Festival Song entries released

Jamaicans at home and abroad can now hear the 10 songs competing to become the country's next Festival anthem. The entries were officially released on Friday by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport through its executing agency, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission. The release gives the public its first opportunity to listen to the contenders hoping to provide the soundtrack for this year's Independence Day celebrations.

"The songs have now been released, and I am encouraging Jamaicans at home and abroad to become familiar with them and support this year's competition. While the names of the finalists were announced last week, the public can now hear the songs and begin rallying behind their favourites as the search gets under way for Jamaica's next Festival anthem," said Grange, adding that the songs are available on the Reggae Jamaica App and will also be made available on major digital streaming platforms.

Jamaicans will have several opportunities to experience the finalists live ahead of the competition’s climax. The contestants are scheduled to perform at the Universal Service Fund’s USF Connec’ Di West Road Tour on Friday, June 19, at Sam Sharpe Square in Montego Bay, St James, starting at 3 p.m. They will also perform at the Bank of Jamaica Lunch Hour Concert on Friday, June 26, beginning at 12:30 p.m., and at the Festival Song Presentation Show on Saturday, July 11, at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, with a live broadcast on Television Jamaica (TVJ).

The top-10 finalists are Aba Jones with Teet A Fi Me; Elton Earlington with Proud a Jamaica; Melbourne Douglas, also known as D Burns, with I Love Jamaica; Ovando Levy with Jamaica School (Bingi Ling); Tricia Cunningham with I am Jamaican; Junior McCalla with I’m From Jamaica; Solomon Walters with Jamaica Woie; Beverley Henry with Jamaica Pon Di App; Christina Evans with Jamaica a fiwi island; and Latanya Stampp with My Jamaica, Land of Festivals.

The Festival Song results show is set to take place on Saturday, July 25, at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in St Andrew, at 8 p.m. with a live broadcast on TVJ.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com