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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
 More Than 100 Entries in National Festival Song Competition
Nassau, The Bahamas - The Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) announced at its Judges Orientation, on July 17, 2014, that more than 100 entrants in their song competition, with more than 80 persons having already submitted their demos.
"The music is the driving force of any Carnival," said Ed Fields of the Song Competition Committee. "We were trying to promote Bahamian music, to get more Bahamian music on the world stage and to encourage Bahamians to write more Bahamian music.
"I am sure that no one has ever heard of a scenario where, over an eight-week period, over a hundred songs had been written in The Bahamas. I really do not know if that has ever existed before."
"This is a proud moment for us," said BNFC Chairman Paul Major. "This Committee has probably worked the hardest of any committees so far."
"Every time we have a stroke of progress like this -- with over one hundred songs in an eight week period -- that just has to be historic."
"I am truly excited because we have new music," BNFC CEO Roscoe Dames said. "People have been writing and it is unpublished work; so it is truly amazing."
"The whole purpose of this initiative (Bahamas Festival) as mandated by the Prime Minister is an economic initiative of the cultural and creative community, to get a 'jump start' once again," said BNFC and Song Competition Committee member Freddie Munnings, Jr. "So, the injection of over 100 songs in eight weeks is truly a magnificent feat. On that one point alone, I think you have been successful."
He pointed out that the BNFC is also in talks with a producer with a Bahamian background, as well as with Sony Music Entertainment for possible partnerships that could encourage the production of more Bahamian music.
"The whole point is for them to come into this market, to see our music, to help develop our music and to take it to the next level," Mr. Fields said.
He said that this interaction is aimed towards aspiring Bahamian artists to be able to produce traditionally Bahamian music for the international market, as well as mainstream genres.
"This is big," Mr. Fields said. "This is the start of something big."
Festival Commission Holds Orientation for Song Competition Judges
The Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) hosted an orientation for judges for their Song Competition, on July 17, 2014, many of whom span various genres and facets of Bahamian music.
"You judges will be the persons who will choose which songs will be the ultimate winners of this contest," said Ed Fields Chairman of the Song Competition Committee. "You role will be to select 25 songs out of the songs submitted and those songs will be produced on a compilation CD, at a quality that is (industry) standard for all of them.
"We will use that CD to market Bahamas Carnival to get that music into the Diaspora -- into the cities across the United States, Great Britain and Canada -- and, of course, to get into the local market."
He also thanked all judges for accepting to undertake such a "critical" role in the Competition.
BNFC CEO Roscoe Dames said the orientation was designed to familiarise them with the criteria and rules of the judging process.
BNFC and Song Competition Committee member Freddie Munnings, Jr., said that the judges chosen are among some of the "finest musicians", he believes, in the country.
"That's not just me saying that," he pointed out. "If you look at the record of those (judges) who are here in this room … we have some of the finest musicians in the country sitting in this room."
Mr. Munnings added that if you looked at the musical backgrounds of the judges you will also have to note the wide cross-section of genres and disciplines they represent.
"From classical to Junkanoo to jazz, many genres are represented here -- and we have young and not so young and those with more experience than others," he said.
"I think we have the mix we need to get 25 of the top songs that would have been submitted," Mr. Munnings added. "You are all specialists and you were chosen for your specialisation."
"There is so much excitement here," Mr. Fields added. "The connections we are making between this song competition and Junkanoo, that is coming up in the Christmas season."
He noted that they are currently meeting with the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence to get the music chosen on the compilation CD adapted and into the Junkanoo parades.
"Anything has a risk of failure; but I can tell you one thing that has a big risk of failure: doing nothing," Mr. Fields said. "One of these days we are going to look back at this room and look back at this and we are going to think about where the music industry in The Bahamas will go and we will remember these types of moments."
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