Album Review
Omari is already the new star of the East. I feel almost moved to tears every time I hear the song Move On.” Such statements are issued easily, but with this one coming fromStephen “Cat” Coore of Third World, we should definitely take a listen.
Omari Banks hails from the British colony of Anguilla, situated east of the Virgin Islands in the Lesser Antilles. Music had always been a part of his life. He had his first stage appearance when he was just five years old, and that concert took place far from home in Milan, Italy. It was actually his fathers’, who, known by his stage name Bankie Banx, rose to fame as the reggae pioneer of the Eastern Caribbean.
Omari opted for a professional career in cricketing, from which he retired in 2012. It was only then that he started to focus on music professionally, with the single Move On mentioned at the beginning of this review.
He seems to be serious about moving on from sports to music, as he presented a debut album one year later (2013), Move On, recorded between Kingston, Jamaica and Houston, TX together with renowned musicians including Sly Dunbar, Robbie Lyn, Cat Coore, as well as his father and some of his father’s musicians. Steven Stanley did the mixing. The album went somewhat unnoticed by the media outside of the Caribbean. It is now being re-released in a deluxe version that comes with two extra tracks.
On the now thirteen tracks of Move On, Omari Banks employs a unique style that incorporates elements of melancholic pop, of rock, blues, and R’n’B into playful reggae. His label speaks of “an adult contemporary fusion that he blends seamlessly with lovers rock.”
Indeed, a considerable part of this album’s lyrics deal with matters of the heart. Such as the somewhat cheesyPuppy Love, the intense Unafraid, the quiet Somaya, the slow and jazzy Let It Go, the faster and more thrillingRun Around (that returns at the end of the album as a remix version featuring Jemere Morgan), or the more desperate How Do I.
While Omari Banks is undeniably great at sining lovers rock tunes, he is at least as good when he focuses on other things. Banks praises Jah in Jehovah Message, defends righteous livity together with Peetah Morgan inNo Point To Prove, and calls for repatriation in Oh Africa. Together with his father, he gives some general advice on life in We’ve Seen It All. While Move On is free of fillers, Omari Banks is at his very best when he comments on social issues. Still The Youth You Blame is a deep, haunting song that shows the influences Bob Dylan has left on Omari’s music.
With Move On only being the debut album, chances are high that Omari Banks will enjoy more success as a professional singer than he did when he played cricket. His re-released album debut is definitely the most surprising release 2015 has offered us so far, and this carefully crafted LP comes with so much details to discover that Move On won’t be forgotten by the end of this year.
Source – Reggaeville.com
Available Lyrics
Move On
VERSE 1
It’s in your moment of trial you decide
If you will win or roll over and die
Where there is no vision my friend we shall die
Steadfast to your faith and soar to the sky
CHORUS
Don’t look back on what you should have done
Just move on, but learn you champion
Don’t sit and sulk my friend you are God’s son
Just move on, but learn you champion, with faith the battle’s won
VERSE 2
Enjoy the journey where you want to go
Smile at times when your faith’s running low
Be aware of those who don’t mean you well
Improve yourself and show others respect
VERSE 3
And when you’ve reached as high as you can climb
Be sure to pass what you’ve learnt down the line
Find peace, in knowing you gave it your best
Be true to yourself and have no regrets
Move On – Copyright 2011 Omari Banks
Do not reproduce, distribute or otherwise use without express written permission from Omari Banks.
