Is Yellowman the ugliest pop star ever?

[Buzzer]

I saw the legendary reggae singer Yellowman last night at the Concorde. Bass was a bit light and the crowd sparse but all in all a good gig when he warmed up. But by God, he's not blessed with movie star looks. First time I'd seen him in the flesh and he's not aged well from how I remember him from album covers.

Surely, there can't be anyone worse than him. Is there?

 

[PHCgull]

to be fair, he was never an oil painting.

but (according to him) he's never had a problem wth the laydeez

... all a dem they 'ave yellow children..."

 

[sydney]

saw him at the event in the 80's.........he has deteriorated,no doubt.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I visited a blind school in Malawi and there were a couple of residents that were Albino. They were effectively ostracised from society and sought refuge in a school such as the one visited. The two I met rarely went outside as they did not have enough protection from the baking sun.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

At least he managed to make a few quid after copping a plum role in LOTR.

 

[Tubby Mondays]

Didnt he have cancer or something and have to have a large part of his face removed?

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Cancer of the jaw, apparently.

So he is an ethnically black albino, who has had part of his face removed.

 

[1066familyman]

King Stitt.

 

[Insel affe]

You forgot about this little chap

 

[Taybha]

in so many ways so much uglier

 

[1066familyman]

I visited a blind school in Malawi and there were a couple of residents that were Albino. They were effectively ostracised from society and sought refuge in a school such as the one visited. The two I met rarely went outside as they did not have enough protection from the baking sun.

Yellowman should be an inspiration to ostracised people in society everywhere I think and I have immense respect for the man. He was booed off stage when he first started out at talent contests in Jamaica to cries of "get off dundus" ( dundus is patois for albino ), yet he never ran away and gave up. It just so happens that when he finally hit the big time, slackness ( lyrics about sex ) was ruling dancehall music of the day and so it was particularly ironic that Yellowman got big when he did and sold himself as Jamaica's " Mr.Sexy ". That makes me happy and really pleased for him.

I remember once reading about Israel Vibration ( a roots reggae vocal trio ) and the hassle they said they used to get from people just because they bore the scars of polio. I get the impression that Jamaica could and probably still is a very harsh society in which to grow up if you happen to be in anyway a little bit different.

I don't want to hijack this thread ( as I have a tendency to do when it comes to reggae ) so I'll leave you to go youtubing for Israel Vibration and of course Yellowman if you so desire.

 

[chadbasher]

de man have cancer of de jaw an chu try diss im, RESPEK KING YELLOW

 

[daveinprague]

I met him backstage at a Dennis Brown concert at the Top Rank..think Yellowman was playing inat the Zap. Was talking to Dennis when yellowman came over, and although he was polite, it was fairly clear that Dennis Brown didnt like him. Dont know why or if they have a history. A lot of people, and artists didnt like yellowman back in the day as he pirated other peoples lyrics, so assumed at the time it was that.

 

[Buzzer]

Fair do's and apologies to the great man then. I didn't know he'd beaten cancer. Tell you what, he's ripped to the max though. Fantastic physique for a bloke who must be knocking on the door of 50 if not passed it.

I'm with you both BoF and 1066FM on how he overcame albinism. I used to live in S Africa and saw quite a few albinos as they tend to be a lot more common amongst black people for some reason. Didn't have the best of lives in their communities.

The set was good, as I said. Not brilliant but good. He also covered some odd songs - the reggae standard, Oh Carolina was given a good going but also Cliff Richard's Summer Holiday.

Especially for 1066FM - here's what we listened to on the way home from the gig last night. My brother's fave reggae song ever.

Tenor Saw - ring the alarm
[yt]yRCao607WH4[/yt]


Give us a shout next time you're in the family stand

 

[1066familyman]

Fair do's and apologies to the great man then. I didn't know he'd beaten cancer. Tell you what, he's ripped to the max though. Fantastic physique for a bloke who must be knocking on the door of 50 if not passed it.

I'm with you both BoF and 1066FM on how he overcame albinism. I used to live in S Africa and saw quite a few albinos as they tend to be a lot more common amongst black people for some reason. Didn't have the best of lives in their communities.

The set was good, as I said. Not brilliant but good. He also covered some odd songs - the reggae standard, Oh Carolina was given a good going but also Cliff Richard's Summer Holiday.

Especially for 1066FM - here's what we listened to on the way home from the gig last night. My brother's fave reggae song ever.

Tenor Saw - ring the alarm
[yt]yRCao607WH4[/yt]


Give us a shout next time you're in the family stand

My wife is Nigerian and says that albinos don't get particularly shunned there. About the worst of it is just referring to them as "Oyinbo" which just really means white and is a term used to point out white people in Nigeria.

Glad you enjoyed the Yellowman gig. Suppose it was a lot of his tunes from back in the day as I can't recall him doing much new stuff in recent years ?

Will be back in the family stand proper for Leeds & Charlton so will try to come over and say hello again. Been stuck in the East stand for Gillingham & Hartlepoole and have missed a couple of games this season too.

 

[1066familyman]

I met him backstage at a Dennis Brown concert at the Top Rank..think Yellowman was playing inat the Zap. Was talking to Dennis when yellowman came over, and although he was polite, it was fairly clear that Dennis Brown didnt like him. Dont know why or if they have a history. A lot of people, and artists didnt like yellowman back in the day as he pirated other peoples lyrics, so assumed at the time it was that.

Do you think perhaps the crown prince of reggae didn't like Yellowman because of his slack lyrics ? Dennis was always mainly roots and culture along with a fair amount of lovers wasn't he, but never into slackness.

In fairness all the dancehall singers/dj's ( whatever happened to that lovely term- sing jay ? ) tended to use a fairly similiar set of lyrics. I think that's always been the case ever since U.Roy and the likes.