Boney M. beyond Babylon

More than 30 years after their first notes were unleashed onto the world, you can still hear people belting out the lyrics to Rivers of Babylon and Mary's Boy Child.

Admittedly, it will more than likely be at a wedding, an office Christmas party or on the airwaves of a classic hits radio station. Nonetheless, the tunes of the '80s pop phenomenon Boney M. span generations.

While playing in Dubai this week — thanks to original member Marcia Barrett who has kept the spirit alive since the group disbanded in 1990 — Boney M. managed to recapture some nostalgia and magic from years gone by.

Charity

Having battled cancer four times in the past 10 years, Barrett says she now wants to do what she can for charity.

Earlier this year she performed live with her husband Marco — a former bassist for reggae musician Eddy Grant — and their own band at the palace grounds in Bangalore, India, in aid of cancer causes. More than 30,000 people attended.

"I want to do whatever I can to help now. Whenever time allows, I want to try and help charities."

Performing at the American University of Dubai in support of the Dubai Autism Centre, Barrett was in high spirits as she chatted to journalists before the show.

"I love performing, but being Boney M. back then was a lot of fun, too. I miss my colleagues, but life goes on. If circumstances change, then I have to carry on with my life. It's great, I'm enjoying myself.

"Every country where we've been, the audience stands up and sing along, they dance and they're appreciative. People take away a little fun and a little joy.

"It thrills me each time I go onstage now to know people still remember the songs. We have new generations coming along — their parents were fans and they tell the kids. I find it fantastic."

After a gruelling battle against ovarian and spinal cancer, which at one point left her paralysed from the waist down, Barrett returned to Berlin, Germany, where Boney M. was first formed.

"Everybody's flocking to Berlin — the locals are fantastic. I love Germany and the way they treat foreigners. They're very hospitable.

"I was brought up in England, but when I was 19, I told my mother I was fed up with office work and was going to Germany with a contract to dance.

She said, ‘Can you speak German?'

"I said I would, but for my first two years there I thought the only way I would learn the language was with hot potatoes in my mouth.

"I eventually taught myself, without any schooling. I can write in German too."

Organised

In October last year, Barrett turned down an offer to record a new song for the album Disco 2008, a various artist project. The reason? She said she didn't want a "hectic" life.

"I'm not a hectic person. I hate hectic. I'm organised — that's the word. My health is fine, I don't even think about it. I really don't.

"These days, now I'm on stage performing, there's no time to think about it. I'm a strong personality, if I might say so. I was born like that.

"I do have my check-ups, mind you."

So after nearly 40 years of performing, Barrett (through Boney M.) is a household name around the world barring America, where she lived while fighting cancer.

"People knew the songs in the US, but not the band. I think this even triggered off some of my cancer attacks, because I was not happy inside.

"There's no action in Florida, it's just for pensioners. I was not ready for that phase and I'm still not. During that time of healing, I composed quite a few songs with my husband, Marcus, which really helped. I was singing at home and doing demos and so forth. I kept busy and creatively active."

Did you know?

Marcia Barrett was born in Jamaica and raised in the UK.

She joined the fledgling Boney M. in 1976 after a meeting with producer and creator Frank Farian.

Boney M. eventually went on to sell more than 150 million records.

Some of their biggest hits include Rivers of Babylon, Little Drummer Boy and Rasputin.

The four original members of Boney M.'s official lineup were Barrett and Liz Mitchell (also from Jamaica), Maizie Williams (from Montserrat), and Bobby Farrell (from Aruba).

The four-piece eventually split in 1990 and the members went their separate ways, pursuing solo careers and forming alternative Boney M. lineups.

Where to from here?

So what's next for Marcia Barrett and her legacy to Boney M.?

"I'll leave it up to God, whatever he wants me to do. I feel I am on a mission to continue on my own and with my team to spread the news again. I feel very spiritual about it — Boney M., my health, everything. I've been religious from birth, because without God you cannot accomplish anything."