Puppy Love
VERSE 1
Saw you steering back at me
And I could not believe
That I was just thirteen,
When I told you you’re a queen
And would sing you melodies
Some things can never be explained
I plant the seed, you let it rain,
And now the seasons’ here
My heart you will not share
Defend you through the years
Through the years
CHORUS
When I told you I care
I knew you’d believe me
Even though we never understood
We held on through the years
In your arms for safety
Puppy love, with time it grew
VERSE 2
And now the years have passed us by,
And days together we always smile
Its hard to tell a lie
But then again, why should I
When our future looks so bright
Sometimes I stop and wonder why
A true princess would give me the time
I have to testify, I’ve been wrong at certain times
But always knew you were a prize, you’re a prize
CHORUS
BRIDGE
Its hard to find words to explain how much you mean to me
But I’m lucky, puppy love is not eternity
CHORUS
Unafraid
VERSE 1
I was your man
But situations would dictate how we would plan
You were a friend,
Always there to give a smile and lend a hand
Finding reasons to prove what we’re doing was right
But never once the truth would ever hide
Its always hard for lovers to say their goodbyes
But moving on we’ll sever our ties
CHORUS
How could we be, so unafraid to love
How could we be, so irresponsible
Its easy it seems, when you’ve mistaken love
So goodbye maybe we’ll keep in touch
VERSE 2
What felt so right,
Over time would change to mistrust and sweet lies
A little compromise
Like we did at first , before the water turned to ice
Finding reasons to prove what we’re doing was right
But never once, the truth would ever hide
Its always hard for lovers to say their goodbyes
But moving on we’ll sever our ties
CHORUS
BRIDGE
Forgive me for wanting to go
With time your sorrow won’t show
I miss you but we have to say our goodbyes
Perfect love is rare and hard to find
Oh Africa
Verse 1
For so long you’ve been made to cry
Even your people pushed you aside
Battered and bruised
Your spirit has never died
Some look on and say Oh well
But we your children shall fight to the end
Mama in you
Our true image reflects
That’s why I’m gonna sing now
Chorus
Oh Africa
I love you Africa
We are Africans
We must live as one
No matter our home
Or the nations we roam
Our roots are in your ground
Verse 2
Many years of turmoil and strife
We are scarred but we have survived
So many souls
Have been lost in the plight
Though your history is so deep and rich
Despite the truth which they have switched
We shall move on
Knowing with faith the battle’s won
That’s why I’m gonna sing now
Chorus
Bridge
Sometimes you feel we act to late
And you have no friends to defend your states
Though we benefit in so many ways
From your wealth and your gold
Our history we now know
That’s why I’m gonna sing now…
No Point To Prove
Intro
Don’t think cause I’m kind I’m a fool (yes sAh)
The roads that we walk never smoothe (no no)
So we ah trample evil night and day (night and day)
With we left foot first while we pray (Omari a Tell dem)
Chorus
Peetah We don’t have no point to prove
We dont have to to front to try confuse
We nah copy from boy paper
I make the moves and the the boy dem follow/folla
So we nah go pay them no mine
Keep doing our ting tek we we blessing in time
We nah copy from boy paper
I make the moves an den the boy dem follow/folla
Verse1
Beware of those who are never satisfied
I mean ambition is great
But please don’t compare your life with mine
Home grown done say its from you small
You never fraud to speak your mind
So me ah talk di truth who get vex tell them they get left behind
So we don’t seek acceptance when we speak of go Infront the public eye
Real recognize real so when I speak of myself I don’t glorify
Chorus
And I don’t have no point to prove
I don’t have to front to try confuse
I don’t copy from paper
I make the move a den the rest dem follow…. Etc
Verse 2
You know I would have never forget 2006
When me Chaka Dan use to lick dem fi six
but no no matter what you do dem still a criticize
Even 2003 when man ah soar in the sky
So I coulda never mix up in dem politics
It’s longtime in suck of dem hypocrites
Till even up to now you know them still ah ask my why
How could Banko leave them high and dry
But mi mummy say not every smirk is a smile
So my boy be wise.
