ONE HIT WONDER???
So I woke up this morning to a barrage of texts and voice messages on my Blackberry. Apparently I missed the crew from the Red Hot Morning Show on 96.7 RED-FM here in TnT playing my song (“Ting 4 D Road”) and dubbing me a “ONE HIT WONDER”. So MistaVybeWorld.com Posse – now I’m throwing this out to YOU. What do YOU think? Is Mista Vybe really a ONE HIT WONDER?
I’ll be the first to admit that “Ting 4 D Road” is my biggest mainstream Soca hit as a solo artist in Trinidad – no denying that. Certainly the most recent solo smash too.
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It’s funny that this “one hit wonder” debacle started on that particular station though, because THEY were one of the MAIN stations that pushed my Groovy Soca tune “Always On My Mind (Featuring Michelle Sylvester)” to hit status during the same Carnival season that “Ting” came out of (2006). “Always” still goes down well locally and abroad to this day, even though it’s not considered my “signature tune”. Hell, people sing along to it everytime I perform it – so would THAT be considered a hit?
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Hmmm… or maybe they forgot the year 2000, when I was one of the lead vocalists in the band Atlantik and I had a smash with my bandmate Keisha Stewart (which I also wrote and co-produced) called “Frenchman Jam”? One of the most played tunes that Carnival season, got us the Soca Monarch Finals where we mashed up the Queen’s Park Oval and placed 13th out of a field of almost 40. Isn’t THAT a hit too?
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I wonder if “Joe Le Taxi” with Sharlene (Boodram) counts as a hit? Does anyone remember that it was Number One on the charts (literally) for the ENTIRE summer of 1997 (and several months afterward) in ALL of the French-Speaking islands (Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guyana, etc).
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Hmmm – maybe hits outside of TnT don’t count?
Ok well then does writing hits count? Cause if it does then you might want to give me extra points for writing/co-writing “My Posse” by Nadia Batson (check this blog link for more on this tune), “Bounce” by El A Kru Featuring Tizzy, “That Thing You Do” by Michelle Sylvester, “Party” by Ms. Alysha Featuring FayAnn Lyons, “Sleeping In My Bed” by Michelle Sylvester, “Work” by Denise Belfon (ask someone in the UK how BIG dat tune was MAINSTREAM over there), “Whoa Jean” AKA “Billie Jean Is Not My Lover” by (Soca Michael Jackson) Andy Stephenson, and “Sexy Raggamuffin Girl” by Andy as well (click HERE for more on Andy and those two tunes).
For a FULL LIST OF TUNES that I wrote and/or collaborated on, feel free to check out my Discography for even more tunes I worked on over the years.
Going back even FURTHER, I co-wrote (as a ghost writer in my early days) and/or helped $hel-Shok (RIP my friend) arrange the vocals, lyrics and melody for like 90 percent of the Kisskidee Karavan tunes back in 1993 too… but I mean, I could on and on about stuff I wrote, so let’s just end the listing there.
The bottom line for me is – however you define the term “One Hit Wonder”, I don’t really think I truly rate as one (if you do your homework and really look at it), but that’s just my humble opinion.
I’m dying to hear thoughts from my MistaVybeWorld crew, so please leave a comment and let me know what YOU think on this subject. So – YOU tell ME: am I really a “One Hit Wonder”?
I’ll be watching for answers. Mista Vybe OUTTTTTTTTT!!!
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Tags: 2009, Andy Stephenson, Denise Belfon, Michelle Sylvester, Mista Vybe, MistaVybeWorld.com, Ms. Alysha, Nadia Batson, Sharlene Boodram, Soca, Soca Michael Jackson
Ashley J. a.k.a. Ms Paige, said: September 25th, 2009 at 1:07 PM
One hit wonder?! As Tallpree would say “Yuh mad or wha?!”
Mista Vybe is like the Ne-Yo of soca – not only writing hits for himself, but a plethora, yah I said it, a PLETHORA of other well-established, SUCCESSFUL artists. Not one Carnival goes by in Trinidad without a hit song penned by Mista Vybe. Keep doing you and disregard the negative VYBES!
