I deserve my prime time Sumfest spot, says Ding Dong
Reggae Sumfest is often referred to as the ‘Greatest Reggae Show On Earth’. It is natural, therefore, for that stage to be a benchmark for the careers of many artistes. Even more coveted than performing on the Reggae Sumfest stage, is closing the show or performing in a prime-time spot in the wee hours of the morning, particularly on dancehall night. Last year, dancerturned-artiste Ding Dong, having had an impressive year, vowed that he would not be performing on the Sumfest stage the following year if he did not get a prime-time feature. The artiste performed fairly early last year. He believed that having had some of the biggest songs of the year in the dancehall between 2016 and 2017, he should have performed closer to the prime-time segment, which featured the ‘top tier’ acts.
Ding Dong got his wish this year as the entertainer graced the Sumfest stage in the early hours of Saturday morning, performing among the likes of I-Octane and queen of the dancehall, Spice.
BEEN UNREASONABLE
In his post-performance interview, the entertainer explained that what he said last year was not just talk as he intended to decline the Sumfest offer if he was not going to be featured in prime time. The entertainer said that he believed he worked hard over the last year and was deserving of the early morning spot.
He added that having made that speech last year, he ensured he put in the work and believed it would have been unreasonable if the Sumfest organisers did not recognise his efforts.
“Me mean it when me did say so, enuh (statements regarding the prime time spot). Me nuh talk nothing me nuh mean. It was premeditated and that was something that was supposed to be said, and I said it and I stood by it. This is my third year at Sumfest, and the process from the first year to the second year I had numerous amount of hit songs. So I don’t think I should be performing at the same place every year. More hit songs mean you grow and people supposed to recognise your growth,” he said.
“When I made that speech, a lot of people said I shouldn’t make that speech on the stage. Sometimes you haffi talk things into existence because you see when me say that on stage, I had to put out 150 per cent for the rest of the year so I could be here now. I know I deserve this spot.”
Ding Dong noted that the fans also recognised that he deserved a better spot.
“Me perform after Bounty Killer and nobody nah say, “Yow, him shouldn’t deh deh so or Killa shoulda perform before him’ because dem know me put in the work. It’s a huge honour and a huge pleasure to get the recognition you deserve in dancehall, especially as a dancer turned into an artiste,” he told THE STAR.