<p>The West Indies cricket team is arguably the most free-spirited bunch around, who never miss a chance to celebrate their success.<br /><br /></p>.<p>During the last World Cup, it was the Gangnum Style on which they danced their heart out to rejoice their on-field success. And this year, whether it was their win against India in the semi-finals of T20 Cricket World Cup 2016 or their historic triumph in the finals, the foot-tapping number Champion, made by all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, was their victory song.<br /><br />Champion refers to a number of Caribbean and international figures from all arenas whom Bravo considers champions in their own right. Shot in downtown Los Angeles, the song’s video is the follow-up single to widely popular Indo-Anglo fusion song called Chalo Chalo. In a conversation with Metrolife, Bravo talks about his love for cricket, music and more.<br /><br />Excerpts:<br /><br />How was the song created?<br /><br />Champion is about celebrating people who have been influential in my life, some of whom I’ve had the opportunity to play with and be friends with. Champion is also a way to encourage my fans to find their own inner champion. I always draw inspiration from whatever is going on in my life at the time.<br /><br /><br />In the case of “Champion”, we had just won the T20 Cricket World Cup and the Caribbean Premier League, among other tournaments and I wanted to celebrate that.<br /><br />How was your experience?<br /><br />It was great fun and believe it or not, the song was originally recorded in Jamaica at Chris Gayle’s studio. The studio experience with friends and a teammate was definitely one for the books.<br /><br />What does cricket mean to you?<br /><br />I’m not sure how to answer this. Cricket is my life!<br /><br />Which is your favourite team?<br /><br />Besides West Indies, it’s India.<br /><br />How did your tryst with music begin?<br /><br />Music has always been my passion and interest but I never thought of taking it to an actual stage or studio. My very good friend and huge reggae artiste in Jamaica, Beenie Man encouraged me to actually pursue music seriously. I never would have done it if he hadn’t encouraged me.<br /><br />Your musical philosophy?<br /><br />I am a happy and a positive person and I want my music to reflect that. My fans mean a lot to me, so I want to make sure that my music is something they can relate to.<br /><br />If not a cricketer and musician, what would you have been?<br /><br />I honestly have no clue. Cricket has been a part of my life since I was five years old and the only other thing I am passionate about is music, and I’m doing that now. Without cricket, there is no Dwayne Bravo.<br /><br />What next?<br /><br />Champion has been a success and I will continue to push it. I look forward to perform in different countries but mostly at home, in Trinidad and Tobago.<br /><br />There is definitely a lot more to come with my music and entertainment but for now I look forward to enjoying the success of Champion and seeing just how far it can go.<br /><br />We launched the #Champion Dance campaign on my Facebook and Twitter pages where I nominated some champions to do the dance. They have to nominate three others and so on. I can’t wait to see where that goes.</p>
<p>The West Indies cricket team is arguably the most free-spirited bunch around, who never miss a chance to celebrate their success.<br /><br /></p>.<p>During the last World Cup, it was the Gangnum Style on which they danced their heart out to rejoice their on-field success. And this year, whether it was their win against India in the semi-finals of T20 Cricket World Cup 2016 or their historic triumph in the finals, the foot-tapping number Champion, made by all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, was their victory song.<br /><br />Champion refers to a number of Caribbean and international figures from all arenas whom Bravo considers champions in their own right. Shot in downtown Los Angeles, the song’s video is the follow-up single to widely popular Indo-Anglo fusion song called Chalo Chalo. In a conversation with Metrolife, Bravo talks about his love for cricket, music and more.<br /><br />Excerpts:<br /><br />How was the song created?<br /><br />Champion is about celebrating people who have been influential in my life, some of whom I’ve had the opportunity to play with and be friends with. Champion is also a way to encourage my fans to find their own inner champion. I always draw inspiration from whatever is going on in my life at the time.<br /><br /><br />In the case of “Champion”, we had just won the T20 Cricket World Cup and the Caribbean Premier League, among other tournaments and I wanted to celebrate that.<br /><br />How was your experience?<br /><br />It was great fun and believe it or not, the song was originally recorded in Jamaica at Chris Gayle’s studio. The studio experience with friends and a teammate was definitely one for the books.<br /><br />What does cricket mean to you?<br /><br />I’m not sure how to answer this. Cricket is my life!<br /><br />Which is your favourite team?<br /><br />Besides West Indies, it’s India.<br /><br />How did your tryst with music begin?<br /><br />Music has always been my passion and interest but I never thought of taking it to an actual stage or studio. My very good friend and huge reggae artiste in Jamaica, Beenie Man encouraged me to actually pursue music seriously. I never would have done it if he hadn’t encouraged me.<br /><br />Your musical philosophy?<br /><br />I am a happy and a positive person and I want my music to reflect that. My fans mean a lot to me, so I want to make sure that my music is something they can relate to.<br /><br />If not a cricketer and musician, what would you have been?<br /><br />I honestly have no clue. Cricket has been a part of my life since I was five years old and the only other thing I am passionate about is music, and I’m doing that now. Without cricket, there is no Dwayne Bravo.<br /><br />What next?<br /><br />Champion has been a success and I will continue to push it. I look forward to perform in different countries but mostly at home, in Trinidad and Tobago.<br /><br />There is definitely a lot more to come with my music and entertainment but for now I look forward to enjoying the success of Champion and seeing just how far it can go.<br /><br />We launched the #Champion Dance campaign on my Facebook and Twitter pages where I nominated some champions to do the dance. They have to nominate three others and so on. I can’t wait to see where that goes.</p>