Reggae Sumfest livestream viewers disappointed at not seeing Babyface
Published:Sunday | July 21, 2024 | 3:55 AM
Persons who were waiting to see Babyface's performance via the Reggae Sumfest free livestream expressed their disappointment, even while hilariously demanding a refund when it was officially announced that the artiste's team had not given permission for any recordings of him to be shown.
There were calls of "gimme back mi money" and "I want my money back" from the viewers who had stayed up to watch the entertainer perform at the reggae festival.
Before Wayne Marshall, one of the hosts, delivered the news, there was speculation that the band change was simply taking an extremely long time. Some insiders, however, had posted that there was a Babyface blackout and demanded proof. It was then that Wayne, co-hosting a segment with his wife Tami, revealed the unwelcome news.
Babyface was scheduled to perform after the icon, Beres Hammond, who was fully embraced by the crowd.
For the most part, the comments were highly critical of the 65-year-old American singer, songwriter, and record producer, who has won 13 Grammy Awards throughout his storied career and remains quite popular in Jamaica.
Among the comments were:
"What????????"
"That's OK guys...it's fine. We appreciate the live stream regardless."
"I wouldn’t have booked him."
"Good night everyone. No Babyface. Gone a mi bed."
"Kmt dats why dem fi leff di foreign ppl alone."
"Babyface should never have been booked if that was the case."
"Don’t bring him back."
"Babyface say no freeness."
"Wow that’s crazy smh."
"Run back mi money."
"WHAT? I am going to bed. lol. That's fine. It's what he signed. That is big artiste for you."
Members of the press at the venue had been advised from earlier in the day that the press area had to be cleared prior to Babyface's entrance on stage and no pictures or videos would be allowed.
According to his bio on Wikipedia, Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds, who was born April 10, 1959, has written and produced more than 26 number-one R&B hits and was ranked number 20 on NME's 50 of The Greatest Producers Ever list.
One of his first major credits as a songwriter for outside artistes came when he wrote the tune Slow Jam for the R&B band Midnight Star in 1983. The tune was on Midnight Star's 1983 double-platinum No Parking on the Dance Floor album.
His album, Playlist, consists of eight cover songs and two original works. It was released on September 18, 2007 and was the first album on the newly re-launched Mercury Records label. On February 4, 2014, Babyface released a Grammy Award-winning duet album with Toni Braxton titled Love, Marriage & Divorce on Motown Records.
In April 2024, he announced a Las Vegas residency via an Instagram video.
During the blackout, Sumfest delved into its vault and showcased riveting performances from Jamaican artistes such as Spice, Maxi Priest, Agent Sasco, and Sizzla from previous years.