‘This is Jamaica’ Music Video Premieres Feb. 3

Viewers of the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) website and Jamaica Magazine television programme will see the premiering of the much-anticipated ‘This is Jamaica’ music video, on Friday, February 3. The video is part of the Agency's activities to mark Jamaica's 50th anniversary of independence.

The JIS-produced music video will be aired regularly throughout the year during the programme on CVM TV and Television Jamaica (TVJ) at 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ).

The music video will also be shown on the ‘Jamaica 50’ page of the JIS' website.

Explaining the concept, Lead Technical Producer of the music video, Andrea Chisholm, said the idea is to encapsulate “all things Jamaican,” the country’s uniqueness, its monuments, landmarks and various sectors.

“We have various shots representing this…from persons in the countryside to shots representing various sectors of society – agriculture, tourism, our teachers, nurses  and our athletes – monuments and landmarks, such as Emancipation Park, the Montego Bay Convention Centre and the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre.  When  you see them, you  think of Jamaica,” Miss Chisholm  said.

The music video, which is approximately 2 minutes and 20 seconds long ,was shot at King’s House, Emancipation Park and the National Stadium. A group of children, representing a cross-section of Jamaica, accompanied Devon Sparks and recording artiste, Abijah, in the video. 

Mr. Sparks, who is also the writer and producer of the song, ‘This is Jamaica’, expressed his delight in composing a song of this nature, which he describes as “underscoring the essence of the Jamaican gene, one that speaks about our pride and nationalism, the whole Jamaican spirit, determination and resilience."

He noted that being a jingle producer helped him to pen and compose the lyrics and melody of the song, which is quite catchy and appeals significantly to the “social and patriotic conscience of Jamaica."

The writer said that the song will allow  Jamaicans to "recognise their successes and failures and be willing and ready to make a contribution to develop Jamaica and safeguard its future."

Miss Chisholm thanked all the persons who played an integral role in the production of the music video, especially her co-producer, Kerry-Ann Smith; other producers, videographers, library staff and video editors.

By Kadian Brown, JIS PRO