The real Chris Brown show
Everywhere you turned, everywhere you looked....beautiful people. The happy faces that walked out the gates of the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra in the early hours of Independence Day made it all too clear. The concert, as advertised, had lived up to its billing.
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Being the first concert of the year featuring an international act and happening on the eve of Ghana’s Independence anniversary, the award winning international superstar, C Breezy, Chris Brown, who had jetted across continents from the US to GH put up an act that could best be described as, fit for the gods.
Set on the backdrop of the launch of Hope City, a Silicon Valley-like project championed by local ICT blue chip firm, RLG, the Hope City Launch Concert, unlike many others started earlier than many had anticipated and for the first time in many years, the headline act, Chris Brown whom the over 20, 000 fans had come to watch came on stage early enough before his fans got tired.
Once on stage, the 23 year old recording artiste, dancer and actor turned the stadium upside down as he performed hit after hits from his albums Fame, Chris Brown and Fortune. It was as though he had been possessed as he took his fans through over an hour and half of complex and energetic dance routines, awe inspiring singing ,unique stage presence and microphone control and of course various interactions with his fans that made them yearn for more.
The technical excellence of stage, lights and sound and their expert coordination and control could also not be over emphasised. It was one of the very best for an A list star.
One little act, that appears to have taken the shine off the beautiful night for Chris and his fans though, is his seeming endorsement of weed and reported persuasion of people to go smoke the substance. So what really happened?
The positive energy from his ever screaming fans had simply taken Chris aback. All he had done, until now was just start the song and the fans would take it away from him and sing it to the very end. At this point C Breezy takes a break to communicate with his fans before breaking into his next performance.
Yes, he asks if there are weed smokers in the audience. Yes he goes ahead to pick up a prop that's supposed to represent the substance. A tiny thin cigar. A prop which has been proven beyond every other reasonable doubt isn't weed. At this point a pre-recorded voice tells him “Don’t do it Chris...".
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In responding to this voice, Chris demonstrates the inner conflicts we all go through as human beings by saying “If anyone's tripping on you for smoking weed f**k 'em". The voice returns to tell him, "What are you doing Chris? That s**t will make you go crazy".
At this point C Breezy was playing the stubborn role. He ignores the good voice, proceeds to take two puffs of the cigar while a chain of weed related songs by other artistes play in the background. After the puff he demonstrates the negative effects smoking the item, breaks into a destructive cough, falls to his knees throws it down kills the light and proceeds to perform the next song that is actually against weed smoking.
This is the one act that has prompted many a journalist in Ghana to refuse to look at all the other good aspects of the night. The one act that was meant for good, but sadly misunderstood and misinterpreted leading to a failure to consider and appreciate the act in its totality. Guess that is the difference between a good musician and a good actor.
Chris Brown did not smoke weed on stage as has been stated, declared, reported and asserted by many people and the media.
One major setback on the night though was the difficulty with security at the inner perimeter gates of the stadium. Yes, people had travelled from far and wide to see Chris Brown and all the other stars on the bill and that’s the exact reason more gates should have been open to allow easy entry into the perimeter, especially since patrons had paid premium rates to be there instead of having multitudes gather at one main entrance.
The VIP and VVIP areas also lost their touch and comfort soon as C Breezy came on stage and people who had paid to sit comfortably chose to stand on their seats.
Regardless however, the stadium couldn't have been a better venue. It was safe, airy and generally comfortable.
The event which was hosted by CEO of Empire entertainment, Bola Ray with one of Africa's best DJ's, Mr Black warming up the fans, was definitely one of true class. It was open by the Black Avenue Music crew including Ghana Music Awards artiste of the year nominee D-Black, EL, Joey B and Dein who put up an amazing act. Next on stage was the pride of the North. Ghana's own Sherifa Gunu, who rumour has it was the one act that Chris Brown fell in love with on the night, peharps due to her originality and style.
The Choreographed performance by Sherifa got the audience screaming for more but she had to make way for the main act of the night, Chris Brown, who rocked, thrilled and surprised his fans with two major acts. At the stroke of midnight, Chris deviated from his planned act to sing happy birthday for Ghana and managed to get the whole stadium singing along. It was as though the entire nation was one big orchestra. Next was when he introduced Nigerian superstar Wizkid to loud cheers from the audience onto the stage to perform his hit song, azonto.
After what many have described as one of the best international acts ever to hit GH, C Breezy, showed respect when he bowed off the stage for sensational duo and VGMA Artistes of the Year nominees, R2Bees to take over. After Mugees and Pae Dae came the adorable Efya who gave off her very best to her screaming fans, while the raglife King from the highgrade family, Samini crowned it all with a master piece of an act that left many doing the international dancing.
Chris Brown has come and gone, but the memories of his act, like the lyrics in his songs will live with us for a long time to come. The Hope City Launch Concert was produced by Charterhouse Ghana and sponsored by ICT giants, Rlg Communications.