The Jamaica Festival Song Competition has been a hallmark musical and cultural event in Jamaica since the early post-Independence. The competition gives upcoming and aspiring musicians the opportunity to showcase their ingenuity in creating original songs that evoke a spirit of national celebration and epitomize the truest essence of who we are as a Jamaican people. The festival song is then used as the musical anthem to lead our national Emancipation and Independence celebrations.
Over the years, the competition has catapulted musicians into global recognition with many of the winning festival songs still being widely recognized and beloved musical gems.
Some of the popular songs that have emerged over the years include “Sweet and Dandy” (1969) by the Maytals; “Cherry Oh Baby” (1971) and “Land of my Birth” (1978) by Eric Donaldson, and “Fi Wi Island A Boom” (2000) by Stanley Beckford. Other notable winners over the years include Roy Rayon who has claimed the title numerous times after winning the competition in 1985 with “Love Fever”, 1987 with “Give thanks and praise”, 1991 with “Come Rock” and 2008 with “Rise and Shine
Buju Banton, winner of the festival song competition 2020
Sakina Deer singing at the festival song competition 2020
Fast forward a few decades later to the 2020 staging of the competition, due to a global health crisis, the execution of the competition saw several twists. Caught in the centre of an ongoing global pandemic, restrictions on large gatherings and the hosting public events saw new elements and features being introduced to this year’s competition.
In a total rebranding of the competition in the era of COVID-19, we saw an upgrade in the calibre of contestants that entered the competition. What was once a competition filled with new and aspiring cultural artists, saw a number of well-established musicians and celebrities throwing their hats in the ring to contribute to the building of national pride. With hundreds of entries pouring in for a chance to showcase their original take on national musical pride and Jamaican celebration, ten finalists were chosen to share their gifts, stir up national pride and win our hearts and votes through the art of entertainment, for the chance to be crowned the 2020 Festival Song Winner. The top ten finalists included
To read more, please purchase a copy of Buzzz Caribbean Lifestyle Magazine Vol 10 #7 in a store near you.
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The Jamaica Festival Song Competition has been a hallmark musical and cultural event in Jamaica since the early post-Independence. The competition gives upcoming and aspiring musicians the opportunity to showcase their ingenuity in creating original songs that evoke a spirit of national celebration and epitomize the truest essence of who we are as a Jamaican people. The festival song is then used as the musical anthem to lead our national Emancipation and Independence celebrations.
Over the years, the competition has catapulted musicians into global recognition with many of the winning festival songs still being widely recognized and beloved musical gems.
Some of the popular songs that have emerged over the years include “Sweet and Dandy” (1969) by the Maytals; “Cherry Oh Baby” (1971) and “Land of my Birth” (1978) by Eric Donaldson, and “Fi Wi Island A Boom” (2000) by Stanley Beckford. Other notable winners over the years include Roy Rayon who has claimed the title numerous times after winning the competition in 1985 with “Love Fever”, 1987 with “Give thanks and praise”, 1991 with “Come Rock” and 2008 with “Rise and Shine
Fast forward a few decades later to the 2020 staging of the competition, due to a global health crisis, the execution of the competition saw several twists. Caught in the centre of an ongoing global pandemic, restrictions on large gatherings and the hosting public events saw new elements and features being introduced to this year’s competition.
Related: Buju Banton wins the Festival Song Competition 2020
Related: Sakina Deer says ‘One pot cova caa clap’
In a total rebranding of the competition in the era of COVID-19, we saw an upgrade in the calibre of contestants that entered the competition. What was once a competition filled with new and aspiring cultural artists, saw a number of well-established musicians and celebrities throwing their hats in the ring to contribute to the building of national pride. With hundreds of entries pouring in for a chance to showcase their original take on national musical pride and Jamaican celebration, ten finalists were chosen to share their gifts, stir up national pride and win our hearts and votes through the art of entertainment, for the chance to be crowned the 2020 Festival Song Winner. The top ten finalists included
To read more, please purchase a copy of Buzzz Caribbean Lifestyle Magazine Vol 10 #7 in a store near you.
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