by Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer

Left: 'Mr. Boombastic', Shaggy, is caught between two Hard Copy girls during his guest performance at the Fame Road Party, Waves Beach complex, Negril, Westmoreland, last Saturday. Shaggy was well received by the audience, although his performance was very short.   Right: Chris Martin in performance at the Fame Road Party, Waves Beach complex, Negril, Westmoreland, last Saturday. - Noel Thompson

WESTERN BUREAU

The Fame Road Party was blazing hot at the Waves Beach along the Norman Manley Boulevard in Negril, West-moreland, on the weekend.

Thousands of revellers lined the street and crammed the sandy shore of the Waves Beach complex from early Saturday night, bumping and grinding and gyrating their hips, as the disc jockeys thumped a barrage of popular songs from the jukeboxes.

This went on for several hours, but just before 1:00 a.m. the momentum was changed. It was time for live stage performances from a contingent of artistes such as Iceman, Danny English, Kyene, Bryan and Tony Gold, D Major and Chris Martin - the 2005 Rising Star winner.

But the big surprise for the night was the introduction of international Grammy award winner Shaggy.

Bryan and Tony Gold, in their usual manner, found a way to rock the audience with a hint of soul and reggae renditions. Iceman released a pack of energy from the moment he hit the stage - jumping and prancing across the floor and leaping in the air. His deejay stint was short-lived as he and the others adhered to tightly-scheduled performances.

Ladies man

Chris Martin was next onstage and he earned continuous screams and shouts from the audience, but mainly from the young females in his age group. Starting his show with The Jamaican Girl, Chris shouted: "Wi come here fi di ladies."

As the women screamed louder, Chris stared at the audience and after a brief moment of silence he echoed Otis Reading's all-time favourite I've Been Loving You, which got the crowd even wilder.

About 10 minutes later, Danny English was brought onstage to do his thing and he did deliver in his own style.

The night belonged to the crooner - Shaggy, however. Ladies went wild. Cellphones with camera capability were brandished from all corners of the audience. Ladies and even some men 'clicked' away - capturing Shaggy in performance.

Opening with Mr. Boombastic, Shaggy beckoned: "Ladies if you horny scream." He delivered Strength of A Woman next, which got literally every woman singing verbatim. "If uno love Chris Martin put yu hand in the air," he said, as he invited the youngster back onstage.

In combination, Chris and Shaggy sang Call Me Angel and the very popular It Wasn't Me. Shaggy brought the curtains down with Hey Sexy Lady.

Chris Martin, who is now signed to Shaggy's Big Yard record label, said he deemed it an honour to have performed with the superstar on two occasions.

"It feels good. It's a great feeling," he said.