STAVAN 'STEFAN Penicillin' White performing his winning piece
Germaine Smith, Staff Reporter
STAVAN 'STEFAN Penicillin' White used his winning magic formula of last year to again grab the top prize in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's Popular Song contest.
Penicillin won last year with the tune 'Jamaica Tour Guide' and repeated his feat this year with another heritage based tune 'Ole Time Jamaica'.
Second place went to Bryden 'Bescanta' Wilkins with the earnest track 'The World Is In Trouble', while Jermaine 'Stretch' Johnson placed third with 'Work Harder'.
The finals took place at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre on Saturday night, but to facilitate voting, the announcement was made on Sunday afternoon, and not yesterday afternoon as previously published in The Gleaner.
TOTAL VOTES
For this year, 70 per cent of the total votes to decide the winner came from the public. Thirty per cent came through ballot voting on the night of the finals, another thirty per cent through text message voting, and 10 through internet voting. The remaining 30 per cent was through a panel of judges.
For his victory, Penicillin will share $1,000,000 between himself and the producer and songwriter/s. He will secure a recording contract as well as a few other perks. The song was produced by Augustus 'Gussie' Clarke, and was mixed at Anchor Recording Ltd.
Since the roadshow kicked off on June 18, Penicillin has been an obvious crowd favourite with amusing on stage antics and elaborate stage props to support his tunes. When contacted yesterday, his elation was obvious.
"I feel good," Penicillin stated. He said the entire Mount Pleasant community where he is from has been congratulating him, telling him they knew he would win.
MORE VISIBILITY
"I couldn't tell you yes but a dat mi enter for," he said about knowing he would win. "You know there were 10 good songs but mine stand out."
For Penicillin, this victory means more visibility as a performer. "I am just glad for this, because now people can hear the real me in the recordings. What's next for me is that I am going in studio to work on another release. It was a song I started from before the competition but because we had to be on the road so much it couldn't be fixed totally."
With that on his mind, Penicillin added that although he likes winning, there will be no trilogy for him.
"Many people have been asking if I will enter and try for the three times but I don't think so," he noted. "I think I will give next year a break. Not that I won't be back in the competition but just not next year."
