St Ann fisherman hooks Festival Song Competition

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

Under a dark Friday evening sky, Kharuso, a fisherman by trade, caught the biggest prize ever in the history of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Festival Song Finals.

After two energetic and powerful performances that resulted in him being awarded the Best Performer, he was also presented with several prizes including a cheque for $1 million and a 2010 Nissan Tiida valued at approximately $2.5 million.

It was an elated Delisser 'Kharuso' McFarlane, who spoke to The Gleaner after the show. The second-time entrant explained that having not won the competition in 2009, he was very disappointed, "but I am a strong person; three weeks after losing I wrote the lyrics for this song, but I kept it to myself".

Kharuso, which is an abbreviated version (if there is such a thing) of the name of the Caribbean folk character, Robinson Crusoe, as McFarlane was called as a child, plans to use his winnings to "move his musical career". But he is also a giving man, and one of the beneficiaries will be his 18-year-old daughter.

Petrol and Nikki Dillon finshed second and third. Island in the Sun, Petrol's offering, also cropped the awards for Voters' Choice and Best Video, while Kharuso took the award for Best Songwriter.

Di Land Wi Love, Island in the Sun, My Jamaica, the top three songs reflected the theme of the show 'True Jamaican Patriot'. But the other seven finalists, Amique & Nazzle Man, Deru, Marvilus, Mojahrock, Bello and Papa Whyte, were not to be outdone. Topping the list with some catchy lyrics from their songs, Bello's Jamaican Deh Deh and Papa Whyte's Zingy Zingy 2010 provided much entertainment for the fair-sized non-partisan house that showed their appreciation by singing along.

Party mood

Also appearing on the programme was many-time Festival Song winner Roy Rayon. Adorned in a full gold suit, he ignited the audience with Rise and Shine, Fever and Give Thanks and Praises. Stevie Face and 2009 winner Winston Hussey also contributed to the ushering of the 2010 festival celebration. Singing emcee Gerry 'The Vybz Master' Daniel kept the party mood throughout. Backing band N2Nation was excellent. VJ Elites video presentation where live performances of Jamaican artistes were projected unto the screen, was innovative; but splitting the focus of the audience with dancers on the stage was asking too much.