Billy Ocean delivers on his promise

By Kalungi Kabuye

Where were you when Billy Ocean came to Uganda? That is the question that will probably be asked for many years to come.

For many Ugandans who grew up in the 1980s, or started ‘enjoying life’ during that period, this R&B singer represented all that was good. As the joke that made the rounds last week, many of today’s 30-something generation were conceived to the sounds of Billy Ocean.

Last Thursday at the Serena’s Victoria Hall, it all came alive once again. The 80s were up and swinging as the man, fondly referred to by Ugandans as Billy Ochieng, delivered all that we wanted and expected.

He may have been all white, from his hair to the beard to the suit he wore, but that voice that we all remembered was still there, and then some more.


Billy Ocean’s saxophonist performing at the Serena .

There were fears that it would be a poor turnout, given the low advertising and the high price of the entry tickets; but while it was obviously not a sold out concert, the turnout was decent, and only a few chairs and tables were empty.

The show as supposed to start at 9:00pm, but the sponsors had to have their time on stage, and by the time all the raffle draws were done and the prizes given out, it was 9:30pm (the pairing of Isaac Rucci and Muhangi as MCs was a disaster).

But then the man came on stage and it was forgiven. He started off with a few relatively unknown songs, but done very well and to a very good sound (wish all shows at the Serena had sound like that).

But Ugandans are notorious for wanting what they know, so it was snot till he did Colour of Love that they got excited.

He did a cover of Bob Marley’s No Woman No Cry, and also renditions of Cry Me a River and Stay the Night. But when he got to Mystery Lady, it was time to really get down, and the crowd did just that.

He followed it with Sad Songs, Lover Boy, Suddenly and When the Going Gets Tough.

He then pretended to say goodnight, and the crowd howled like so many wounded beasts.

But he came back on stage for the fitting finale, Caribbean Queen. And we said, yes, we were there when Billy Ocean came to Uganda.

Happy people at the Billy Ocean concert

Revellers groove to the music