Mista Vybe, said: September 25th, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Thanks Very Much Ms Paige! I’m honoured by the comparison to Ne-Yo – that’s serious.
So I guess you’re voting NO on this then? lol
Hmmm – more votes anyone?
Ashley J. a.k.a. Ms Paige, said: September 25th, 2009 at 1:29 PM
No problem homie! Damn straight i’m voting NO! Honestly….wha’is da one?!?!?
Mista Vybe, said: September 25th, 2009 at 1:33 PM
Lol! Okay that’s one NO… My vote makes it two… anyone else? lol
Hubert aka Shaggyruben, said: September 25th, 2009 at 1:59 PM
Waz dat one dred…………..man you aint got no time fuh no punk a@$ bit@#$!!!!!!…………..let your work make a statement …….remind them then stand back……steups….one time wonder??!!……..HELL NO!!!
Darling Nicky, said: September 25th, 2009 at 2:01 PM
So here’s the thing. Musical artists don’t write and perform merely to make “hits”. That’s what auto-tune is for. True artists write and perform songs that make you move, leave a musical mark on the soundtrack of your life. Like clothing, we all don’t just wear ONE brand. We wear what looks and feels good! Music is the same…so what might be a so-called hit for one critic, might not be for someone else.
Honestly, although I (like everyone else) am familiar w/Ting because of it’s presence in 2006, I am much more appreciative of many of Vybe’s other tracks.
“hits” like beauty, are in the eye of the beholder. So look out world and BE HELD by Mista VYBE!
Mista Vybe, said: September 25th, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Hubert – I agree with you 100 Percent, bro! That’s why this post exists – to REMIND dudes who CLEARLY forgot what time it is!
Darling Nicky – Thanks for the eloquent and heartfelt statement of support – I appreciate the endorsement.
OKAYYY – so that’s 4 NO’s and not one YES lol
More votes? I wonder how come Management hasn’t voted yet? ;-)
Navy Shawty, said: September 25th, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Boo, now yuh know had tuh come and out muh two cents in. One hit wonder huh, tell them fools tuh go kicks rocks, or in trini terms hull dey f’ing mutha’s crutch…. U know and i know is them self does be whinning down de f’ing place when they hear thing for the road, and is them self trynna get it in when they hear always on my mind… so doh study them.. Imma let them finish talking but f that You have some of the best and greatest songs of all times… Luv U
Mista Vybe, said: September 25th, 2009 at 4:58 PM
Thanks very much Shawty! Appreciate your kind words.
“Some of the best and greatest songs of all times…” – that’s a big compliment. Thanks again :-)
Saucy B, said: September 25th, 2009 at 5:34 PM
Well…wikipedia.com defines a “one hit wonder” as follows:
~A one-hit wonder is a music industry term to describe an artist generally known for only one hit single…
With that said I find it kind of bias for anyone who works on a radio station (i.e. -dj, personality etc) to have the nerve to LABEL any artist for that matter a ONE HIT WONDER. Does the DJ/Radio personality not hold some sort of responsibility for the amount of AIR PLAY a song is played on the same radio station for the many listeners to hear? The outlet (being the radio station) is the magic tool to connect the “people” (listeners) to the music. If the DJ chooses or does not play the artiste music, how in the world are the “People” going to get accustomed and be informed about the new material being put out there? And have the chance to choose their own personal preference of that particular song being played? Like a child growing up, a parent teaches that child what he/she needs to learn to communicate with the outside world. If the “teaching” (airplay) is not being taught, how is the audience (the “people”) going to be able to react, enjoy, and embrace the song of that particular artiste? THE DJ/ON-AIR PERSONALITY holds the biggest responsibility in this whole argument when it comes to labeling an artiste as a “one hit wonder”.
