If the crowd that packed Weekendz Nightclub, in Kingston on Sunday, May 3, 2009 is to be interpreted then the producers of the new hit show may need a new location. The Magnum King and Queen of Dancehall were crowned last Sunday with a huge show that showcased the top 10 finalists all performing. Tiki and Poor and Boasy were crowned at the end as the ultimate winners. The show must be commended for its originality and for portraying a genre of talent competition in Jamaica that was not on mainstream television. I believe the show was different in that it didn’t seek to attempt to imitate the mother of all talent competitions ‘American Idol’.
However, the judges must be commended for their real comments. They were not their only to criticize and commend the contestants on the show weekly. But as the season progressed we saw where the comments were expressed to improve the contestant’s craft in the business. The roles of the judges were also critical. Mr. Burrell as the producer, Ms. Kitty a popular radio presenter and DJ General Degree a veteran in the business each week expressed comments from different aspects of the business each exposing the contestants to what the industry requires.
The show begins each week with a dancehall fashion show which should be improved in future seasons. The models are amateurs and I believe if professionals are used then designers will get more from this segment. After all, it’s business.
The star of this season really goes to Poor and Boasy who walked away with a million dollars cash. His personality and ability to show charisma which Jamaicans are known for made him the most popular among the viewers. In addition to his persona viewers cannot ignore his life story. As a 19 year old washing car windows in Half Way Tree, who question himself daily about his life and future, it must have taken great strength to become the champion, knowing you are fighting not only for your future but also your daughter’s. The same goes for the Queen of Dancehall Tiki. Her ability to write songs that are easy to sing makes her unforgettable and that is critical in any industry, you want people to remember you. She reminds me of Beyonce in some ways, if you look at Beyonce’s songs they all are have catchy phrases that connect with her audience. This is a huge lesson for artistes today not only to write lyrics that make sense but also have entertainment quality.
In conclusion, I believe that Magnum will continue to support this show. Who can forget the brand’s image and phrase “di magnum ina him” which only did the brand well. The producers must therefore see how they can improve on the product by providing a world class show which would mean a bigger production set and better producing. All the mishaps in production must not be repeated but better talents should now come to the forefront to take dancehall which is bigger than all of us to a higher level.