Rihanna perform?

Kris: No, Rihanna couldn’t make it because she was on tour in France. However, her producers were there.

LNSB: In your opinion, do you believe that Rihanna needs to “look out” or will she continue to hold her ground.

Kris: I don’t mean for it to come across competitive, that’s what some people in the crowd shouted out. I believe Rhianna will always hold her ground because she has such a unique sound and style. What I do mean however, is look out world! there is another Bajan female artist on her way, going to take the airways and industry by storm.

LNSB: In the previous years, performers at the Barbados Music Awards have been commended for their stage presence, last year Kimberly Inniss took the crowd away with her stage act, who was it this year?

See video of Kimberly Inniss' stage performance at the 2007 BMA

Kris: Stage presence this year was absolutely phenomenal!

Shontelle who signed with Universal Motown Records approximately two years ago performed a pop track featuring Beenie Man.

See video of Shontelle's performance with Beenie Man at the 2008 BMA

Hal Linton as I mentioned before had a great performance.

Krosfyah ( long-time calypso group) performed and the place went crazy-mad.

Lil Rick, from the time he simply walked on stage, the crowd started to scream.

When Trini artist Patrice Roberts started to sing the crowd went crazy.

LNSB: Who do you think will be on the verge of getting signed after last night?

Kris: Well, executives from quite a few labels including Def Jam, Sony Records, Universal and others were at the Barbados Music Awards.

I think Hal Linton is definitely one, along with Phillip Scantlebury who has an R&B sound and made a great performance of his song “Beautiful Surprise”.

See video of Phiilip's performance at the 2008 BMA

Kris: Things are definitely happening for Barbadian artists. People are wondering where did this talent come from all of a sudden but it has always been there.

LNSB: The Barbados Music Awards has really brought eyes to the talent in Barbados. It produces so many opportunities for local artists. Ronnie Morris has done a fantastic job.

Kris: No doubt about that.

LNSB: What were some of the momentous awards that were given out?

Kris: Trini soca sensation Machel Montano received the life time achievement award. He said that from the time he has been performing Barbados has embraced him and he considers Barbados his home.

The people’s choice award for best artist went to Rihanna and the people’s choice award for best DJ went to Jon Doe of Hott 95.3 FM

Nard won the award for best new artist. Actually his style of dress when he got up on stage was another element of surprise. Sporting an afro, large sun glasses, a black jacket, a black tie with musical white notes on it, Bermuda shorts, on one foot he wore a knee high “tigger” sock (you know Winnie the Pooh?)

LNSB: Yes, and what kind of sock was on the other foot?

Kris: Well, … it was something similar to the sock on the first foot.

LNSB: Thanks Kris. We definitely look forward to the 2009 Barbados Music Awards event.

Kris is an entertainment photographer and content manager for bashybajan.com.

Feel free to have a look at some other videos we sourced from You Tube below, featuring some of the performances at the 2008 Barbados Music Awards.

Video of Lil Rick performing at the 2008 BMA

More Shontelle performing with Beenie Man at the 2008 BMA

Video of Mikey performing with Kiomal at the 2008 BMA

N.B The videos featured on this page have been sourced from You Tube and are not the property of www.life-n-styles-barbados.com


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