Making landfall on October 28, Hurricane Melissa caused catastrophic damage in Jamaica, becoming the strongest recorded hurricane to hit the island. It “left dozens of people dead, tore roofs off hospitals, destroyed homes, and left big parts of Jamaica without power.” One of the people trying to make sense of the disaster, with a strong desire to help in some way, was Aiesha Barrett, who decided to write a song. Her track, “Jamaica Strong,” has become an anthem and a rallying call for the country as it works to recover. Tom Richardson reports for BBC Newsbeat. [Listen to the song at YouTube; see link below. It includes links to donation sites.]
Like millions of other Jamaicans around the world, Aiesha Barrett watched Hurricane Melissa tear across the island she calls home on a TV screen. Witnessing the devastation caused by the tropical cyclone – one of the most powerful to ever hit the Atlantic Ocean – made her want to do something to help. So she sat down and wrote a song.
The track she created, Jamaica Strong, has become an anthem for the country as it works to recover from the damaging storm. It’s also become a rallying call for those who, like Aiesha, are trying to do their bit to help family members and friends in the Caribbean.
‘The lyrics just came naturally’
Aiesha’s heritage is deeply rooted in Jamaica’s reggae scene, and she is closely related to two of its most famous legends. Her dad, Aston Barrett, was bassist of Bob Marley and The Wailers, while her uncle, Carlton Barrett, was the band’s long-time drummer.
Speaking to 1Xtra presenter Seani B as part of the station’s special For Jamaica broadcast, she says writing Jamaica Strong “wasn’t difficult at all”. [. . .] “Just seeing the devastation of what was going on in my island, with my people – I have family there,” she says. “The lyrics just came naturally because they were real emotions.”
Aiesha uploaded the audio before the song’s official release – and it blew up. [. . .]
Since then, it’s had more than one million views online and been adopted as the anthem of the Jamaica Strong benefit concert to be held in New York next week.
The show, to be headlined by Jamaican superstar singers Shaggy and Sean Paul, aims to raise money towards relief efforts, but also lift the spirits of those affected by the hurricane. [. . .]
For full article and a link to the special broadcast, see https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgm37gvxk0o
Making landfall on October 28, Hurricane Melissa caused catastrophic damage in Jamaica, becoming the strongest recorded hurricane to hit the island. It “left dozens of people dead, tore roofs off hospitals, destroyed homes, and left big parts of Jamaica without power.” One of the people trying to make sense of the disaster, with a strong desire
