Teenager rocks Love and Harmony Cruise with Bam Bam

Seventeen-year-old Alanah Townsend was gifted a spot on the Love and Harmony Cruise by her parents, Cedric and Nadeen Townsend, as a graduation present.

The couple, who have experienced the annual reggae music cruise, decided to sail again this year, and to take Alanah with them.

Excited to be on the cruise, Alanah participated in all the activities available to her, especially playing soccer and performing at the karaoke events. Being a soccer player, her ball skills were on point, but it was a slightly different story with the microphone in hand.

"I'm not a professional singer but wanted to be an artiste ever since I was like five or six years old," said Alanah, while adding that she performed in the shower and occasionally entertains her family.

While on board the cruise last Thursday, Alanah signed up to perform Barrington Levy's Here I Come at karaoke, hosted by Majah Hype, in the BB King's Blues Club. However, when called to the microphone, the teenager had forgotten the lyrics of the song.

The USA-raised Jamaican Alanah did not allow that mishap to define her first Love and Harmony Cruise experience. She went away and returned for another karaoke event on Saturday, this time with the aim of redeeming herself.

While many females were choosing R&B hits such as Can We Talk by Tevin Campbell, Nobody by Keith Sweat, When I See You by Fantasia and No Scrubs by TLC, Alanah stuck to her Jamaican roots and it paid dividends. Alanah selected Bam Bam by Sister Nancy and had the ship rocking. She performed Bam Bam from start to finish without the support of the lyrics playing on the monitor screen, and had the audience cheering her name loudly.

"I wanted to pay tribute to Sister Nancy. She is one of the greatest female acts out of Jamaica. While many artistes have re-recorded her hit, Bam Bam, hers still remains the best, a classic. I'm a fan. When I say I love Bam Bam, I mean it," Alanah shared.

She said that being able to sail on the Love and Harmony Cruise "was the best gift". She was also happy for the opportunity "to just get back in front of the audience after Thursday's misfire.

"Hopefully, I get to meet Sister Nancy, one day," she said.