Slashe: Winning the 2023 Jamaica Festival Song “Best in the World.”
The 2023 Festival Song Contest Winner was announced and Slashe was named the best song of 2023. The grand final was held the National Indoor Sport Centre today, Saturday, July 29, in Kingston.
According to the Jamaica Observer, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange, at the launch of the competition, praises of the selection committee, led by producer/label boss Gussie Clarke, which chose the qualifying entries.
“The… selectors did an excellent job, as well as the entrants themselves who chose songs which reflect the diversity of our culture and the variety that our genres always offer,” she said.
“So there is something there for everybody. It also reflected the age span for younger and older folks. There was representation also in terms of persons with disabilities as well as what was reflected in the feeling of the Diaspora,” she acknowledged.
There was a diverse group of contestants this year. Notedly, visually impaired singer, Sherlette Black, with the stage name Princess Black, with her entry Big Up Mama JA, co-produced by Shavane Daley.
Producer Donovan Germain, who sat on last year’s selection committee, pulled out of the committee to accommodate his three entries of singers/songs he has produced this year: Slashe’s (Donald Anderson) Best In The World; Shuga’s (Mitsy Campbell) Dancing Same Way; and Jamaican-born/Canadian-based Juno Awards singer Exco Levi’s Feel Like Home.
Slashe’s (Donald Anderson) emerged the winner with his song “Best In The World“
There were a total of ten contestants. Eric Donaldson – Reggae Jamaica; Lady Denna & The Whole Note Mento Band – Little Paradise; Prince Fabulous – No Weh Like Yard; Mento Tones Jamaica; Mi Born and Grow; Shuga – Dancing Same Way; Av&TE Jamaica Ah Mi Yaad; Hot Rod, More Love; Exco Levy, Feel Like Home; Slashe, Best In The World and Princess Black, Big Up Mama JA.
The Contestant not only get the bragging right of best festival song winner, he also took home a trophy and 3 million Jamaican dollars.
According to the Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange, the ten finalists were selected from more than 200 entries. The selection panel was led by the veteran music producer Augustus “Gussie” Clarke. Minister Grange thanked the panel for their work and expressed joy for what she called a “flood of quality entries” this year.