Words by Jesse Serwer, Photo and Video by Kevin Ornelas—
Amidst the covers and originals on Mr. Vegas’ Sweet Jamaica, out today after a several-months delay, are a handful of songs that see the dancehall great reinterpret reggae standards into new songs that match the feel and vibe of the original with more up-to-the-moment lyrical styles. One such tune is “Things Ruff,” an update of Jimmy Cliff’s “You Can Get It If You Really Want.” In the above clip, filmed during Vegas’ intimate performance at Miss Lily’s Variety in New York this past January, Vegas and his backup singers offer up an unplugged version of “Things Ruff.” As the tune progresses, it gradually becomes “You Can Make It,” offering an inside-out view of how one song can birth one another. Watch the video below, and check out some more of Vegas’ Sweet Jamaica unplugged performance here, here and here.