JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA
FOR SOME odd reason? the Redefined Concert held last weekend at the Harare International Conference Centre had nothing new to write home about.
In fact, both heavy hitters — Jah Prayzah and Winky D — came empty handed.
Their performance, much to the disappointment of an anticipating crowd, fell far short of expectations.
Show goers would attest that the two stars combined didn’t deliver much. In fact, it was the same thing over and over!
Gone are the days when musicians would spring surprises, sending their fans into a frenzy.
Remember the days of superstar Oliver Mtukudzi at Andy Millar Hall? Who can forget that!
Well, those days Tuku not only stole the show, he also spotlighted some of the upcoming artists.
The quality of sound back in the day was at such a high standard . . .I feel sorry for these peeps nowadays they have no clue how good Tuku was back then.
Of course, he was the main attraction but from time to time he would feature some little knowns who went on the thrill the audiences.
But with Winky D and Jah Prayzah on the same bill, it’s like more of the same, rather a routine.
It is like Winky D hits the stage, crowd gets in the party mood. He makes them sing song for song and he points to the sky while one leg rests on the backline speakers.
As for Jah Prayzah, you know he will start with slow songs, then he peaks the tempo and ends with Goto as he dances in trance-like moves.
These gestures are all too familiar with showgoers and if you see one concert featuring these two, then you have seen them all.
While Tuku and for instance Alick Macheso would do the handover takeover stunt in an amazing fashion, that cannot be said of Winky D and Jah Prayzah.
One comes only after the other has long exited the stage and in between they make sure there is an interlude by way of DJ playing oddly enough their songs or some other boring playlists.
But with Tuku it was different. The great man would pacify his fans in a very easy and catchy way.
Depending who performed first, Tuku or Macheso would join on stage, much to wild applauses. They would sing the same song, giving the hit a new lively feel.
That way fans from both camps would go home happy and recalling the scene in kombis or at work.
I personally dislike it when music promoters pit Winky D and Jah Prayzah.
They are just contemporaries in their own space with bespoke and unique talents.
But truth is Jah Prayzah can sing Musarova Bigiman perfectly well and so does Winky D can sing Chiremerera or Chengetedza.
These are few tips that these guys can use and surprise their fans. I wouldn’t have minded to see either of the two performing Killer T’s Kana Ndanyura which as we all know is the Song of the Moment.
Both Winky D and Jah Prayzah have failed to use music to unify their fans something which music has the power to do.
Its time these two perform separate shows. That way, it will bring new ideas and scope to live shows.
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