He was booed off stage at a show celebrating the visit of Nelson Mandela. In 1993 at the very popular show Sting he accused fellow deejay Bounty Killer that the elder artist had stolen his catchphrase, "people dead". This triggered a lyrical battle which continued on the air with each artist counteracting the other's songs. Finally, in 1995, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer settled their differences on the air by actually signing a peace treaty and the two recorded an album together, Guns Out. This was followed by a single, "No Mama No Cry", a rehash of the Bob Marley classic "No Woman No Cry", speaking out against violence and inspired by the murder of Pan Head, another popular Deejay.
Partially as a result of prodding from his producers, Sly and Robbie, Beenie Man soon converted to the Rastafari movement.
In 1994, he was signed by Island Records and released the critically acclaimed album Blessed.
In 1995, Beenie Man released a remix of Barrington Levy's "Under Mi Sensi" in the United Kingdom, and collaborated with Dennis Brown and Triston Palma to release Three Against War and Lt. Stitchie on Mad Cobra Meets Lt. Stitchie & Beenie Man. He took another step up the ladder in 1996, releasing the seminal Maestro, produced by Patrick Roberts and shot him to UK fame. During the period from the mid to late '90s, Beenie Man dominated the Jamaican charts to the extent that he perhaps had a good claim to the crown of "Dancehall King", a title only bestowed previously on Yellowman in the early 1980s.
In 1998, Beenie Man signed to Virgin Records to release albums in the United States. His first American offering was The Doctor (1998). In 2000, Beenie Man teamed up with Arturo Sandoval and Wyclef Jean (The Fugees) to release The Art & Life. During the late 1990s, Beenie Man began his conquest of America with the hits, "Romie", "Who Am I" and "Girls Dem Sugar", which featured American R&B singer, Mya.
In 2002, he had a sizeable hit with a duet with Janet Jackson called "Feel It Boy", but his biggest break in America came in early 2004 with the release of a remix of "Dude", featuring guest vocals by fellow Jamaican Ms. Thing, as well as rhymes by Shawnna.
Certain Gal
Beenie Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dedicated to all di girls who can't find a husband gal!
If a gal a smell her arm
Through she find out seh nothing nah gwaan
She a blow like a nowaday storm
But tell her fi cool and calm I sing! sing along
Certain gal a gwaan nice but she low
Mi and mi friend dem done flop di show
She a big big big poppy show that you fi know
Certain gal a gwaan nice but she low
Mi and mi friend dem done flop di show
She get used like a old underwear now
She a big big big poppy show cho!
She did a program di eye from far
Through she si mi inna mi runaway car
But when mi hear bout it and mi just tek a one
Slam and nuh go back nuh check her now!
She a call all mi baby madda yard
All a talk like she want draw card
My girl just stay home and hang up her phone
And mek she feel like dog suh!
Certain gal a gwaan nice but she low
Mi and mi friend dem done flop di show
She get used like a old underwear now
She a big big big poppy show that you fi know
Certain gal a gwaan nice but she low
Mi and mi friend dem done flop di show
She get used like a old underwear now
She a big big big poppy show
Gal! anytime she call yuh tell her yuh nuh inna her
Laugh up and a push up unda we di big star
All a gwaany gwaany like a we and her a par
Tell her fi stop before it reach too far
Cah matey is a ting when him no gi it nuh way
You a goody goody anytime a di day
Furthermore you not even sure if she gay
Cah she no stop flex like sex a runaway
So if a gal a smell her arm
Through she find out seh nothing nah gwaan
She a blow like a nowaday storm
But tell her fi cool and keep calm I sing sunset!
Certain gal a gwaan nice but she low
Mi and mi friend dem done flop di show
She get used like a old underwear now
She a big big big poppy show that you fi know
Certain gal a gwaan nice but she low
Mi and mi friend dem done flop di show
She get used like a old underwear now
She a big big big poppy show cho!
She did a program di eye from far
Through she si mi inna mi runaway car
But when mi hear bout it and mi just tek a one
Slam and nuh go back nuh check her now!
She a call all mi baby madda yard
All a talk like she want draw card
But mi girl just stay home and hang up her phone
And mek she feel like dog
In Beenie Man's song "Certain Gal," he addresses a specific type of woman - one who appears nice on the surface but has a lower, more promiscuous side to her. The song opens with a sardonic dedication to girls who cannot find a husband, perhaps indicating that the certain gal in question engages in behaviors that make it difficult for her to maintain a healthy relationship. Beenie Man then begins to describe the ways in which this woman acts inappropriately, such as checking her own armpits to see if she smells and "blowing like a nowaday storm" in response to minor problems. Despite this, he advises her to "cool and calm," suggesting that her behavior is inappropriate but ultimately not harmful.
As the song goes on, Beenie Man becomes increasingly critical of this woman, referring to her as a big poppy show and revealing that he and his friends have already "flop[ped] the show." He implies that she has been used like an old piece of underwear, suggesting that her behavior has left her with little dignity or self-respect. The song's chorus repeats several times, emphasizing the woman's low character and noting that even though she may act nice, her true nature will always come to light. Though the song is clearly a critique of a certain type of woman, it is important to note that Beenie Man himself has faced criticism for his use of homophobic lyrics in the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Well this is none other than di mighty it bounce off
This song is from none other than the mighty Beenie Man, and it bounces off the singers.
Dedicated to all di girls who can't find a husband gal!
