‘JERUSALEMA’ TRINIDADIAN STYLE
By Nelson A. King
Trinidadian musical duo
Keishaun Julien and Ricardo
Seales on Saturday electrified
patrons at the virtual recording
of the Brooklyn-based
Trinidad and Tobago Alliance
(North America), Inc.’s 44th
Scholarship Awards Luncheon,
at Tropical Ballroom on
Utica Avenue in Brooklyn, with
“Jerusalema.”
The song by South African
DJ and record producer
Master KG, featuring South
African vocalist Nomcebo, was
performed by Seales on saxophone
and Julien on steelpan.
“Jerusalema,” an upbeat
gospel-influenced house song,
was initially released on Nov.
29 2019 after garnering positive
response online, with a
music video following on Dec.
21, according to Wikipedia, the
free online encyclopedia.
“Jerusalema” was subsequently
included on Master
KG’s second album of the same
title, released in January 2020.
A single edit was released
on streaming services on July
10, 2020, after it went viral during
mid-2020, garnering international
reaction due to the
#JerusalemaChallenge, Wikipedia
said.
Screenshot of virtual presentation of Ricardo Seales (L) on
saxophone and Keishaun Julien on steelpan performing
“Jerusalema.” Trinidad & Tobago Alliance of North America, Inc.
It said a remix featuring
Nigerian singer Burna Boy was
released on June 19, 2020, propelling
Black Am I Kochella ‘Friend Dem’ with new video
Continued from Page 25
Caribbean L 26 ife, Nov. 27-Dec. 3, 2020
the song onto the US
Billboard charts.
It has since reached number
one in Belgium, Netherlands,
Romania and Switzerland,
while peaking in the top 10 of
multiple other European countries,
according to Wikipedia.
It said a second remix featuring
Venezuelan singer Micro
TDH and Colombian singer
Greeicy was released on Sept.
17, 2020.
Although it has “religiousleaning”
lyrics, Wikipedia said
“Jerusalema” is an upbeat discohouse
track containing “deep,”
“spiritual,” gospel lyrics.
Lyrically, as noted by OkayAfrica’s
Rufaro Samanga, “it
speaks about Jerusalem being
the home of many religious
believers.”
The remix sees Burna Boy
incorporating his signature
Afrobeats style, singing part
of his verse in isiZulu, while
emphasizing the unity of African
artists, according to Wikipedia.
Zkhiphani’s Mandisa Ntsindee
said that the song “has
reached heights no other South
African song has ever in the
past,” calling Nomcebo a “powerhouse
vocalist,” and adding
that “the South African music
scene has been preparing for
this exact kind of exposure with
a song that is fiercely ours.”
“Music in Africa” named
“Jerusalema,” “without a
doubt,” one of the biggest
South African house songs of
2020, with the magazine’s Ano
Shumba stating that “Nomcebo
has cemented her presence on
the local house music scene.”
Rufaro Samanga of “OkayAfrica”
called the remix “a
straight banger,” according to
Wikipedia.
It said Master KG’s Spotify
followers increased to more
than 1.2 million following the
rising popularity of the song.
Various covers performed
around the world with different
instruments and sung in a variety
languages have also been
uploaded on YouTube, attracting
their own popularity, Wikipedia
said.
It said an accompanying
dance challenge, attributed to
a group of Angolan friends performing
the choreography in a
candid video, helped “Jerusalema”
go viral.
Patrons swayed on Saturday
as Julien and Seales rocked the
house with “Jerusalema.”
Julien and Seales collaborated
on Facebook, with Cari-
JazzAnthony’s Cari-Jazz Group,
stating that Julien is “a young,
talented, up-and-coming steelpan
soloist, arranger and educator
from Tobago,” Trinidad’s
sister isle.
“Keishaun offers a diverse
repertoire of music and is growing
to be a household name,
as he performs steelpan music
at various high-caliber events
throughout the country,” they
wrote.
“Ricardo Seales’ love for saxophone
granted him performance
and contracts in hotels
across the Caribbean islands,
like St. Kitts, Grenada, St. Lucia
and Antigua, and international
events in Canada, Cuba and
London,” they added.
On his website, Julien wrote
that, at 24, he “brings to the
table 14 years of experience in
the entertainment industry and
has performed in a number of
countries, such as the United
States, Canada, France and
Japan, just to name a few.
“In this time when the pandemic
is upon us, we must
stand together to protect ourselves
and our loved ones,” said
Black Am I. “Don’t be pushed.
COVID-19 is a deadly killer,
don’t play as if it is a joking
matter hold steadfast.”
Destine Media said “2020
has not been the best of years
for millions of people; the
COVID-19 pandemic, as well
as other heartbreaking events,
have wreaked havoc to their
physical, mental and emotional
health.
“However, like any other
phase in life, these occurrences
will be a thing of the past,
and the world would come out
stronger and better,” it said.
“This is the message Black Am
I is looking to pass in his newest
release, ‘The Edge.’”
Destine Media said the
devout Rastafarian is staying
true to the essence of reggae
music — “inspiring people to
become better, as he pours his
heart and soul into every line
of the song.
“Black Am I preach the
strength of unity and the significance
of fighting the battle
against the common enemy,
and coming out tops,” it said.
“We fight alone, but together
we can win,” Black Am I said.
“Stay focused and try your best
to remain healthy and hopeful,”
said Black Am I.
tor of Afrobeats and the Caribbean
at Audiomack, is working
to “curate and execute genius
strategies to showcase the
sounds of the Caribbean music
artists worldwide.
“With the brilliant minds on
the Audiomack team, the future
music icons of St. Maartens and
the rest of the Caribbean are in
good hands,” she assured.
Tune in at http://laser101.fm.
Continued from Page 25
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kept the thought up, making
people happy in mind,”
she said. “The single and
this video should be the ultimate
feel-good vibe style of
music.”
Kochella said she wanted
to make a video that fans can
watch and smile because of
the “natural warmth the song
curates sonically.”
“’Friend Dem pays homage
to her Caribbean heritage,
infusing a dancehall beat and
calls for people to love and
adore each other for who we
are,” Driven said. “The artist
hopes the upbeat tempo and
smooth vocals help to uplift
people the world over.
“The song and video showcase
her bright personality,
and draws inspiration from her
Jamaican roots,” she added.
“To summarize everything,
Gabriela Kochella drops this
video to make people happier
during a strenuous 2020.”
The single is available to
play on all streaming platforms.
‘Audiomack Hour’
Gabriella Kochella. KP
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