Friends Lezley Bernard (left) and Lisa McIntosh enjoy the party atmosphere. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Sweaty bodies, pulsating music, and great vibes featured in the experience patrond got at last Sunday’s staging of the brunch and retro party series I Love the 90s at East Lawn, Devon House, in St Andrew.
From the musical arsenal fired by DJ Marvin, DJ Richie D, and DJ Liquid came hit after hit. No one even cared that some of the songs were from other decades, because patrons came to party, and what a party it was!
The Electric Slide, Lambada, and Macarena were just some of the dances that patrons made space to demonstrate as the songs fell like rain from the sky.
Award-winning celebrity hairstylist and fashion designer Lisa McIntosh, known for her Neah Lis brand, was spotted among the large number of patrons enjoying the vibes. So too were Dr Franz Collins, Renaissance Disco’s Delano Thomas, and music selector DC Chambers.
“This is an event that I always support. This is my era of music, because we can sing out, feel free, and be ourselves. This is always a plus for me and I’ve been here a few times,” Neah Lis told the Jamaica Observer while attempting to do the Electric Slide.
DJ Marvin’s first set saw a musical furnace blazing with soca, dancehall, and hip hop treats that kept patrons moving from start to finish.
Wifey by Dugsy Ranks, Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet by Tanya Stephens, California Love by 2 Pac and Dr Dre (released 20 years ago), and the R Kelly and Keith Murray 27-year-old hit Home Alone were just some of the nuggets that had patrons grooving.
For Richie D I Love the 90s was all about the participation of the patrons.
“Playing at an event like this just comes natural for me. My entire career started in the 90s and I have played about three times at this party. My intention has always been about the people participating, and I am happy that they participated. I got that tonight and I’m so happy,” he told the Observer shortly after his hit-laden set ended.
Ballads including Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion, Foreigner’s 39-year-old hit I Want To Know What Love Is, LeAnn Rimes’s Billboard platinum-selling hit How Do I Live, Karyn White’s Can I Stay With You, SWV’s Weak (1993 #1 hit), Usher’s U Got it Bad, Ginuwine’s 1996 platinum-certified #1 Billboard R&B hit Pony, and Mad Cobra’s gold-selling Flexx, were among the songs that saw patrons assuming choir duties.
When Richie D stepped into the local segment, Super Black’s 1986 #1 local hit Deh Wid Yuh, Courtney Melody’s #1 song of the Year for 1987 on the RJR Top 100 chart, Modern Girl, Greetings by Half Pint, Nuh Wanga Gut, a mainstay on the local charts in 1986; Tenor Saw’s
Ring Di Alarm, General Echo’s sole #1 hit Arleen (produced by Winston Riley’s Techniques label), Ronnie Thwaites (dancehall artiste) #1 hit from 1992 Mr Luxury, and Mad Cobra’s 1992 chart-topper Tek Him kept waistlines moving in different directions.
When DJ Liquid took over, the decibel went a notch higher.
Simply the Best by Tina Turner, Toni Basil’s 1982 remake of the cheerleading classic Mickey, Bad Boys by The Miami Sound Machine featuring Gloria Estefan, Culture Club’s Karma Chameleon featuring Boy George (#1 song in 1983), Footloose by Kenny Loggins (from the movie of the same name starring Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer), and Swing the Mood, a #1 hit in the United Kingdom by Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers worked like magic, keeping patrons busy.
Event organiser Dwayne Virgo was pleased with the second staging of the event for the year.
“It was a good turnout and a very balanced mix of age groups. Lots of females,” Virgo told the Observer.
He shared that the high point for him was seeing patrons lining up to dance the Electric Slide.
I Love the 90s was first held in July 2022. The next staging is scheduled for November at the same venue.