Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

The Astronauts, previous winners who have entered this year's competition. - Contributed

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's (JCDC) Festival Song competition has returned after a 10-year absence, a few old faces sprinkling the relative newcomers.

Under the theme 'Festival Song Come Back Again. What a Bam Bam', the 10 finalists who were recently selected will compete over the next nine weeks to determine which song will win the competition for the Independence season.

There are two past winners and a finalist in the competition this year. The past winners are Roy Rayon, who entered the competition about eight times and won on three occasions; and The Astronauts, who won three times by themselves and once when the duo performed with Stanley Beckford. Michael Rutherford was a finalist in the competition in 1988 and 1989.

Filling out the finalists are Country Life by Marisco, Sweet Jamaica by D.J. Speng, We Need Love by Versatile, Jamaica Little But We Tallawah by Clevon Edwards, Festival Time Again by the duo Danny Brasko and Iya Simba, Nah Lef Jamaica by Zetto and My Jamaica by Monty Montgomery.

Vernon Darby, chairman of the Festival Song 2008 Competition, says those who entered or won previously will not have an edge over first-time entrants, as the competition is only about the song that can capture the festival mood.

"Nobody is given any preference. We are just looking for a good song to win the competition," Darby told The Sunday Gleaner.

no Popular Song Competition

He said there will be no Popular Song Competition. He also said the intention behind the restart of the Festival Song Competition is to help rekindle the festivities surrounding the season.

"We are celebrating our independence. For the festive season you want a song that people can jump and prance to," he said.

Darby added: "It's going to be quite exciting, 'cause people are looking forward to it. It's bringing back that old-time feeling so that the young people can get a taste of the old-time festival feeling."

Roy Rayon says he does not believe he has an advantage, but he does have a good song.

"Nobody has an edge. It is the best song that should and it will be the song that captures the imagination of the people," he said.

He also believes a good song is one which has a good melody, lyrics, rhythm, high energy and a patriotic tone.

"Whether popular song or festival song, it should be the pulse of the Jamaican Independence celebration. It should be a song that the people can relate to and dance to," said Rayon, whose entry is Rise and Shine.

optimistic about season

Like Rayon, Zac Henry of The Astronauts does not believe he has an advantage because he won before. While that is the case, he says he only enters a competition with the intention of winning. He was quite optimistic about the season and his chances.

"Festival Song should be happy and have an upbeat and Jamaican rhythm that everybody can relate to and not just one section of the society. My song has that rhythm and feel," Henry told The Sunday Gleaner.

Henry is without his original partner Donald Wright, who died in a motor vehicle accident in 1998. He, however, re-entered with Michael Beckford, doing Banjo Man. He says his song has a mento flavour instead of a dancehall sound. This was done in an effort to help bring back the 'old time' festival season.

back to 'old time' festival

"Popular song was just a next competition. I am glad that they bring back the Festival Song. This year will be different and we will get back that festival spirit," he said.

Though Michael Rutherford did not win on the two occasions he entered, he believes he has a fair chance this time with his song Old Time Festival.

"Wi see where we lost that cultural aspect. I wrote a song to bring back that vibe. It's (the competition) a very good idea, because I don't think one should throw away one's culture. We can bring back the roots and everybody can come together even if it is one time for the year," said Rutherford.

The 2008 Jamaica Festival Song Album will be launched on May 27 and road shows featuring all 10 artistes will be held at strategic points across the island, culminating in the national finals, scheduled for July 12.