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Photo: Winner Wilson Grinage
By Charles Gladden
Belize City, Friday, August 16, 2024
Local singer/entertainer Wilson Grinage was crowned the winner of this year’s national song competition held Friday evening, August 16 at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts.
From the many entrants in this year’s National Song Contest, seven musical artists have been shortlisted to sing original patriotic songs celebrating Belize’s independence.
“The National Song Contest is one of our developmental tools to foster and create creativity and innovation,” said Kim Vazquez, dean of the College of Creative Arts, in her opening remarks.
The seven finalists submitted songs covering a variety of musical genres and are as follows: Echo Middleton — “Rememba Dem Days”; Lenox Awardo — “Gimme Old Belize”; Sh@dow — “In Yo Blood”; Jackie Cas — “Song for Belize”; Allan Castillo — “We Need Love”; Hubee — “Explore Belize”; and Wilson Grinage — “Until Forever.”
After the performance, Middleton, Hubie, and Wilson Greenage were selected as the three finalists. It was later announced that Echo Middleton’s work won third place, and Middleton received a prize of $2,000. Hubie was then announced as the second finalist, receiving a prize of $3,000. Wilson Greenage was then announced as the top prize winner – $20,000.
“I was shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. I loved the competition, but I didn’t like the moment when the winner was announced; but when they called out (my name), I felt so relieved, like my soul was out of my body,” Greenatch told Amandala. “I’m still floating. I haven’t come down yet, but I may land tomorrow. I’ll stay there overnight and enjoy it,” he added.
Grinage further explained: Amandala His song “Until Forever” is a song of victory because he went through a dark time.
“I was going through a lot and I wanted to write a song that, when you listen to it, makes you feel like you can overcome anything. When I got to the chorus, I had writer’s block and my daughter said, ‘Dad, why don’t you write a song about me, about how you’ll always love me.’ I was so proud of her for helping me write that song,” he said.
Greenatch is a well-known figure in the Belizean music scene. He started singing at a young age. He rose to fame with the song “What Did You Say?” which became a hit after it was aired on Radio Krem. He participated in several national song competitions and won second place in 2016.
The other four of the seven finalists also received $1,200 each.
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