Stage performance or stagecraft is crucial if not imperative, to the career of any musician. It is definitely not enough to have that velvet voice, not enough to command the number hit song or album.

You won’t be given the accolade “A consummate artiste” if you lack the craft to be a “show stopper”, the ability to wow a crowd. If you can’t excite or ‘move’ an audience, then your ratings go down as a consummate artiste.

Artists are always called upon to grace entertainment shows, parties, rallies and yes, funerals, and they are paid appreciably, so you can always grouse whenever you pay to see a show and any artiste fails to deliver. We are approaching Christmas and therefore shows would abound which makes it necessary to know who you pay to watch. Here are your top ten artistes that leave you awe-struck whenever they perform on stage, and of course, the lousy ten stage-performers in Ghana.

TOP TEN
1. Batman Samini

What’s his name again? Is it Batman, Samini, or Batman Samini or SaminiBat? This guy’s confusion over his own use of name doesn’t take away the fact that he tops the chart of best stage performers of all time. His ability to handle a live band with ease and his dexterity with freestyles is commendable. He always has that element to get any audience to sing and dance along with his performances and even on a bad day, he still beats out many of his colleagues. Congratulations, BatSami, sorry Batman Samini.

2. Kwaw Kesse

Undoubtedly, he is the hottest guy around, the one you need to give your show a life. He will resuscitate your show at any given day. People go gaga over his sounds blaring from their stereos and when he is present to dish out his hit tracks, he does it even better and makes the crowd go um…crazy. Yes, the only artiste to get showbiz icon, Grace Omaboe aka Maame Dokono to yell “abodam”.

3. Castro

Coming from his back-to back hit albums “toffee” and “comm. center”, Da Destroyer takes the number three spot with the kind of energy and exuberance he brings on stage. He handles any stage with such urgency, moving from one side of the stage to the other, he never tires. And he gets the crowd energized, standing and moving along with him. He’s definitely a ’show stopper’.

4. Obrafour

I remember he was almost like a nerd when he came out with the acclaimed “Pae mu ka” album anytime he mounted the stage. The man had incredibly stepped-up his stage manners over the years, he’s led a TIGO sponsored tour nationwide and a Coca-Cola nationwide tour as well. He is your undisputed king for branding. Want to sell your brand, just call on him and his dancers, and feel the results.

5. Mzbel

I can feel you complaining as to why she’s here, but hate or love it, if she headlines 8 out of say 10 shows, and then of course the highest-selling female artiste (circular) deserves to be here.

Mzbel may not be your quintessential stage performer, but her seductive apparel and exotic dance moves always gets the crowd yearning for more and with those sultry backing dancers, partygoers never regret paying to watch her on the bill.

6. Christiana Love.

The gospel diva does not only have a strong voice, she also wields a strong personality when it comes to stage performance. With the kind of energy she brings on stage you’d think she’s a man. She’s so energetic and animated she gets the crowd in the Praising-God mood always. Keep it up, Christy

7. Tic Tac

A young and innocent looking Tic Tac with his maiden “Philomena kpitinge” wept backstage at a show at Trade Fair Center in Accra when he was sidelined by then rap heavyweights like Lord Kenya, Rockstone and co. But now, a matured Tic Tac has the swagger to rock shows and his headlining performance at the Big Brother Africa 2 was a good promulgation for himself and Ghana.

8. Praye and Wutah.

Okay, we have a tie between these bands and interestingly, they were all discovered at the Nescafe African Revelation Talent Hunt show, no wonder they have a comparable style of stagecraft. Praye and Wutah complement their chart-topping songs with good stage performances. At a typical Wutah/Praye show, you sure would have the ladies screaming their names whiles the guys enjoy the show with envy.

9. Kwaku Gyasi

The Elder Mireku sound-alike can’t be left out on the top ten. He rarely disappoints anytime he mounts the stage to Praise the Lord. He gets you in the mood all the time and like Batman, he is very good at free styles he is capable of turning shows around.

10. Becca and K. K. Fosu

The top ten is complete, thanks to Becca and K.K. She has not been in the business for long, she delivers on stage like she’s been doing this ten years. Her stage manners are a delight to watch, not to talk about that model body of hers. She is classy with live bands and if you are able to control a live band, then you are game.

With only Mzbel seriously dictating the pace, we all hope Becca won’t be a one-hit wonder. K.K.Fosu, the self-acclaimed Ghana’s R.Kelly cannot be compared to the original King of RnB, but he sure can be when he comes to stage performance. K.K. is one of a small number of contemporary highlife guys who can turn a show around.

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