“We” the “People” have the privilege to enjoy the music that is being put out their on a regular basis both during carnival peak times and out of carnival peak times, but what we don’t usually hear about is the people “behind” the MUSIC. I’m talking about the producers, the song writers, and the background vocal singers etc. It is almost like a domino effect. The final production of that ONE song can’t go un-noticed without the hard working people who contributed and worked behind the scenes to produce that particular song. So let me tell you a little bit about this “ONE HIT WONDER” Patrick “MISTAVYBE” Gordon! if you have read his blog and took in the information that he has posted, where he has contributed and helped write/produce many of the songs today that are getting a lot of air play, does this not constitute him as being one of the many “HIT MAKERS” today in the Soca industry? You got to give credit, where credit is due! Nuh true? A “HIT MAKER” is someone who is known for their success thru music for decades to come and leaves an everlasting impression in the record books when speaking about music. And MISTA VYBE has made his mark with “TING FOR de ROAD” and plenty other songs in which he either had a “hand” in, as well as his own personal material. This is just the beginning for this “V”ersatile “Y”oung “B”lack “E”ntertainer .
So the next time any DJ/PERSONALITY who wants to go and publicly call out an artist as a “ONE HIT WONDER”, do your research, and then ask yourself what position and role do you play in the decision making of determining the outcome of an artist being called a “ONE HIT WONDER” !
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“ Lets escape into the music DJ Let it play, I just cant refuse it, Like the way you do this, Keep on rockin’ to it, PLEASE DON’T STOP THE MUSIC “~ Rihanna (song: please don’t stop the music)
Mista Vybe, said: September 25th, 2009 at 5:56 PM
You said a mouthful Saucy! Thanks for your outpouring of honesty.
It seems like the more successful one gets, the more people disregard that success certain people feel the need to “hate” lol.
That’s okay… SOME of us know the real deal. And that’s all that matters.:-)
JoJo Marcano (Mista Vybe's Manager), said: September 25th, 2009 at 11:58 PM
All I can do is laugh…..I LOVE IT!!!
It’s funny to me because the same Jason (or should I say the Host of the morning show) is the same Jason who THIS YEAR CARNIVAL interviewed Mista Vybe on Synergy and spoke to him about his music and past successes. AND because we so damn good…check the website header or the Video section where you can see the Synergy interview… you think we playin?.
My take: Media can be your friend or your worst enemy. I thank the Morning Show for assisting my artist (Mista Vybe) in creating a great blog posting. What we have shown is that not only is Mista Vybe NOT a ONE HIT WONDER, but he has a lot of people who were willing to go the extra mile to prove they talk complete assness.
Note to Media (DJs/Hosts, Bloggers, Radio, TV and People with big mouths..in case you didn’t know if you fit in the ‘Media umbrella”):…… Dis is NEWS…….Mista Vybe has gone Web 2.0. HE is the ONLY artist in Trinidad and the Caribbean to have an interactive website, utilize all social media as a tool to assist in promoting himself and his music, a reality show and openly interact with his supporters, personally.
TALK ABOUT THAT!!
Golden Empress, said: September 27th, 2009 at 2:27 AM
HMMMM……….
One thing you should always remember is that you cannot control what other people think or say about you. What you can control however, is your reaction to their jackassness!!! So REACT!!!! And give them ‘ting’ tuh talk ’bout!!!!!
(and that’s yet another “NO”) lol
Steffen, said: September 27th, 2009 at 5:22 AM
Hey Mista Vybe ,
forget this asshole.for envy you have hard to work,you know what i mean .Bless and Love from Germany
Mista Vybe, said: September 27th, 2009 at 5:09 PM
Thanks Golden Empress and Steffen, both of you speak very true words. I really appreciate the support!
As I have been learning more and more every day – negativity is always out there, but we have to find ways to combat it. Seems like blogging is a great way for me, wouldn’t you agree? :-D
rizon, said: October 2nd, 2009 at 9:08 AM
apart from yo crazy experience and contribution to soca music, you continue to remain humble and real bruh, in spite of de fight down
which leaves more than just hits to yo name, but something better – you have character man, a rare asset these days
big up yo self MV
keep doing yo thing
my vote “NO”
Mista Vybe, said: October 2nd, 2009 at 9:18 AM
Wow – thanks for that serious edndorsement Rizon! Really appreciate those words.
Blessings to you and yours man! Keep doing what you doin – you doin BIg TINGZ too!
BajanCherry, said: October 3rd, 2009 at 1:19 PM
Steups…. LISTEN!!!!!! TELL DEM CYAR DEM ASS!!!!!!
My vote is no, you are not one hit wonder!