Machel Montano HD - Jumbie (music video)

Is Machel Montano HD shaping himself like Michael Jackson? Are we waiting to see if Machel soon has a whole heap of molestation charges being brought against him?

In his 2007 REZZARECK(tion) Machel and his team of designers/stylists have decided that a good person to model HD after is the great Michael Jackson; probably one of the best entertainers ever... well imitation... flattery... you know...

The HD bus (for which I have video too) is/was a flop, or should I say... it BUSS. It is definitely something different for Trinidad. It improved on the Shurwayne & Traffik 25 seater from 2006. When the 'Taipan of SOCA' is performing at venue now I guess they do not need to set up an area for him. I guess he can stay on the bus and come out when he is already 'Higher Than High'. It saves the promoter the trouble of having to cater to the needs (whatever they may be) of Machel Montano, the rest of the enterouge aint that important... ;). Machel has really impressed this Carnival though... he is the 'King of Soca' as his website maintains.

I first heard Jumbie at a LIVE performance and immediately thought ROAD MARCH. I have had alot of fun jumbie... jumbie dem... jumbie... jumbie dem (RAH)ing unsuspecting people but Jumbie has actually lost some points after my viewing the video. Walt Lovelace too. I can't believe that the video looks so cheap. No real thought went into it. If compared this to Shurwayne's 'Open the Gate' and we can see who is the preferred face of bMobile Trinbago. Even though Shurwayne has junkyard scenes that look very similar to Junior Gong's 'Move', it looks finished; Lisa Wickham has a history of not being original. Jumbie looks unpolished... a ruff cut for review purposes. I guess this is what happens when you rush to do a video for a song and don't get proper treatment (concept/storyboard).

Walt Lovelace's work is usually exceptional. Think of Ataklan's 'Naked Walk' and 'Shadow'. Visually stunning pieces. I guess if he did not agree with the concept he should have gone the way of Ras Kassa... (excerpt from an interview by Whaddat.com...)

There are instances where he becomes so fed up with the end result of some of videos (those instances where the artist plays director) that he opts to not have his name put on the final cut. "They have the tackiest ideas... When things like that happen, it f*$k you up. Is like yuh girl hurt yuh so yuh don't even feel like being a part of it. I just don't put my name on it." After much cajoling, he gives a hilarious recount of what he'd consider his worst video experience, "It was their video, their idea," he says setting the record straight... "I respec' dem still caw dem a try do dem ting. They've worked clubs overseas…dem a try mek dem money…and that's why I chose to work with them but dem f*$k it up."

I have seen better makeup in a Jouvert band. If you want to imitate or STEAL a concept do it properly. You are now in an age where everyone is a critic. Most have access to or are exposed to more than what you may think. MTV & BET are now staples in the diet of many a Trinbagonian. W.I. have Tempo that more than likely is going to pick up these videos because their audience wants to see their favourite Caribbean artists.

Mr. High Def has credited Kernel Roberts with writing Jumbie and Kernel has a proven track record for not hearing a song... I will make the excuse/assumption that he has never seen Michael Jackson's Thriller either. The choreography comes straight out from Thriller with a little of the Hot Wuk too. Machel twitches his neck like a soucouyant biting him. I would have liked to see more traditional mas characters associated with the DARKER elements of life portrayed in the video; not just Moko Jumbies.

The really sad part about this video is the intro... if I was a SELL-EBB-RI-TEE and had a tour bus with a bed in it I gurantee that it would not be filled with a whole heap a Mann.

OUT A' BODY, BACK TO YUHSELF...