The finalists and their entries are as follows:

1. Av&TE (Avante) Jamaica Ah Mi Yaad

2. Eric Donaldson Reggae Jamaica

3. Exco Levy Feel Like Home

4. Hot Rod More Love

5. Lady Denna & the Whole Note Mento Band Little Paradise

6. Mento Tones Jamaica Mi Born and Grow

7. N Rich Sovereignty

8. Princess Black Big Up Mama JA

9. Prince Fabulous No Weh Like Yard

10.Slashe Best In The World

Minister Grange said they were “ten good songs that will add to the excitement of Jamaica’s Emancipation and Independence celebrations this year.”

According to Minister Grange, !This will be another good year as we continue to build the Jamaica Festival Song competition.” The ten finalists were selected from more than 200 entries.

The selection panel was led by the veteran music Producer Augustus !Gussie” Clarke and was comprised of music industry professionals.

The Minister thanked the panel for their work and expressed joy for what she called a “flood of quality entries” this year. Most of this year’s finalists are experienced practitioners in their own right, including Slashe and Mento Tones who are repeat finalists having made the top ten in 2004 and 2016.

Donaldson was ecstatic at being selected. “I was victorious with Cherry Oh Baby in 1971 and have won the competition on 6 other occasions, as recent as 1997 with Peace and Love”, so clearly I have the formula. But it"s a most talented group [of competitors this year] and I know that I will have to come with my A game — and that I will most certainly do” said Donaldson.

The only woman among the finalists is Princess Black, a visually impaired singer who declares! I am in it to win it”. She is a repeat finalist having made the top ten in 2015. Listed among the producers is veteran music producer Donovan Germaine of Penthouse Records with two of the songs.

The festival songs will go into rotation by the end of June, with the winner being announced in July. Minister Grange said the nation will help to select the winner through public vote. The winning song will receive a prize of three million dollars to be shared among the producer, the writer and the singer. The winning song will also form the musical backdrop for this year"s Emancipation and Independence celebrations.