Chorus
Peetah Morgan verse3
Omari,, yuh say dem see and nah no we
And ah chat we, this is what some of dem like to do
It’s a pity dem nah know say ah jah alone can judge we can judge we
Waste dem ah waste dem time ah look fi we to prove so they can approve
All the things we do, I tell them watch and learn watch and learn
Nah look approval from them so we ah do di how we do it mi friend
Chorus
Cause we have no point fi prove
And I don’t have to front fi try confuse and mi no copy from boy paper
We make the moves and den di boy dem follow
Peetah we nah going pay dem no mine
We keep doing our ting and take we blessing in time
We nah copy from boy paper
We make the moves and den fi boy dem follow
Verse4
Long time mi no dem hypocrites
Nah speak di truth dem life a gimmick
Never satisfied that’s why dem critisize
No point to prove me ah praise di most high
We nah joke we nah sport we nah pretend
Long rope that you see have a end
So follow fashion thing we nah support
There’s No point to prove me nah brag me nah boast
Adlib…..Whoaaaa do do……
Chorus first chorus lyrics
Adlib……Omar don’t have no point to prove No no no no no no no
Outro
Real talk no point to prove
How Do I
Verse 1
We’ve both made mistakes thats in the past,
Lets turn things around, lets take the chance
You know what I said, could not be true,
How could I have fallen out of love with you
I’ll give it all back if you just give our love a try
The memories I sleep with every night
Chorus
How do I prove my prove my love to you
How do I undo what I’ve confused
How do I erase all the pain
How do I gain back your trust again
Why can’t I sing a sweet love song
Without seeing you face when I strum
Please take me back my love
Verse 2
Its been 4 months and 7 days
But why look at time when you’re away
I took you love for granted
Why was I more concerned about being right
I’ll take it all back if you just give our love a try,
The memories I sleep with every night
Verse 3
Now hear me my dear its my final plea,
Ignore those friends , and bad company
No one is perfect, you know that too
The rest of my life, I’ll devote to you
I’ll give up my wants and needs to give you your every wish
Rekindle my flame with your kiss
Jehovah Message
Musical Intro
Sermon to one and all
Talk your talk if your want
Big up rastaman them from the start
Chorus
Jehovah Message Iya Spread
Pure lyrics and love me present
Never sign up for no beauty contest
Don’t vex stop question me flex
I keep my music sweet with rhymes
Speak the truth and grow my hair if I like
Never sign up for no beauty contest
Don’t question Iya flex
Verse 1
Its so interesting to see
How people think and what they believe
And how they’ll cast judgment on simple things
That they don’t know, but they believe
Its funny how they’ll think they’re right
Try to tell you how to live your life
They tell me I should cut my hair
Of Delilah I’ll be aware
Chorus
Jehovah Message Iya Spread
Pure lyrics and love me present
Never sign up for no beauty contest
Don’t vex stop question Iya flex
I keep my music sweet with rhymes
Speak the truth and grow my hair if I like
Never sign up for no beauty contest
Don’t vex stop question my flex
Verse 2
If you check it all along
Its not your hair but what goes on in your heart
You watch the rastas and you frown
You kiss your teeth when them locks touch the ground
You so quick to criticize
But watch no face
It is content of life
The truth cuts you like a sword
My music food for your soul
Chorus
Jehovah Message Iya Spread
Pure lyrics and love me present
Never sign up for no beauty contest
Don’t vex stop question Iya flex
I keep my music sweet with rhymes
Speak the truth and grow my hair if I like
Never sign up for no beauty contest
Don’t vex stop question iya flex
Verse 3
Through the father came the son
So then with life the gift and the curse becomes one
But don’t you try to quantify
Along the road of life there’ll be changes with time
So just like Jesus Christ
We live we learn and burn Babylon all the while
But not forgetting while we strive
Ignore the bondage state of mind
Chorus
Jehovah Message Iya Spread
Pure lyrics and love me present
Banko Never sign up for no beauty contest
Don’t vex stop question Iya flex
I keep my music sweet with rhymes
Speak the truth and grow my hair if I like
Never sign up for no beauty contest
Don’t vex me cousin Teef sing for them
Lateef Verse
So much people start to scorn me from them see me buss me locks
Nuff of dem don’t like the way me live me life outside de box
Even if it have smooth road them want me trod de rocks
