'On Stage' at UWI Interhall Shout Out

Taylorites and MC Otis Hamilton congratulating Taylor Hall, winners of the first UWI Inter-Hall Shout Out Competition.

It was like Sting  … a crusade of shouts, screams, lyrics and vibes as the crowds cheered for their halls in the first UWI Inter Hall Shout Out Competition. Prestonites, Taylorites, Seacolites and Rexans armoured themselves for a lyrical war at the UWI Students’ Union on Wednesday, September 26, 2007.

“It nuh done a readi? Mi swear it dun! From Preston dun, di winner sure!” said Kimberley of Preston Hall as the MC Otis Hamilton announced the beginning of round two. The Halls had just chanted lyrics about the UWI.

“Round two starts with the Hall of Halls – The Mighty, Mighty Taylor Hall!” the MC announced as Taylorites marched on stage in what looked like an improvised choir gown made from lab coats.

The Taylorites made no hesitation in educating the students about the ‘taylah culture’ as the Hall of Halls. “I am a Taylorite … wave yuh hands fi di blue and white … because di blue and white is always right,” they sang in a most harmonious tune to one of Jah Cure’s popular songs.

“Wi a swipe an dem a use key,” sang the Rexans as the crowd cursed jealously while they bragged about being the only hall on the campus to use swipe access cards.

‘Preston the hot one’ came bouncing to the tune of Mr. Vegas’ ‘Raging Bull’. They went on to do a selection from Munga’s ‘Bad from mi Bawn’.

“Preston from di first day - wi birthday was taylahrite worse day,” they sang as the students screamed in praise of their lyrical talents and vibes.

Prestonites chanting their lyrics in round 2 of the competition

“Wah yuh know bout weee, wah yuh really know bout weee?” asked Mary Seacole Hall as they did a mix of reggae and hip-hop songs.

As the halls chanted, the students made their judgements, “di competition is between Rex and Seacole for last place. Preston win and Tayla second.”

The judges had a different view. “Although this is a shout out competition we had to judge on originality, lyrics, participation, clarity, costume, choreography and uniformity. So some people might not be pleased with the results tonight.”

Taylor Hall was placed second behind Preston Hall in the UWI Song (Round One) while Preston Hall was placed second place in the Hall Songs (Round Two).

Like defeated soldiers at war, the Preston Hall shouters known as the hall for vibes and culture retreated when it was announced they were placed second overall.

“In much as yuh have nuff vibes wi couldn’t give a marks for that because there is point allocated for vibes,” said Former Guild President Damion Crawford.

The competition was organised by Fabian Howell, the Cultural and Entertainment Affairs Chairperson (CEAC) of the Guild of Students. The shout out had two rounds. Round One: Halls wrote songs about UWI and Round 2: About the Halls of Residence.

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