Top-10 Festival Songs Announced

From a field of 38 competitors the pool was narrowed to the top-10 finalists at the recently concluded semi-final leg of the Jamaica Festival Song Competition held at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre.

The top-10 finalists emerging who will vie for glory at the finals in July include Everton Pressoa, Andy Livingston, Mojo Herb, Raheen, Ras Mamba, Tinga Stewart, Marshell Hylton, Charley Redlax, Bunny Brown and Qshan.

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) has joined forces with Claro and Fidelity Motors to provide major prizes of $1 million for the winning song and a 2011 Nissan Tiida for the singer of the winning song.

According to David Reid, Jamaica Festival Song Competition coordinator at the JCDC, Clifton 'Specialist' Dillion is working feverishly with the finalists to oversee the production of the compilation album. Music videos will be produced under the direction of some of Jamaica's top music and video producers in an effort to afford Jamaica the opportunity to view 10 songs, one of which will ultimately dominate Independence celebrations for 2011.

"The compilation album is set to drop on June 22, and finalists will receive further mileage from appearances at the Portland Jerk Festival on July 3 and the Little Ochi Seafood Festival on July 10.

"The JCDC is seeking to identify a song that will rock the nation and satisfy the criteria of being original; contain no profanity or offensive lyrics; has a catchy rhythm and hook; is lyrically sound by way of having a good storyline and flow and elicit strong crowd participation," he said.

Long history

The Jamaica Festival Song Competition, which started in 1966, is the longest-running song competition in Jamaica. It has been credited as a platform for aspiring artistes, songwriters and producers to showcase their talent. The likes of Toots Hibbert, the Maytals, Desmond Decker, Freddie McKay and Stanley Beckford all entered winning song entries.

In 1971, the legendary Bob Marley entered his song One Cup of Coffee, and though Eric Donaldson's Cherry Oh Cherry Oh Baby was the winning song, it helped to catapult Marley's musical career.