OAA ‘Speaks Out About’ CFW – Night 2

Out and About (OAA) entered the Caribbean Fashionweek 2009 in the National Indoor Stadium, once again, on Saturday about 6:50p.m.  I’m excited and looking forward to more fashion and entertainment.  Saturday night meant that Kelly Rowland and Cherine Anderson would be performing.  Sweet.

I’ve always said Kelly is the ‘nice’ one from Destiny’s Child! I’m hoping that her solo career goes well…as her acting skills need work.  And I adore Cherine, from her movies, One Love and Dancehall Queen, she is a talented actress and a wicked singer!!!

Anyhoo, tonight had a much bigger audience than Friday night, as I expected.  It was time to be seated, and Out and About sat again in the VIP, (that’s how we roll) directly in front of the runway.

Fashion reviews can be checked out on the Fashion Blog, but again just got to let you know who impressed me.  My favourite designer Saturday night was Meiling…one word…AWESOME! Check out images on the site.

There wasn’t a lot of time to move around on the first break, after the first of the usual three fashions shows, but on the second break, Out and About went out and about to see who was out and about in CFW tonight. I spotted, host of Dancehall King & Queen, and singer, Empress.  Beautiful in spirit and all, Empress looked like Ms CFW.

Singer Courtney John sat just a few seats away from me….always looking dapper.  He was dressed in a well-groomed attire…

Now seated, it was soon time for the entertainment section.  Check this out guys, late-comer and host, Nia Long was seated beside me, with her body-guard, female friend and ‘looks like’ special male friend. Dressed in denim shorts, and a cute off-shoulder top, she was as cute as ever…but what’s with movie stars and the shades at night? Anyhoo, she was still cute.

At the break, before ‘showtime’, ladies lined up to take pictures with her and even though she complied, you could tell she was not too happy with the long line.  She was ‘rescued’ by Mr. Cooper’s announcement, that everyone should remain in their seats, as the celebrity entertainers were about to perform.  Ms. Long was ushered backstage.  Mr. Cooper repeatedly implored us that for security reasons, we were not to leave our seats during the ‘celebrity’ performances…a plea that was one too much.  Not sure if Mr. Cooper understood that this was not the ‘rush the artistes on the stage’ kind of audience, or maybe he knew, but had to make the regular announcements anyway.

So again Ms. Long came out to greet us.  Thanking Mr. Cooper for having her once again to host “Caribbean Fashionweekend”…yes, she said ‘weekend’. I mean, really…not even the name of the event Caribbean Fashionweek she could concentrate and pronounce.  Let me be fair, maybe it was nerves.  Ok.  So she went to on inform us that “Jamaica is my favourite island, but I am a Trini”….then she went on to introduce “local act Cherine Anderson”.

Listen me people, I was upset.  Why is it that they couldn’t give Nia Long a two-line script to study, so she could introduce Cherine properly?  I mean, she has to do research and study 100+ page scripts to do movies.  If hired to host and introduce two acts, wouldn’t you find some time (even on the plane flying to Jamaica), and study one line of information on the act you were introducing? Geez, man!

Anyhoo, Cherine stepped out in jeans, purple tube top, with a gold mesh looking cover-up – please check out the fashion site – I’m so bad at describing these outfits.  She wore this outfit with purple high top sneakers…the Converse type.  Rude girl style, it looked good…not really the Cherine I’m used to seeing, as she is always dressed more fashionable with very high and gorgeous shoes.

She told us that “…is long time I don’t perform in Jamaica…it feels good”. She started with a lovely song “Jamaica”.  The message told us to “find our own Jamaica….one that don’t hinder”….Beautiful song.  She went on to sing the song, “ Are you coming over tonight…I need ya, baby…”, duet with Chuck Fender. He was absent, so she did it solo.  Wicked song.  She used the runway to seek out someone to dance with her, and found singer, Courtney John (formerly Yogie).  He obliged, without hesitation, and danced with her so perfectly as if it was rehearsed…very entertaining.

He took his seat at the right time, and she moved onto another audience member, who said his name was “John”.  She sat in John’s lap and sang to him, he blushed, when she asked in song, “baby, can I come over tonight?” and John answered “Of course” …the audience laughed.  It was cute.  Cherine moved and proved herself to be  a true International Star. She sang a new song called “Twenty to Life”, which got a good response from the audience.

She ended with her new hit, “Talk if you talking, walk if you walking….”  Wicked song.  This song and video is well written and performed by Cherine using her acting talents to her benefit.  Cherine ‘acts’ every song she sings, she sings with so much soul, that you ‘feel’ the songs she sings.  Big up, Cherine. Good job.

So after a superb performance by Cherine…Ms Long took the stage again with her not-so-bad attempt to lively up the audience, asking us how we were feeling! Ok. So after we convinced her that we were ok….another lame introduction…. “give it up for my girl, Kelly Rowland”.  I can’t stress enough how upset I am that Nia Long did not appropriately introduced these International Stars.

So Kelly, wow Kelly. I sat wondering what she would come out singing, as I know her solo career hasn’t been going ‘great’.  But she came out singing, in black pants, white shirt with a black vest….yes, please check the site for images.  She looked beautiful with jet black weave almost as much as Diana Ross.  She sang, smiled and worked the runway with models behind her strutting in high fashion clothing.  The second song was recognisable, “I love you, baby I love you…I need you, baby I need you…”.  The audience sang along.

Her final song  was up tempo, and she insisted the audience get up on their feet and dance, some obliged.  She ended with a bang and I thought we deserved a little more, but it’s all good, she did a great job.

After Kelly’s performance, Nia Long sat back in her chair and turned to me smiling and said “Ahh, I’m done!“  She was clearly ready to go, as she left before the third and final fashion show.

Kelly Rowland and her friends, came out to sit in the VIP area to watch the final show.  (No bodyguards visible, unlike Ms Long).  Kelly willingly took photos with everyone who asked.  She even risked (cautiously) stepping across the runway, (which we were told repeated never to do) to take photos with audience members.  She was very friendly with everyone.

Kelly watched the fashion show, and her smiled got brighter when Orane Barrett stepped on the runway. Don’t mix me up, please! She could’ve been smiling because of the fabulous clothes he modelled.

Well another CFW night ended, and I’m satisfied.  Have to say Mutaburaka did a wonderful job so far with the music, Friday and Saturday nights; although at times I thought the volume was too loud.

He is the Musical Director for CFW, and also partner, with wife Amber in the clothing line, MUTAMBA.  Check out their designs and interview on the fashion blog.

I’ll  back on Wednesday to let you know what happened at CFW on the final night.  Trust me you’ll want to read more…

AliOAA

Tags: Caribbean Fashion Week, Cherine Anderson, Courtney John, Destiny Child, Empress, fashion, Jamaica, Kelly Rowlands, music, Mutaburaka, Mutamba, Nia Long, Orane Barrett