No space for bad mind, says Dez I Boyd

This is the second consecutive year that singer Desmond Boyd, better known as Dez I Boyd, is throwing his hat in the Jamaica Festival Song Competition ring and already he feels like a winner.

His 2021 entry, Rumba Box, gave him extra visibility, so much so that people in the streets now hail him as 'The Rumba Box Man'. For 2022, Dez I Boyd is proclaiming to all and sundry that Jamaica Sweet Again.

"Right now I am feeling great ... up and ready to celebrate Jamaica 60. Jamaica Sweet Again is an upful song that can be played well beyond Festival, just like the Rumba Box which is still getting play in Europe," he told THE WEEKEND STAR.

Jamaica Sweet Again is one of the original three songs chosen from the first batch of entries from which the judges had a hard time finding suitable compositions. The entertainer, who has written numerous songs for himself and for other artistes, admitted that he felt that he was definitely on the right track when his song was chosen.

Currently he is in countdown mode, with days to go for the 2022 Festival Song Competition finals, which are scheduled for Thursday, July 28.

"I had a little performance on Sunday night at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville and I encouraged the people to vote. They were very receptive. I am doing my thing on social media getting it out there and I am also enjoying being in the competition," Dez I Boyd said.

At the competition's launch, Culture Minister Olivia Grange had made an appeal "to build a spirit of togetherness" and Dez I Boyd stressed that this is the focus.

"This year, the contestants are more like family. There is more togetherness. Last year it was in the peak of COVID and that caused a distance. This year, there is not even space for bad mind and bad feeling. We are all giving thanks for being Jamaican and living to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee and that is the way it should be. We understand that it takes more than one person to make a competition and may the best man or woman win," Dez I Boyd said.

The other nine finalists in this year's competition are Inspiyah, Intrestt, Magic Flute, Sacaj, Nitty Kutchie, Nazzle Man, One1, Orkid and Rory Stamp.