THE EDITOR, Sir:SEAN PAUL deserves commendation for the trail he has been blazing across Europe and the USA in recent months. At the recent MTV Video Music Awards Sean Paul was the featured opening act for the outdoor pre-show. Especially pleasing were the many Jamaican flags that could be seen being waved across the outskirts of the Rockefeller Center in New York City, during the dancehall deejay's performance.
Jamaica, both culturally and as a destination, received an immediate boost given the fact this popular show was broadcast live and watched by millions across the USA and Europe. MTV's core audience comprises the 12-24 age demography and exposing Jamaica to such an audience will benefit the tourism industry. The JTB would never have been able to afford or recreate the kind of exposure that Jamaica received via the live and subsequently repeated airings of the MTV Video Music Awards Show.
Sean Paul has also appeared on Britain's 'Top of the Pops' and has been touring extensively throughout Europe and the USA. He is currently Jamaica's most internationally popular deejay and Jamaica ought to be immensely proud of him. Sean Paul never fails to 'big up' Jamaica and its culture in his interviews with the international media. Local deejays such as Elephant Man, Bounty Killer and Beenie Man enjoy a growing international appeal.
The impact that Shaggy has made internationally is phenomenal. It's time that we change our general perception of dancehall music and deejays as being the 'black sheep' of Jamaican popular music.
I am, etc.,
PATRICK A. GALLIMORE
pagalley@hotmail.com
Kingston
Via Go-Jamaica