So the smile in a me face is just to stab me in me back
A lot people judge your external appearance
Some of them will hate you cos them never love your parents
But me pay me rent and every cent I have to earn it
Like everything wha negative de rastaman a burn it
Chorus
Jehovah Message Iya Spread
Pure lyrics and love me present
Never sign up for no beauty contest
Don’t vex stop question Iya flex
I keep my music sweet with rhymes
Speak the truth and grow my hair if I like
Never sign up for no beauty contest
Don’t vex stop question my flex
We've seen it all
Verse 1
Stay on your guard
They’ll praise till you fall
Cause it’s easier to break than tey to build on
We’re the first to rise in the morning
Still they grudge when when reap our harvest
They never see you in your room while your bawling
Still they try to break down your cabin
Chorus
We’ve seen it all
We’ve seen the frauds
We’ve seen hypocrites
that stay close and try to cling on
We’ve seen real friends
We’ve made the trends
Stayed close to Jah
Where wisdom never ends
We’ve seen it all
Verse 2
Value for time, patience for the wise
Because a slow dripping pipe will fill your bucket over night
Still we’re the first to rise in the morning
Still they grudge when I reap my harvest
And then over time they think they deserve
It
Although they were sleep while we were at it
Bridge
But who Jah bless no man shall cause
And if you have skills show it to the world
To who much is given much is expected
So don’t envy me and bury your b
Somaiya
Verse 1
Stay on your guard
They’ll praise till you fall
Cause it’s easier to break than tey to build on
We’re the first to rise in the morning
Still they grudge when when reap our harvest
They never see you in your room while your bawling
Still they try to break down your cabin
Chorus
We’ve seen it all
We’ve seen the frauds
We’ve seen hypocrites
that stay close and try to cling on
We’ve seen real friends
We’ve made the trends
Stayed close to Jah
Where wisdom never ends
We’ve seen it all
Verse 2
Value for time, patience for the wise
Because a slow dripping pipe will fill your bucket over night
Still we’re the first to rise in the morning
Still they grudge when I reap my harvest
And then over time they think they deserve
It
Although they were sleep while we were at it
Bridge
But who Jah bless no man shall cause
And if you have skills show it to the world
To who much is given much is expected
So don’t envy me and bury your b
Still the Youth you Blame
Adlib intro
This is a true story
About what’s going on
Verse 1
Where is your Virtue
What do you pursue
Do you even even try to see it through
You neighbors eyes while your preaching all those lies
Why do you confuse
When I listen to the news
The one resounding cry when I listen to you live
The youth future is not bright
Chorus
So why are they left behind
Why do the bills get higher and still no
Jobs to find in these hard time Oh oh
And how do you explain? How u evade the tax to feed your greed while the poor is made to pay
But still the youth you blame
Still the youth blame
Verse 2
You say the youth must strive to
Reach every goal that they aim to
But have you ever stop to think without
Tools their ship shall sink and young lives are gone a drift
We’ve tried to convince you
That you should focus on our issues
But you always change you course
Saying the country needs more growth
Then teen dream go up in smoke
Vamp
You never stop to hear their gripe
Still the youth you blame
Still you’re quick to criticize
Still the youth you know
When all they need is help and time
Still the youth blame
I hope one day you’ll get it right
But still the youth you’ll blame
Chorus
Let it Go
I guess I can say ill be better without you
I guess I can say I let you slip away
But if would e a lie if I tried to forget you
Because there’s know way separating me from you
So I’ve not to miss you
And babe I’m tied singing the blues
Chorus
Who says the course we go
Is always sure
Babe let it go
Who says it will turn out right
If we fuss and fight
Baby not tonight
We never know what tomorrow holds
Only god knows
babes let it go
Verse 2
I call when I’m out
just to try to appease you
But it’s know use truth is you still show attitude
But then I reflect on the things that we’ve been through
Then grasp your point of view with Humble gratitude
So I’ve tried not to miss you
And I’m tied singing the blues
Bridge
I know that you must have your word
But sometimes less said means more thats heard
And even though we cant see things the same
Seasons come and even with time they change
Guitar solo
Vamp
Baby let it go repeat