Chameleone draws in the crowd
Feb 21, 2010
FOR three consecutive years, singer Jose Chameleone, whose musical career spans over 10 years, has kicked each year with a major concert. In 2008, he started off with Katupakase Heavy Weight show at Kati Kati Restaurant. <br>Last year, he opened with a grand concert dubbed Bayuda concert at Hotel A
By Pidson Kareire
FOR three consecutive years, singer Jose Chameleone, whose musical career spans over 10 years, has kicked each year with a major concert. In 2008, he started off with Katupakase Heavy Weight show at Kati Kati Restaurant.
Last year, he opened with a grand concert dubbed Bayuda concert at Hotel Africana.
But perhaps none seemed more vital, timely and more appropriately themed than last Friday’s Basiima Ogenze (named after his album) at Kampala City Council (KCC) Grounds.
Basima Ogenze, also the title track of Chameleone’s latest album, is a cynical phrase literally meaning: “People only appreciate your usefulness when you are dead.â€
But if, after all this time, the self-styled music doctor felt like he was loosing grip of his fan base, the record crowd that showed up at KCC Grounds Friday night must have assured him that, if anything, he is only getting stronger.
Eager and enthusiastic fans started pouring into the venue as early as 4:00pm. The DJ kept them entertained through his music video mixing all the way to 9:00pm when suddenly, the sky was lit by sporadic fire works and thereafter performances kicked off.
Typically, the show kicked off with curtain raisers like Boyz September, Chillie Galz, Cyclones, Rockermiller and Leone Island Crew, which backed up Chameleone.
The Chillie Galz and Cyclones came after Boyz September; their dazzling leather costumes complementing their stage performance. It could have been their first or second time to share such a big magnificent stage with Chameleone and they disappointed neither him nor their fans.
Sworn Chameleone foe-turned-friend-lately, Bobi Wine’s impromptu appearance surprised as much as it excited revellers. He even had time to perform the popular single Inna Di Dance with Caesar Man, General Mega Dee and Butchaman which sent revellers screaming.
Other artistes who performed included new music sensation Rabba Dabba; Tikitah, Rain and Eighton (of Kiwooko fame) together with Bebe Cool’s entire Gagamel Crew.
Cool himself was absent but ably represented by wife Zuena who was accompanied to the stage by Chameleone’s wife, Daniela. She told fans that Bebe Cool could not sing due to medical reasons.
Chameleone’s appearance on stage dressed like a Nigerian policeman attracted wild screams from the audience, which kept murmuring, ‘Ffe tukusimye okyaliwo’ meaning: “We truly appreciate you.
You are still as hot!†Chameleone, who performed live with the Big 5 band, sang out about 30 of his biggest songs drawn from his over 10-year catalogue in a record of two hours. He did it in two sessions, concentrating on older songs in the first. After a 10-minute break, he changed clothes, returning to perform his more recent hits.
From the old songs he performed songs like Jamila, Bwosaba, Ssanyu lyange, Mawoko na Mawoko, Shida za Dunia, Kuma Obwesigwa, Tebasiga Nsigo, Sivyo ndivyo and Nekolera Mal. As usual, he could not miss an opportunity to pass off mocking remarks to his young brother, Weasel of the Goodlyfe Crew.
He ended with Basiima Ogenze as clearly satisfied fans walked out. Naturally, Chameleone chest-thumped about how he could not leave his fans dissatisfied like American music star R.Kelly during his recent performance in Uganda.
I guess it was an opportunity for R. Kelly sponsors — Zain — who also sponsored this show, to appease Ugandan music fans for all that went wrong with R Kelly.
The show was co-sponsered by Bukkede radio, TV and paper.
FOR three consecutive years, singer Jose Chameleone, whose musical career spans over 10 years, has kicked each year with a major concert. In 2008, he started off with Katupakase Heavy Weight show at Kati Kati Restaurant.
Last year, he opened with a grand concert dubbed Bayuda concert at Hotel Africana.
But perhaps none seemed more vital, timely and more appropriately themed than last Friday’s Basiima Ogenze (named after his album) at Kampala City Council (KCC) Grounds.
Basima Ogenze, also the title track of Chameleone’s latest album, is a cynical phrase literally meaning: “People only appreciate your usefulness when you are dead.â€
But if, after all this time, the self-styled music doctor felt like he was loosing grip of his fan base, the record crowd that showed up at KCC Grounds Friday night must have assured him that, if anything, he is only getting stronger.
Eager and enthusiastic fans started pouring into the venue as early as 4:00pm. The DJ kept them entertained through his music video mixing all the way to 9:00pm when suddenly, the sky was lit by sporadic fire works and thereafter performances kicked off.
Typically, the show kicked off with curtain raisers like Boyz September, Chillie Galz, Cyclones, Rockermiller and Leone Island Crew, which backed up Chameleone.
The Chillie Galz and Cyclones came after Boyz September; their dazzling leather costumes complementing their stage performance. It could have been their first or second time to share such a big magnificent stage with Chameleone and they disappointed neither him nor their fans.
Sworn Chameleone foe-turned-friend-lately, Bobi Wine’s impromptu appearance surprised as much as it excited revellers. He even had time to perform the popular single Inna Di Dance with Caesar Man, General Mega Dee and Butchaman which sent revellers screaming.
Other artistes who performed included new music sensation Rabba Dabba; Tikitah, Rain and Eighton (of Kiwooko fame) together with Bebe Cool’s entire Gagamel Crew.
Cool himself was absent but ably represented by wife Zuena who was accompanied to the stage by Chameleone’s wife, Daniela. She told fans that Bebe Cool could not sing due to medical reasons.
Chameleone’s appearance on stage dressed like a Nigerian policeman attracted wild screams from the audience, which kept murmuring, ‘Ffe tukusimye okyaliwo’ meaning: “We truly appreciate you.
You are still as hot!†Chameleone, who performed live with the Big 5 band, sang out about 30 of his biggest songs drawn from his over 10-year catalogue in a record of two hours. He did it in two sessions, concentrating on older songs in the first. After a 10-minute break, he changed clothes, returning to perform his more recent hits.
From the old songs he performed songs like Jamila, Bwosaba, Ssanyu lyange, Mawoko na Mawoko, Shida za Dunia, Kuma Obwesigwa, Tebasiga Nsigo, Sivyo ndivyo and Nekolera Mal. As usual, he could not miss an opportunity to pass off mocking remarks to his young brother, Weasel of the Goodlyfe Crew.
He ended with Basiima Ogenze as clearly satisfied fans walked out. Naturally, Chameleone chest-thumped about how he could not leave his fans dissatisfied like American music star R.Kelly during his recent performance in Uganda.
I guess it was an opportunity for R. Kelly sponsors — Zain — who also sponsored this show, to appease Ugandan music fans for all that went wrong with R Kelly.
The show was co-sponsered by Bukkede radio, TV and paper.