BY KANDRÉ MCDONALD, Freelance Writer
Left: Buju Banton's Me Too Bad was among the most popular songs of 2005. - Carlington Wilmot.
Right: Gyptian's Serious Times is among the most popular reggae songs of 2005. - ricardo makyn
THE YEAR IS almost over and still there are some songs that were recorded earlier this year that we just cannot stop singing.
Junior Gong, Gyptian, Jah Cure and others had us rocking all year long as they released some tantalising reggae songs. Newcomer Busy Signal was good this year and Vybz Kartel, Elephant Man, Beenie Man, Baby Cham and others ensured that the party scene remained musically live.
THE STAR in a bid to identify the top five reggae and top five dancehall songs of the year linked with some persons who are connected with the music fraternity to give their opinions on what was some of the hottest reggae and dancehall songs of the year.
GOOD YEAR OF MUSIC
The persons who influenced the decision were Paula-Ann Porter and Kurt Riley of FAME FM, Winford Williams of CVM TV, selector Jigsy of Danga Zone, Netto Meeks of Roots FM, Jazzy T of Renaissance Disco, Jerry D of Radio 2 FM, Christine Hewitt and Mutabaruka of Irie FM.
According to Winford Williams the year was good and can be considered one of the best in a long time.
"It was a good year of music and is actually one of the best we have seen in years. A year like this is what critics and experts have been clamouring for. This year's crop of conscious roots reggae songs was good music for the youths to consume. Young people of this time period can boast that they were a part of a wonderful time in reggae music, similar to how persons from the '70s and '80s can boast," he said.
Paula-Ann Porter of FAME FM shared this sentiment.
"The music this year was nice and the variety was good. What was also great was that throughout the course of the year there were lots of good songs to keep Jamaicans entertained," she said.
Paula was particularly thrilled with the reggae aspect of the music and enjoyed music from Gyptian, Jah Cure and others.
Kurt Riley shared a similar view as Paula-Ann's and added that not only was the quality of the music good, but that it represented Jamaica's culture in its true form.
The five reggae and dancehall songs presented reflect those songs that were mentioned more frequently from each category.
Among the most played and requested reggae songs throughout the year are:
Serious Times - Gyptian
Welcome to Jamrock - Junior Gong
True Reflections - Jah Cure
Notorious - Turbulence
Love Is - Jah Cure
Some of the songs that barely missed the top five are:
Fanton Mojah's Thanks and Praise, Natural Black's Far From Reality, Junior X's Plead My Cause, Morgan Heritage's Tell Me How Come, and I-Wayne's Lava Ground.
The 5 dancehall songs (not in any particular order) given as being the most potent dancehall songs throughout the year are:
Ghetto Story - Baby Cham
Emergency - Vybz Kartel
Willie Bounce - Elephant Man
Tuck in Yuh Belly - Leftside & Esco
Hum Hum - Beenie Man
Other strong contenders in the category included Busy Signal's Step Out and Wi Not Going Down, Voicemail's Wacky Dip, Buju Banton's Me Too Bad and Vybz Kartel's Stamma and Dutty Landlord.
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