'Fireball' is the soca opera king

The song is signed to legendary House music DJ Bob Sinclar’s Yellow Productions label and is being marketed across Europe as Bob Sinclar presents Fireball.

Fireball’s song is currently ahead of US Hip Hop stars 50 Cent’s “Straight to the Bank” and Ne-Yo’s “Because of You” on the European charts.

The remixed version of “What I Want” features an opening rap from Jamaican dancehall artiste Fahrenheit, best known as Jamaican dancehall star Sean Paul’s “hype man” (back up singer).

Fireball, who originally wrote “What I Want” with Soca Star host Terrin “TC” Callendar and music producer Richard “Char Su” Ahong, said he is taking the success all in stride.

“I feel like I have just scratched the surface. While many people are saying it is a great development for music made in Trinidad, I feel like I have so far to go yet,” Fireball said.

It was in October of 2005 that he took the local music scene by surprise when in belted out his own composition “Danger”. He carried the voice to a high octave (which was named— Soca opera) to show

his versatility.

When compared to the high-pitched voice of the legendary Bee Gees, Fireball gave the local audience a treat when he sang soca in this high note.

His yet-to-be released selections are even more amazing. He has completed the tune, “You Have Got to Get That”. And what exactly he is trying to get? The answer is simple, he says, the right kind of girl.

Fireball’s focus right now is compiling a CD and getting hooked up with a “big” label in the US. “I am keeping fingers crossed that the music will reach the mecca of music and I would get the chance to show the world my Soca Opera,” he said.

Apart from performing in TT, Fireball loves to perform in Toronto, Canada. I can feel the connection with my audience and it inspires me to sing more and more,” he admitted. Asked if it is a strain on his voice to reach the high note, he quickly answered , “No”, saying he’s comfortable doing his variation.

It was time again for him to express himself in song in the middle of this interview, and the tune goes, “Got to get that you so satisfying it is no denying, Give me the chance to give it to you, give it to you... oohhh aahhh aaah ahha. And I know you will really like it”. It was not only interesting, but very entertaining.

Fireball placed tenth in the Groovy Soca Monarch with his songs “What I Want” last Carnival, but based on the crowd response to his song, he was not satisfied with the results.

This did not deter him in any way. He went on to write more songs and to perform in the biggest carnival fetes locally and abroad. The ambitious performer took the music to a new level by doing remixed versions.

As a result, Fireball is now riding the waves of success as he has several offers to perform in shows in the US, Canada and Europe. He is the second Trini-born Soca artiste to have a number one single in Europe. Tobago-born artiste Stafford “Sugar Daddy” Samuel reached number one in the UK, France and Belgium with his single “Sweet Soca” in 2003.

Music expert Sinclair added a House bass line to the remixed version of the song, originally produced by Daniel Simpson, for Char Su’s Da Crib record label, Woodbrook.

Ahong confirmed the deal with Yellow Productions for Fireball but was reluctant to reveal specifics on the net worth of the signing.

Bob Sinclair, aka Christophe Le Friant, is a 40-year-old French music producer famous throughout Europe for popularising the “French touch” of house music.

Sinclair is also producer of the comical “What I Want” video and makes a cameo appearance as a lifeguard. The video, which was reportedly shot in Los Angeles, USA, starts off with Fireball welcoming a group of nerdy looking women into his middle-of-the-desert summer boot camp.

He presents them with individual packages and sends them into a chromed trailer and hits a button labeled hot.