020 Live Flops!: Nice Set Up, Poor Content

The much publicized second edition of the Vodafone 020 Live Concert could not live up to the hype as the biggest party of the year, as promised patrons of the event during the publicity campaign by the organizers. In spite of challenges right from the onset (planning stage), the organizers managed to make it happen inside the Dome at the Accra International Conference Centre, last Tuesday September 20, 2011. If the standard set by Vodafone and RockStar4000, with last year�s maiden event where Nigerian twin singers P-Square headlined, is anything to go by, then comparatively last Tuesday�s show was a flop. The over 4000 capacity auditorium was fully packed with a very wide stage set up with six large projector screens (two left, two right) projecting what was going on to the crowd, and two other projector effects in Vodafone colours as well as pictures and names of artistes performing. The 020 Live logo was designed in a sizeable round shape decorated with red lights, on the background of the stage. Lights, sound, microphones and the general technical stage set up were professionally done, but the artistes especially the Ghanaian artistes who were supposed to use the stage to entertain the crowd, flopped shamefully with the exception of VIP, and to some extent R2Bees. As usual, the show which was supposed to start at 7pm, started some minutes to 9pm. Before the main show started, Nii Aryee Tagoe, DJ for the night had a big party with the crowd who danced the night away with both old and new songs. �Muge baya boys� 5Five, kick off the night with their normal appearance, with all three of them in an all white outfit. Apart from dancing �Azonto� to their own popular songs, there was nothing extraordinary about the performance by the Adabraka based Hiplife group. The flat performance by Vodafone Icons winners RnM�s added nothing to the show that could remind the audience of their existence. Amber Rose who only came to showcase her beautiful dresses and flaunt her body was almost non-existent on stage. Her inclusion as an MC for the show seemed absolutely unnecessary as co-MC Eddy Blay single handedly took control of the show. Stay Jay was swallowed by the size of the stage. He bored the crowd with too many unknown songs before he finally performed his popular hit song �Shashee wowo�. D-Cryme was the worst performer on the night. He made an effort to perform with live band but whoever gave him that advice did him a great disservice. He came on stage with over 20 member full brass band who tried very had to play his songs live while he delivered his rap lines but they played as though they were playing for a float on the street. D-Cryme performed about four songs including his hit song �Kill Me Shy� live, and most people in the crowd virtually begged him to leave the stage until he finally decided to play �Kill Me Shy� from a CD. Nima based Hiplife group VIP, were Ghana�s pride on the night. The trio brought their usual energy on stage and kept the crowd on their feet, dancing to their countless hit songs back to back.