Born Clifford Smith in Kingston, Jamaica, he was given the nickname Mr. Vegas by his cousin for the neon pink shorts he wore on the football field; in addition to his athletic skills Mr. Vegas also demonstrated musical talents early on. However an unfortunate dispute over the ownership of a DAT resulted in Vegas being hit in the jaw with an iron pipe; after the assault Vegas' mouth was wired shut so he was forced to create a unique method of vocalizing through his teeth. That style was first heard on "Nike Air", the song that initially positioned Vegas on the dancehall charts. Characterized by uplifting lyrics aimed (especially) at young women, he followed "Nike Air" with another affirming and very appealing tune "Heads High" which reached number one in Jamaica, hit the British Top Ten and found its way onto several urban stations across America.
Vegas' 1997 debut album "Heads High" (Greensleeves Records) further displayed his captivating vocal capabilities on songs like "Jacket", "Sweet Pineapple" and "Everywhere I Go"; it also earned him a British Mobo Award as Best Reggae artist, while establishing his fan base beyond the Jamaican dancehall.
However Vegas demonstrated even greater versatility on his 2001 sophomore release "Damn Right" (Greensleeves) which featured a stronger R&B and hip-hop flavor on the hits "Girls Time" and "She's A Ho", sensitive singing on the roots rocking "Rise" and a sensational duet with Sean Paul "Hot Gal Today".
With his move to the Los Angeles based independent label Delicious Vinyl Vegas released his third CD "Pull Up". The title track was recorded on Scatta Burrell's wildly popular Coolie Dance riddim, entered the Billboard charts and took Vegas' music into previously uncharted territory. Another single from "Pull Up" "Tamale" also did well, particularly in Europe.
Vegas has just completed his fourth and finest CD so far "Constant Spring" which presents an amalgam of styles including reggaeton productions by the red hot duo Luny/Tunes on the tracks "Johnny" and "Papito" and Latin tinged duets with Don Omar ("Pobre Diablo") and El Medico ("Penicilin"). Another scorching combination "Burnin" features soca sensation Kevin Lyttle. Vegas' long time associate Jamaica's Richard "Shams" Browne produced several tracks including "Million Dollar Baby" and "Slow Wine" while veteran dancehall hit makers Steely and Clevie's Sleepy Dog riddim scampers under Vegas' current Jamaican chart topper, the CDs title track "Constant Spring". Another Jamaican hit that is currently finding popularity throughout Europe is Vegas' self-produced, uncharacteristically contemplative "More Love", his emotive singing lamenting Jamaica's upwardly spiraling crime rate but the song's lyrics are applicable to many troubled territories throughout the world:
"I walk these Kingston streets, everyday a bare a beat/I can't get no sleep all I hear is AKs when they speak/ I walk Spanish town all I hear is people get gunned down, when I look around all I see is bodies on the ground. My shadow's afraid to even walk beside me, my shadow's afraid to even walk this city gun dawg and his friend full the morgue in Kingston city/too many guns in town."
"Crime, violence, war, it affects everyone," Vegas says, "and there is nothing in that song that doesn't relate to what is going on everywhere, especially Kingston. We want this album to be versatile so a Latino person a hip hop person, urban kids or all nationalities will listen to it."
Reflecting the ongoing changes within the music industry, Vegas and his manager Leslie Cooney of the Los Angeles based company Addict Management will be taking a very different approach regarding the release of "Constant Spring": they will not be signing to just one label. "We have found that as an independent artist Vegas can better exploit his appeal in every territory without the expectations and limitations of being signed to one label," says Ms. Cooney. "Instead, we will directly supply his fans with music worldwide and will seek licenses with different labels in their respective territories. Whether by an actual record or digital distribution, if there is a demand for Vegas it can now be met without waiting for the record label machinery to spring into action. We are taking matters in our own hands and Vegas is planning his own future."
And for Mr. Vegas the future appears to be shining even brighter than the flashing neon lights that abound in the Nevada city that is his namesake. www.mr-vegas.com
Clap Your Hands
Mr. Vegas Lyrics
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Clap your hands, clap your hands
Everybody clap your hands
Clay your hands, clap your hands
Clap those hands now, raise your hand
Clap those hands now, raise your hand
Clap those hands now, raise your hand
Clap those hands now, clap those hands now
Clap those hands now, clap those hands now
Clap those, clap those, clap those, clap those
Clap, clap, clap
(Boom)
Everybody
Clap your hands
Clap your hands
Clap your hands
Everybody clap your hands
Clap your hands
(Clap your hands)
Everybody clap your hands
Clap your hands
(Clap your hands)
Clap those hands now, raise your hand
Clap those hands now, raise your hand
Clap those hands now, raise your hand
Clap those hands now, raise your hand
Clap those hands now, clap those hands now
Clap those hands now, clap those hands now
Clap those, clap those, clap those, clap those
Clap, clap, clap
(Boom)
The song "Clap Your Hands" by Mr. Vegas is an energetic and upbeat party song that encourages everyone to dance and clap their hands. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Everybody clap your hands" multiple times, inviting listeners to join in and participate. The verses encourage people to not only clap their hands, but also to raise them in the air and keep the energy going.
The lyrics of this song seem to be meant to get people excited and involved in the music. By repeating the simple and catchy chorus over and over, Mr. Vegas creates a sense of unity and togetherness among listeners. The instructions to "clap those hands now" and "raise your hand" encourage people to move their bodies and get involved in the rhythm of the music. Overall, the song is a fun and lively anthem for dance floors and parties.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody clap your hands
The singer is calling for everyone present to clap their hands in unison.
Clap your hands, clap your hands
The singer repeats the previous statement to reinforce the call for action.
Clap those hands now, raise your hand
The singer adds a new instruction to the clapping motion, encouraging the audience to also raise their hands.
Clap those hands now, clap those hands now
The singer doubles down on the call for action, now asking the audience to clap repeatedly.
Clap, clap, clap
The singer creates an upbeat rhythm by instructing the audience to clap with a repeated triplet pattern.
Everybody
The singer uses this word to grab the audience's full attention and bring them all into the moment.
Clap those hands now, raise your hand
The singer repeats a previous instruction to make sure everyone is participating.
(Boom)
The singer adds an exclamation to punctuate the end of this section of the song.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Dimitri Thivaios, Michael Thivaios, Ward Van Der Harst, Willem van Hanegem, Fedde Le Grand
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind