Each track of mine has a little story, a piece of me.’’ As she unfolds each story, which is one day going to be an autobiography, you realise the voice of Boney M’s biggest strength Marcia Barrett is still as powerful as it was in the 70s. A survivor all the way, be it the ups and downs of the profession or the cancer, Marcia is living each moment and excited about her performances. Past, present and future.

In the city with husband Marcus for the retro concert, as part of IIPM’s Amaze fest on Saturday, at the Palace Grounds, Marcia is colourful and all Indian. “Always happy to come back to India,” she says. “I still have the drive in me. I do not want to lose any moment because I fought cancer.” 

There is an entire generation that has grown up on Boney-M’s ‘Mary’s Boy Child’, ‘By the rivers...’, We were at the right time, the right place. The whole team was a boiling pot. We had good writers too if you look at ‘Rasputin’, ‘Ma Baker’, ‘Belfast’, which was earlier called ‘The London Diary’. They are all my babies,” she beams. 

She recalls the recording of ‘By the Rivers’, “it took five hours for us for the initial humming. I felt dizzy after that. Couldn’t open my mouth,” she laughs. As for ‘Brown girl’, it is a nursery rhyme from Jamaica. We used to sing it during the recess. Later, I would think I’m a big woman, why am I singing this? But you know, never say never,’’ she advises.

She breaks out into a high note and explains it, ``I used to cry a lot as a baby in Jamaica. I was called ‘Miss Miserable’. When my mother complained about my wailing, I used to ask her ‘when I cried why didn’t you pick me up?’ When I’m talking even my husband keep his ears slightly away.”

So who’s is the real Boney-M now? “This is a chance for me to stop the confusion. There was only one and it consisted of Marcia Barrett, Liz Mitchell, Maizie Williams, Bobby Farell and Frank Farian.” But they are no more together. Marcus adds,``there are 10 different Boney Ms now. All because the agents went crazy.” 

As for today’s show, she says, ``it is going to be a different experience with remixes. Marcus will be on percussion and vocals. There will be others as well.” She goes on, foregoing her lunch. “It can wait. I do everything slowly. I take two hours to eat. I want to save every moment.”