And the music master is ...

Fri, May 6th 2016, 10:53 AM

Sammi Starr is hoping his song "Second Time Around" produces another winning result at the second Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival's Music Masters Song Competition.

Ericka "Lady E" Symonette who placed second last year with "My Islands in the Sun" is hoping that one of her two finals songs -- "Feel that Rhythm" and "I Live For The Road" -- will be spoilers.

Jive which also has two songs in the final -- "Rhythms" and "Carnival Time" -- are hoping with double entries that they too will throw a wrench into the system.

Colyn McDonald who placed third last year with "Carnival" is looking for glory with the one song he has in the final -- "Turn it Up".

Fanshawn Taylor with "Digg up Da Road", Ebony with "Block Da Road", Avvy with "Party All Night", and Terrelle Tynes-Wilson with "Rake 'N'Scrape Soca Junkie" are all hoping at the end of the night to be the one to walk away with the second Music Masters crown, the $20,000 top prize, and the chance at a local and international promotional tour -- and in the process stop a Sammi Starr repeat.

Eight semi-finalists -- representing 10 songs -- take to the stage tonight for the final battle to determine who will be crowned master of the Bahamian sound.

"Lady E" said she feels good about her chances of coming out with the win with two strong songs.

"The music will speak for itself," said Lady E. "Last year was a learning experience," she said of the inaugural Music Masters Competition. "This year I got a greater appreciation of what goes into carnival -- that was the biggest realization for me."

Lady E says she's taking to the stage to represent the hardworking people and her performance will be dedicated to them.

The mega concert at Clifford Park will feature top Bahamian and international artists.

Music Masters has been dubbed more than just a concert. It has been described as a journey. It starts almost a year before, when Bahamian musicians are invited to submit original songs for the Music Masters Song Competition. The top 20 songs are selected, mastered and released on the official Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival Compilation Album, with the top 10 songs taking to the mega concert stage from which the winner is announced.

Judging for the competition started last year when the contestants submitted their demos. The first round of judging locked in 50 percent of contestants' scores. Scores from the Grand Bahama kickoff contributed 30 percent to the overall total; going into tonight's competition, the current tally is only known by the auditors Baker and Tilly. The final 20 percent of the score will be determined tonight. The scoring for the competition is cumulative, so points from each round are added together for a grand total.

The first runner-up will receive $12,500; the second runner-up $7,500; the third runner-up $4,000, and the remaining finalists $1,000 each.

This year's eight finalists will share the grand stage tonight with Bahamian mega acts rake and scrape superstar Dillon "D-Mac" McKenzie and the power-packed band Visage, along with Grammy Award winning hip hop artist Wyclef Jean, Trinidadian soca queen Destra and Patrice Roberts.

Taking to the stage on Saturday at the aftermath event, at which the music will be amped up, will be Jamaican reggae sensation Tarrus Riley, Cuban hitmaker Laritza, Puzzle, Julien Believe, Veronica Bishop, Sky Juice Band, Funky D, Fay Ann Lyons, Bunji Garlin, Skinny Fabulous and Lyrikal.

Tickets to Da Cultural Village are $15 on Thursday and Saturday. On Friday for the Music Masters Song Competition Finals and Mega Concert, tickets are $25 general admission and $75 VIP. Da Cultural village will be free every day from 12 noon - 6 p.m.

Tonight: Music Masters Song Competition final
Clifford park

Admission: $75 VIP, $25 general admission
Sammi Starr (Second Time Around)
Lady E (Feel that Rhythm and I Live For The Road)
Colyn McDonald (Turn it Up)
Fanshawn Taylor (Digg up Da Road)
Ebony (Block Da Road)
Jive (Rhythms and Carnival Time)
Avvy (Party All Night)
Terrelle Tynes-Wilson (Rake "N' Scrape Soca Junkie)
Also featuring
Wyclef Jean
Destra
Dillon "D-Mac" McKenzie
Visage
Patrice Roberts

Saturday: Amp up the music aftermath
Da Cultural Village, Arawak Cay

Admission: $15
Tarrus Riley
Puzzle
Julien Believe
Veronica Bishop
Funky D
Fay Ann Lyons
Bunji Garlin
Skinny Fabulous
Sky Juice Band
Laritza
Lyrikal

Shavaughn Moss, Guardian Lifestyles Editor

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