This song is dedicated to all the girls who are still single and can't find a man to marry.
If a gal a smell her arm
If a girl smells her own underarm
Through she find out seh nothing nah gwaan
And realizes that nothing is wrong.
She a blow like a nowaday storm
She overreacts like a modern-day storm.
But tell her fi cool and calm I sing! sing along
But tell her to calm down and take it easy.
Certain gal a gwaan nice but she low
Some girls seem nice but have bad intentions.
Mi and mi friend dem done flop di show
Me and my friends have caught on to her game.
She get used like a old underwear now
She is being used and thrown away like old underwear.
She a big big big poppy show that you fi know
Everyone knows that she is nothing but a big show-off.
She did a program di eye from far
She tried to catch my attention from far away.
Through she si mi inna mi runaway car
Thinking that she caught my attention while I was in my car.
But when mi hear bout it and mi just tek a one
But when I heard about it, I just ignored her.
Slam and nuh go back nuh check her now!
I shut her down and never looked back.
She a call all mi baby madda yard
She is calling all of my baby mama's houses.
All a talk like she want draw card
Talking like she wants to start a fight.
My girl just stay home and hang up her phone
My girl ignores her and hangs up the phone.
And mek she feel like dog suh!
Making her feel humiliated.
Gal! anytime she call yuh tell her yuh nuh inna her
Whenever she calls you, tell her you are not interested in her.
Laugh up and a push up unda we di big star
Laugh and pretend to be among the big stars.
All a gwaany gwaany like a we and her a par
She's pretending to be friends like we are close.
Tell her fi stop before it reach too far
Tell her to stop before things get out of hand.
Cah matey is a ting when him no gi it nuh way
Because being a side piece is not worth it if you don't get anything out of it.
You a goody goody anytime a di day
And you are a good girl all the time.
Furthermore you not even sure if she gay
Besides, you are not even sure if she is gay or not.
Cah she no stop flex like sex a runaway
Because she keeps acting like a sex-crazed runaway.
But tell her fi cool and keep calm I sing sunset!
But just tell her to relax and stay calm.
Contributed by John D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@brianadams7226
Well, this is none other than...
The mighty hit bouncer!
Dedicated to all the girls who can't find a husband
Gal!
[Bridge]
If a gal a smell her arm...
True she find out say nothing nah gwan...
She a blow like a nowadays storm...
But, tell her fi cool and calm
I sing!
Sing along!
[Chorus]
Certain gal a gwan nice, but she low
Me and mi friend dem done flop di show
(She get used like an old underwear
Now she a big, big, big poppy show)
That you fi know!
Certain gal a gwan nice, but she low
Me and mi friend dem done flop di show
(She get used like an old underwear
Now she a big, big, big poppy show)
[Verse 1]
Cho!
She did a program the I from far
True she see me inna mi runaway car
But when mi hear how she stand
Mi just take a one slam
And nuh go back go check her
Now!
She a call all mi baby mother's yard
All a talk like she waan draw card
My girl just stay home, and hang up her phone
And make she feel like dog
So!
[Chorus]
Certain gal a gwan nice, but she low
Me and mi friend dem done flop di show
(She get used like an old underwear
Now she a big, big, big poppy show)
That you fi know!
Certain gal a gwan nice, but she low
Me and mi friend dem done flop di show
(She get used like an old underwear
Now she a big, big, big poppy show)
[Verse 2]
Gal!
Anytime she call you, tell her you nuh inna her
Laugh up, and a push up under we, the big stars
All a gwanie-gwanie, like a we and her a par
Tell her fi stop before it reach too far
'Cause matey is a ting weh you nuh keep, no way
You a goody-goody, anytime of the day
Furthermore, you not even sure if she gay
'Cause she nuh stop flex, like sex a runaway
[Bridge]
So, if a gal a smell her arm...
True she find out say nothing nah gwan...
She a blow like a nowadays storm...
But, tell her fi cool and keep calm
I sing!
Some say!
[Chorus]
Certain gal a gwan nice, but she low
Me and mi friend dem done flop di show
(She get used like an old underwear
Now she a big, big, big poppy show)
That you fi know!
Certain gal a gwan nice, but she low
Me and mi friend dem done flop di show
(She get used like an old underwear
Now she a big, big, big poppy show)
[Verse 1]
Cho!
She did a program the I from far
True she see me inna mi runaway car
But when mi hear how she stand
Mi just take a one slam
And nuh go back go check her
Now!
She a call all mi baby mother's yard
All a talk like she waan draw card
My girl just stay home, and hang up her phone
And make she feel like dog....
@rhisajohnson1730
This is tune! I'll never stop saying I miss the days when the club was hype with true dancehall music. I walked in club with curls like a wig by morning it was gone from sweat. Thank you Beenie for great music throughout the years!
@longbranch11207
god I miss the 90s. dancehall will never be as good as it was in the 90s
@asds92
NEVER!! Best music, best movies, best clothes, BEST TIMES PERIOD!!
@treyjacobs7609
Me to
@brentjames2425
Real people era reggae 90s clubbin you can't club anymore these days
@simonewalker5216
2020 anyone? Certain Gal, big tune still.
@daneelesavoury1948
Still listening in 2019🇯🇲🇯🇲♥💚💛
@dwaynodacosta4755
Still in 2020
@honeyqueen3896
I forgot how dope beenie man was. Every one of his songs are dope
@dwaynodacosta4755
If u still listen in 2020 yah real yardy🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