Wyclef lives up
to reputation
PHILIPSBURG--Living up to his reputation as an exceptional performer and American multiple Grammy award-winning singer and producer, Wyclef Jean marvelled the approximately 2000 attendees at his concert in the Festival Village Saturday night.
Jean introduced Carnival much earlier this year with his spectacle of intimate interaction with the audience, transforming a plank used for a camera man into a second stage, utilising a crane to tower over the crowd and inviting several fans on stage to freestyle or jam with him.
With a crowd acknowledging Jean’s Haitian origin, waving the Haitian flag he surely could have felt at home. He braced the stage around midnight and carried the crowd until just before 3:00am Sunday morning with the crowd still begging for more.
Had it not been for police intervention, he would have definitely kept the show going for at least another hour. After the show with his voice now hoarse Jean told The Daily Herald he had a great time performing.
He said with St. Maarten’s unique blend, it was great to see the people come out in their numbers with their energy and love despite the struggles they may be going through. He said he expected the large turnout as there are many fans that have not seen him perform in a long time.
He said a return to St. Maarten is definitely in the planning. While on the island, he even discovered that he has an aunt residing on French St. Martin who runs a restaurant in Agrement.
Laser 101 Radio personality Gee Money, who played an important role in bringing Jean to St. Maarten, told The Daily Herald he is sure everyone in attendance went home with the feeling that they got their money’s worth.
Gee Money had met up with Jean when he had performed in Aruba earlier this year and insisted that he come to St. Maarten, particularly because of its large Haitian population. After several past attempts by other local promoters to bring Jean to St. Maarten, Gee Money was successful in establishing the contacts thereafter turning over the negotiations to Heineken St. Maarten.
He noted that the idea was to bring him in for Carnival or the Heineken Regatta, but ultimately it was decided to bring him in earlier. John Leone of Heineken St. Maarten told The Daily Herald that he was very impressed with Wyclef’s performance and had expected the large turnout.
