STAR of the Month: ‘Champion’ is my song, says Marlon Samuels

STAR of the Month Marlon Samuels is unapologetically taking credit for the popular ‘Champion’ song recorded by fellow West Indies cricketer Dwayne ‘DJ’ Bravo in 2016.

The song was added to every single cricket stadium’s playlist, and, according to one cricket writer, it will forever be associated with West Indies’ historic second T20 World Cup win.

Interestingly, the song shouts out a long list of names – from within and outside of the cricketing community – who Trinidadian Bravo considers champions.

Included on this list are Chris Gayle, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Machel Montano, Bunji Garling, Kieron Pollard, Brian Lara, Michel Jordan, Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, Serena Williams, Usain Bolt, and Bravo himself.

But Samuels’ name is nowhere in the song.

But Samuels, who is himself forging a career as a dancehall artiste, remains unfazed. His reasoning is simple: had it not been for him, the West Indies would never have won the particular match which inspired the Champion song.

Therefore, Samuels concludes that he is the ‘real’ champion.

During an interview with THE WEEKEND STAR, he stated boldly, “ThenChampion nuh my song? Mi nuh haffi writeChampion. Let me ask you a question, and give me an honest answer. You go to a World Cup with a song, the song nuh buss yet and you are consistent throughout. If you lose the World Cup, would theChampion song work? Who was the Man of the Match in the finals? Nuh my song? Bravo haffi thank me for the rest of him life. Him can’t find a next song.”

Champion, which was released in March 2016, grabbed the spotlight when a video of Bravo, then T20 captain Darren Sammy, and Chris Gayle celebrating the semi-final win over India went viral.

The song has an accompanying dance, which sees fists pushed and pulled back close to the chest.