The National Song Competition was held on Saturday night at Memorial Park. It is seen as the unofficial kickoff of the September Celebrations – and you could have seen it live at the park or her on Channel 7. Daniel Ortiz was front row for all the fun – and he has this report:…
Daniel Ortiz reporting
The 2013 National Song Competition featured18 artists who provided over 4 hours of entertainment to a Memorial Park crowded with fans who have come to expect a high quality of entertainment from the event.
And they got that consistent quality from a variety of performers, some veterans, some newcomers, but in the end, there could only be 3 winners: and those emerged as Ivan 'TR' Burgess, Kernelle 'Nello Player' Parks, and Jael August.
Nello Player is now the back to back winner in the Patriotic Song Competition. He's entry 'Da Belize Eh Deh' captivated the audience with its colorful lyrics about Belize and its culture. After the competition, he told us that he was excited about the win. He said that he didn't expect to win:
Nello Player - 2013 Patriotic Winner
"Overwhelming feeling first of all, this is just me, I think I did an 'ok' performance but the artists are usually hard on themselves. I didn't think I did a first place performance but the crowd spoke and the judges saw something else that I didn't so I uguess I have to accept it. It was good, the experience was great, it was fun out here - a lot of people here. I feel good about the win, a win is a win - the people spoke, the judges spoke - this is a win, I'm accepting it and I feel good - time to enjoy myself now."
His competitor, Wilson Grinage, who is no stranger to the arts, but who has made his first appearance in the competition, came in second with his song, 'Patriotic Pride'.
Wilson Grinage - 2nd Place, Patriotic Category
"I'm happy over all, I really am."
In the carnival category, the competition was heated. It featured the brand names Ernestine Carballo, the 2011 champ; Sharon Martinez, the defending champion; and Ivan 'TR' Burgess.
TR edged both of them out this year, and his rise to the top could have been foretold. In 2011, he was third in a duet with Leslie 'Bastic' Jenkins, and last year he came in second with his song 'Wave the Flag', which also won him the prize money for most popular carnival tune.
This year, his winning piece, 'Kick Off The Carnival', relied on his high energy performance, and the lyrics which focused on Belize's Jaguars and their historic Gold Cup run.
Ivan 'TR' Burgess - 2013 Carnival Song Winner
"It's a lot of hard work, you know you have to put in sacrifices and take what comes your way. I actually thank God that for accomplishing the goal."
Daniel Ortiz
"Tell us, 2011, 2012 and 2013 - what was the transition and how did you clone your skills as an overall artist to be able to produce the song which won tonigh?"
Ivan 'TR' Burgess
"Basically it was sitting down with the current information and things that are going on in the country. Every year I try to come with something a bit different. Like in 2011 I said it was our anniversary with Bastic and I and I wrote the entire song, the second year - I always use the motto. Like I said it's a lot of hard work."
Daniel Ortiz
"There were so many variable that you can't account for, the music died down - you had a technical difficulty. Tell us how you sang through that."
Ivan 'TR' Burgess
"I understand that the song competition is to a be a song that is sang straight through without stop and I continued regardless if I couldn't hear myself on the mike and the monitors - I just continued straight through at the top of my voice. When that was happening I know it was happening so I just continued hard and that's when my stomach started hurting me too."
Daniel Ortiz
"How does it feel knowing that the judges realize that it wasn't your fault and they still allowed you to win because the song was excellent and the performance was excellent before that technical difficulty?"
Ivan 'TR' Burgess
"I didn't really expect any faults and I know that we came out here for sound check earlier on and there were a couple difficulties from sound check so I wasn't really tripping about it at all."
Ernestine Carballo was second, and was very grateful for that because she had just returned from Chicago a few days ago for the competition. Carballo congratulated the new champ
Ernestine Carballo - 2nd Place, 2013 Carnival Song
"I am very blessed to know that I just came in 4 days and I got second place so imagine Belize. I'm applauding all the contestants that got first place because they really put off a show and a big congratulations to TR because I set the throne and he followed through with it and he came out good and did an awesome job. For everyone that worked with me, I'm just grateful and we did our thing and we did our best. After that whole tour from Chicago, it was rough so definitely next year, if God spares my life, I will come back and with the driving force and I'm going to come back and get it again."
Jael August is one of those young Belizean stars with a wealth of talent that belies her age. The 12 year old is a great performer in the making, who will certainly leave her mark. She is also the winner of the Junior Patriotic Song Category.
Jael August - Winner, Junior Patriotic Song Category
"It was very exciting. Before I went on stage, I have a lot of supporters - I was so excited, I was overwhelmed."
Daniel Ortiz
"Was there any part of the performance where you were nervous or already ready and in the game?"
Jael August
"Well I was nervous at first as I hit the stage but I just waited and it went very well, I enjoyed myself on the stage."
Nello Player
"Every year this song competition gets bigger and we really have to give thanks to NICH for really putting a lot to this every year and putting more into the prize package and more incentives for artist that you're just hearing about coming out of the works, they have good songs and making the competition more stiff."
Because they won their categories, TR and Nello Player were awarded with a $6000 cash prize, a Trophy, a music video production, and the opportunity to represent Belize at a Regional competition. Ernestine Carballo and Wilson Grinage, the second place winners, were awarded with $3000 and a Trophy.
In the junior patriotic song category, Jael won $1500 and a trophy. Second place went to Marlyn Vansen, who won $1,000 cash. All the participants will be given a $200 in recording studio time.
