Lady
Saw
Still In A League All Her Own
Photography and Story by Diane "Livonn" Adam © 2003
On Stage Lady Saw can hold her own and kick it hardcore
dancehall style with the best of men. She's sexy, talented and wickedly amusing on stage
and her raw lyrical repertoire and explicit body language graphically deal with those
often 'whispered in the dark' details of sexual encounters that may shock Westerners, but
seem commonplace in some Jamaican cultures. Lady Saw's distinctive voice has dominated the
dancehall and her patois lyrics have helped to describe and illuminate the shadows of
Jamaica's homegrown language. In her own unique style, Lady Saw musically prevails in a
male dominated industry.
Acclaimed as the First Lady of Dancehall Lady Saw's music and
live performances not only entertains but also challenge our minds and libidos. Lady Saw
clearly offers women a rare opportunity to explore not only our sometimes-misguided
morals, but also the limitless inhibitions we are bogged down with in a world colored by
male dominated desires.
| Lady Saw was born Marion Hall in the parish
of St. Mary in Jamaica and, like many aspiring artists of the day, she began her career
performing on the local sound systems in the area. Growing up with four brothers you don't
need to ask where this lady gets her willpower. Talent, determination and her ability to
be completely at ease with her sexuality has played a large part in Lady Saw's climb to
success. With chart topping songs like her first single, "I Don't Need to Know"
produced by Riddim Twins Sly Dunbar and Robby Shakespeare, along with
other hits songs "No Long Talking", "Sycamore Tree" and "Give Me
A Reason" -- Lady Saw continues to reign as "Queen of the Dancehall" not
only in Jamaica but internationally. |
|
This "knock out"
performer also sustains her title right here in the U.S. with successful recordings with
Hip-Hop divas Eve, Missy Elliot, Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown and
also received 'Best Female DJ/Rapper award at the May 2003 Reggae Music Awards held
in New York. |
Though Lady Saw's uninhibited dancehall style and naughty lyrics
have given her fame in the music industry. She's also taken a lot of flack from Caribbean
governments by being slapped with numerous obscenity charges, barred from reggae festivals
and has even been the focus of a possible ban in Montego Bay. But you can't stop a runaway
train! Lady Saw is still hard at work and enjoying her success and has expanded her work
by producing her latest riddim, Blindfold, which has enjoyed versions from many top
artists. She is also expected to release her much-anticipated new album, Striptease
this summer on VP Records.
Yes, it's true. When you hear the name Lady Saw your mind always
travels down that road of lust but in her own words in her article For The
Sistren" in the 2003 issue of Reggae Festival Guide, Lady Saw remarks,
"I know I sing about sex a lot, about having sex for fun and insisting on the woman's
own pleasure too, but I do not mean just go out and have sex -- I mean to go out and be
strong. Sex is just a way to say that. To be strong."
Lady Saw will be celebrating her birthday this year in California and
will be burning it up with a performance on her birthday night right here in the Bay Area
at the Mandela Village Center in Oakland, California on Saturday, July 12, 2003
presented by Island Stylze. Lady Saw is also scheduled to perform at Queen
Mary's Park in Long Beach, California at Caribbean Seabreeze Festival on
Sunday, July 13th. |
