THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 30, 1995 TAG: 9509290062
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICKEY WRIGHT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
IT'S THE SONG that wasn't supposed to be a hit, then ended up all but defining the summer of '95.
``Mr. Lover Lover. . . ''
Has anyone managed to miss ``Boombastic,'' Jamaica-to-Brooklyn transplant Shaggy's upbeat, self-joshing testament to his bedroom prowess? Originally released in the spring, it was expected to stir up some street action for the dancehall performer, remembered for his 1993 ``Oh Carolina,'' then make way on the radio for his next song, a remake of Mungo Jerry's bopping ``In the Summertime.''
Instead, a remix of ``Boombastic'' leaning heavily on samples from Marvin Gaye's ``Let's Get It On'' quickly broke through on the airwaves in cities like Norfolk and Houston. The single was recently certified platinum, and entered the British chart at No. 1 last week.
Shaggy brings his rap and reggae to the Boathouse tonight.
``I totally had faith in it. Whatever the record company said, they had the faith to let it happen,'' Shaggy said. ``They just said, `If it doesn't work, well, we'll flip the other side.' ''
The former Orville Richard Burrell credits the success of ``Boombastic'' to ``a serious hook. It's not very predictable. I'm not playing it safe. It's a very unusual reggae song, with or without the sample. And America is the other place the remix hit, really. So I think that shows that it's a very strong song.''
Shaggy's description of his live show sounds a little like that of the old James Brown revues, promising an energetic concert whose opening acts (including Rayvon, his vocal partner on ``Summertime'') then take their places as part of the headliner's troupe. The music is fueled by a live band - ``no turntables,'' the star points out.
Shaggy has been praised for the lighthearted feel of his work.
``My music reflects my personality. I'm a fun-filled person. I just promote one thing - a smiling face. If you can leave and know you had a good time, that's it.
``I'm not condemning lyrics about the guns and the ghetto. It's important, because musicians are a voice. If you say it, the man in the chair will have to come down and check it out. You let him see what's going on. But to each his own.''
The artist's confidence also shows when he discusses ``Oh Carolina,'' a remake of a 1960 island hit by the Folkes Brothers. Their version opened the great four-CD set ``Tougher Than Tough: The Story of Jamaican Music,'' with Shaggy's ``Peter Gunn''-drenched update at the end.
``It's a classic, an old-time classic,'' Shaggy said of the original. ``God knows why nobody did it,'' he laughed. ``Some people can do a classic and bring it off, and some can't. It's like `In the Summertime.' A lot of people were scared to touch it. I touch it and I go straight in, into the Top Five.''
When asked about a followup to ``Boombastic'' and ``Summertime,'' Shaggy laughed again. ``I think `Why You Treat Me So Bad.' At this point, whatever they pick, I think it's a hit. It's an album full of singles.
``This is music; there are no barriers. Jamaica's motto is `Out of many, one people.' Out of many styles, one music, reggae. `Oh Carolina' was different, `Nice and Lovely' was different, and `In the Summertime' was different.
``I want radio and everybody to get used to the fact that Shaggy will be different.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Shaggy
by CNB