Something spectacular to bring everyone together to capture the spirit of Cup Match was what was needed to celebrate the centennial holiday and I suspect promoter David Durham knew that only an International icon could help us along.

But not just any international star would have done, the timeless songstress Patti LaBelle, or Miss Patti as she frequently calls herself, was able to transcend all backgrounds to appeal to the entire audience.

Little could deter the 2,500 plus fans from seeing her perform on Thursday night. The crowds braved nearly an hour-long downpour as the crewmen scurried to cover the stage equipment and it seemed it would be time to say goodnight.

But most concert-goers sat tight in the seating provided by the producers and used the chairs or nearby tarpaulin as shelter while they yelled out "Patti Patti" or "Wetti Wetti."

Some fans came out decked in "Don't Block the Blessings" shirts - the title of Miss Patti's autobiography - while others donned Whitney Houston shirts - it was rumoured she was there with her husband Bobby Brown.

The rain held off until an assortment of local acts had entertained the crowds for two hours and got them hyped for the megastar. Silhouette, Taniqua Raynor and Desiree Dill, Diamonds in the Rough, Kion Simmons and Friends, Kerriss Oates, Sia Spence, Kim (Kimona) Smith, and Jahstice Reggae Movement all gave stellar performances and were each a fitting choice. When the star hit the stage decked in a long leopard coat covering a hot black dress and four inch stiletto heels people could no longer contain themselves by sitting. They took to their feet to sing and wave their hands along to the 1997 hit "When you talk about love".

Well versed in the Cup Match festivities she told the crowd: "I met your Prime Minister. She's so cute. She said my finger nail polish is the colour of her team (sky blue)." People were up and down in their seats throughout the performance - just when we thought there was an opportunity to sit it was back on our feet again. Among the many songs we enjoyed, couples danced to 1989 hit "If you ask me to" and 1986 number one pop single "On my Own". About 100 people were lined in front of the stage waving their hands.

When Patti performed the recently rerecorded hit "Lady Marmalade" she announced that she was doing it for the older women to show us younger lot how it was done back in the day.

I think most of us enjoy when an artist calls members of the audience on stage, but I wasn't expecting as much of a laugh as I had when five men took to the stage to sing "Gitchi Gitchi Ya Ya Dia Da". Shortly afterward she sang her ballad "You are my friend" when she did what so many were waiting for - she got down on her knees and broke into an emphatic gospel. Shoes went flying during the last song Miss Patti sang and she also threw the mike stand across the stage. After an hour and a half, which ended with "Somewhere over the rainbow", Miss Patti raised her hand and exited the stage. What made the concert most enjoyable was how she shared and was in tune with her audience. "I've had so many family members die from cancer, diabetes, AIDS, drive by shootings which you all don't have here because you don't have guns which is great," she said.

She added that she had lost her parents to diabetes and alzheimer's disease.

She kept it real throughout and I think the crowd appreciated her honesty about having a hairpiece, diabetes, being in the midst of menopause, and being a 57-year-old woman. The initiative taken by Yhosi Productions in conjunction with Sun Song productions' Jesse Boseman and the Department of Tourism resulted in a most memorable holiday.

Lakilah Harrigan