Jamaica’s Tessanne Chin beat out some of the nation’s best singers who vied for “The Voice” throughout a season where voters called in the most talented contestant to NBC-TV.
She won $100,000 and a recording contract with Universal Records. But mostly she won the support of fellow nationals who voted in record numbers for her victory. Less than five minutes after Chin won the competition, the island’s Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna released a statement saying: “Tessanne was the best voice and performer on the program. I speak on behalf of the country when I say that we are all happy for her success.”
“I am very pleased that so many more people across the world did get and will get to see what we already knew — that Tessanne is an amazing singer who enchants her audiences with not only her beautiful voice, but with Jamaican grace and charm as well. She is an excellent role model and outstanding representative of Jamaican culture.”
Chin’s road to victory began when four music insiders who judge the weekly contest reversed their backward chairs to face her forward. Ceelo Green, Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine competed against each other to coach her to victory.
Maroon Five’s lead-singer Adam Levine won out and each week cheered her past each elimination rounds. As the contest intensified, narrowing the field to the Top 10 best and later the Top 5, Jamaicans mobilized to sure-up votes.
Some of the song selections that helped her to victory included Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song,” Pink’s “Try,” No Doubt’s “Underneath It All” and Whitney Houston classic “I Have Nothing.”
On Dec. 17 when all the votes were in, the Jamaican songbird emerged the winner.
Each week, Jamaicans living in the USA gathered in bars, restaurants and living rooms for viewing parties. Through email, text messaging, phone calls and the purchase of music recorded for the program, they all but guaranteed that the Caribbean contestant would win the overall competition which ended with three finalists.
In making the announcement, Hanna also congratulated the members of Tessanne’s team including her family and her coach.
And she was not remiss in thanking “Jamaicans living in the United States and members of the Caribbean Diaspora” with whom she said she worked in mobilizing support for the singer.
“We used social media to reach out to the Diaspora through our youth activists. I went on a media blitz on Caribbean radio across the tri-State area, as well as in Georgia and Florida trying to get the votes. We were also able to get the support of a businessman to donate so that each Monday, after the show, we could give at least 200 people Tessanne recordings through iTunes, which counted towards her votes.”
“And then there were many Jamaicans in the US who not only voted, but encouraged their family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and bosses to support Tessanne, like many of us on the island have done.
“It all goes to show what we can achieve when Jamaicans rally around a common cause.”
