13 Yasmine Peru/ Senior Gleaner Writer VICTORY IS sweet and nobody knows that better than this year’s Festival Song Competition winner, Candy Isaacs. In a highly competitive year when all 10 finalists had songs which Executive Director of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, Lenford Salmon said “could win”, the visually impaired Isaacs walked away with the trophy as well as the Best Performer title. IT WAS Isaacs’ second time at the competition, and her entire family was invested in her journey. Once she was announced winner at the Jamaica College auditorium on Saturday night, her mother jumped out of her seat, as if ejected by some force other than her own, and rushed to front of stage where she started the high-energy celebration. “I was waiting for the moment,” an exhilarated Diana Morrison confessed. “When I heard second place, I said, ‘Come on, Candy is the winner.’ Right now I am feeling great! I was a bit tired, but from I heard the announcement ... ah doan suh tired again yuh know. I don’t know where it gone.” Morrison said that she was confident about her daughter’s win after attending rehearsals earlier that day. After watching Candy’s performance, she told herself that “Candy gone clear”. But it was a victory that might not have happened had Morrison stood her ground in not wanting her daughter to enter anymore competitions. “In 2021, she was in the top 10 but she didn’t place ... and before that she came second in the Gospel competition. But this one ... I tell you ... she was divinely led by God. I told her that I didn’t want her to enter any more competitions, but she came to Sweet Festival Song victory for Candy Isaacs Kimiela ‘Candy’ Isaacs (left) is presented with the first-place trophy by Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange , after winning the 2024 Jamaica Festival Song Competition with ‘#One Jamaica’. Top-quality entries a ‘vindication’ for Minister Grange me and told me what the Lord said to her. I said to her, ‘Since yuh say is God, I will go with you.’ And I stood with her all the way,” Morrison shared. VERY HAPPY Salmon said he was “very happy for the winner” and “really proud” about the writing of the songs. “Over the years we have been encouraging people to put a little more effort in where it begins. It starts with the script ... and they really came very, very strong this year. Any one of those 10 could have won. Trisstar, who had to unfortunately drop out because of ill health, we believe that she was also a strong contender to win because she had a very good song. To sum it all up, we are very, very happy,” Salmon said, while noting that this was “vindication” for Minister of Culture Olivia Grange . “The driving force behind it was really the minister. A number of us ... including myself ... at some point in time, doubted that the Festival Song could be rebuilt into what it has become today. At times, I even said to the minister that maybe it’s time for us to let it go. She said, ‘Absolutely not. I am confident that we can get it back to where it was.’And this is really a vindication of her belief and her strong approach to it to say, ‘We going to build it back. Just come with me’,” Salmon shared. He commended special guest artiste Kevin Downswell, who “took it to another level” inside the Jamaica College auditorium. It was a rousing praise-and-worship session as Downswell offered songs such as It’s Already Done, and When I Come to the End of Myself, and a prayer for those affected by Hurricane Beryl. The 10 finalists were Auraiya Hope (Proud Jamaican); Sister Novelette (Fi Mi Island Home); TrishMaq (Jamaica is a Big Brand); Kimiela ‘Candy’ Isaacs (#One Jamaica); Trisstar (Jamaica Jamaica); Pepita (We are Jamaicans); Lex MD (Jah Love this Land); Renzzah (Waa Back Jamaica); Reggae Maxx (Better Jamaica); and Casey Donaldson (Sweet Jamaica). Third place went to Sis Novelette and second place to Trishmar. The winning songwriter, performer and the producer were awarded prizes totalling $3 million. Emcee for the evening was Jenny Jenny; contestants were backed by the Skool band. yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com Second place winner TrishMaq was all smiles. PHOTOS BY NATHANIEL STEWART THE MONTHLY GLEANER | JULY 18 - AUGUST 17, 2024 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS
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