by Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

The 'vibes' crew of ladies at this week's 'Throw Back Tuesdays', held at 105 Red Hills Road, St. Andrew. - Colin Hamilton

At 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday this week's edition of 'Throwback Tuesdays', the retro music street dance which started in early September, did not have a large audience, but it did have that often elusive 'vibes' factor.

Said 'vibes' came mainly from selector Iceberg giving instructions, mostly faithfully followed, to a group of women near Red Hills Road in the open area outside the Wild, Wild West Salon where the free session is held.

And it was oldies in dancehall style from Purple Love that had them rocking.

Fresh, Shabba style and then Red Dragon's version, came before Sister Charmaine chanted "living in de ghetto life it no easy". Iceberg told one of the 'vibes' women to position, which she duly did, but he critiqued her style with "me say position, me neva say gallop".

When a large lady stepped out to Admiral Bailey he said "mama bird! Go deh big gal! Yes giant, tek it to dem!"

Shabba Ranks songs featured heavily, Gal Yu Good coming before the Twice My Age combination with Crystal. "Whe de gal whe know sey a ol' man yu love?" the selector asked.

The remake of Bam Bam came before Murder She Wrote and the selector said "just arrived in the building, Beyonce. Who that? Whitney Houston! And Diana Ross. Yu owl but yu no cowl. What about Regina Belle? Anita Baker. Big up Pussycat Dolls". And with that he mixed to Nardo Ranks deejaying "dem a bleach...".

Free up!

One young woman, standing high in boots, may not have been bleaching, but was busy applying make-up, her beauty items placed on the low wall beside the road. When she had finished dolling up she took to the dance area, wine glass in right hand and wine of the other sort in her hips.

"Me no want no girl come ina de dance an a fol' han' like dem a security guard. Free up!" Iceberg said. Ku Kum Kum and Bu Duff Baff gave the two sides of matters of female flesh, Dem Bow getting support from many of the few men in the dance.

And Purple Love's heritage in Stone Love was shown with dub plates from Capleton, Wayne Wonder and Buju Banton as The STAR called it a night, the high-pitched voice of Ghost singing "something inside so strong" echoing over Red Hills Road.