Afew weeks back I was at the barbers minding my own business, waiting patiently for my turn in the chair as four barbers and a shop full of punters gave their expert opinion on everything from David Beckham losing his England shirt to how much money had been recovered from last years big £400m robbery! Then the conversation slipped into “why Nathan ain’t buss’ yet”! Comments flew back & forth around the room…. “he ain’t got no charisma”, (said one voice) “he don’t know how to perform”, (shouted another) “his videos are lame and he ain’t got no style blood”, etc etc… then came the classic… “the girls don’t think he’s buff like me”……… the room went quite everyone looked around at the Omarion wanna be lookin’ barber and the room erupted into hysterics!
My mind started to drift to a similar conversation on a road trip to Leeds carnival August 2006.
The scene was different, the analyst more articulate, but their rationale was quite similar. On this occasion I found myself nodding in agreement to certain comments but I know it goes deeper than that. On arrival at our destination we pull into the reserved parking space behind a tinted out black SUV. Ironically its passenger is the man known as Nathan!
We strolled into the packed park surrounded by 2000 locals as Nathan took to the stage and the crowd erupted! His set started with ‘Round & Round’ and ‘They Can’t Take Me Away’ followed by a reggae medley on the ‘Footsteps Riddim’ that had the crowd eating out of his hands. He concluded the set with ‘Cold As Ice’ ‘Do Without My Love’ and ‘Come Into My Room’….. job done! I look at my travelling companions and we all share an expression that says…… Quality songs, great stage presence and slick delivery. How the fuck is anyone gonna follow that?!?!? (continue...)