Music and the Caribbean are practically synonymous, what with annual Carnival celebrations [1], dibs on the only surviving new musical instrument to be invented in the 20th century [2] and giving the world some of the greatest musicians [3] it has ever seen. No surprise then, that regional netizens have been faithfully tuning in to NBC's The Voice [4] to support one of their own – vocal powerhouse Tessanne Chin [5], who hails from Kingston, Jamaica, has toured with reggae legend Jimmy Cliff [6] and according to her coach Adam Levine [7], “could easily win” [8] the Season 5 competition.
This past Monday night was the first of the live shows – and it was a special one for Chin, who put her own spin on the iconic Jimmy Cliff song [9], Many Rivers to Cross [10].
The day before she took the stage, netizens were anticipating that she would bring down the house:
@Tessanne [11] @adamlevine [12] Well I hope dem have carpenter/ electrician pan standby cause Tes ago mash up di stage, dung di place.
— yaniefreck (@Yaniefreck) November 4, 2013 [13]
Chin, the last performer of the night, received a standing ovation from both her coach and the live audience; Twitter was also on its feet:
I'm so torn between wanting @Tessanne [11] or @katrowbeeshow [14] to win #NBCTheVoice [15] … Tessanne KILLLLED it tonight @NBCTheVoice [16]
— Killer Queen (@KillerrQueenn) November 5, 2013 [17]
After her performance, Chin tweeted [11] a message of thanks to Jimmy Cliff:
@THEJIMMYCLIFF [18] Sir Cliff I hope I made you proud !!!Thank you for giving me the honor to be able to learn from one of the best :)All my love
— Tessanne Chin (@Tessanne) November 5, 2013 [19]
Congratulatory messages were coming in from all over the Caribbean:
@Tessanne [11] U R Amazing just wanted to say that….. U r an inspiration to many – Love From #StVincent [20] #TheVoice [21]
— Colin Hitman Graham (@HitmanGraham) November 5, 2013 [22]
Some Twitter users were moved by the choice of song:
@Tessanne [11] u r so humble and awesome to close out the show with such a motional song #thevoice [23]
— Huyen nguyen (@HuyenJet2003) November 5, 2013 [24]
Tessanne chin just completely distroyed the chains of slavery with that performance…my vote is in..Proud a u trust mi….PROUD
— keisha Quest (@niksky29) November 5, 2013 [25]
@OnstageTV [26] @Tessanne [11] that performance was an anthem for everyday people. A true heartfelt vocal with the ability to move you emotionally.
— Love Unlimited (@LoveUnlimited0) November 5, 2013 [27]
@Tessanne [11] Tessanne Chin #LoveThatSong [28] #SoManyRiversToCross [29] and I do believe you crossed them all with your version of the #JimmyCliff [30] song.
— Sydney Senhouse (@SenhouseDesigns) November 5, 2013 [31]
Others were already sold on Chin as a performer in her own right…
@Tessanne [11] I'm ready to buy your album girl! @adamlevine [12] @NBCTheVoice [16] #VoiceTop20 [32]
— marlene_EOL (@marlene_EOL) November 5, 2013 [33]
…and many have been longtime fans:
Every week @Tessanne [11] performs on #TheVoice [21] and I'm so proud! I remember when she was luvin'up on @Kestheband [34] in the “Loving You” video!
— BattyMamzelle (@BattyMamzelle) November 5, 2013 [35]
@Tessanne [11] Always will be a huge fan of yours ever since your Blind Audition! Blew me away :) #yougotthis [36]
— Felisha Lujan (@_TfKaay_) November 5, 2013 [37]
But support for Tessanne was understandably the most vocal from her homeland:
I bet you somewhere in Jamaica somebody said “Beg yuh ah call pon yuh phone nuh suh mi caan vote fi @Tessanne [11] !” #TeamTessanne [38] #TheVoice [21]
— Jr. Nembhard (@JrNembhard) November 5, 2013 [39]
@Tessanne [11] giiiirl…u badd! So deserve to win! U never disappoint. :*
— Ashleigh Elizabeth (@sassipinki) November 5, 2013 [40]
Naturally, many netizens were reminding people to do their part to help her win by voting for #TeamTessanne [41]:
Can’t wait to hear @Tessanne [11] on #TheVoice [21] tonight. When it comes to #JamaicanMusic [42], she’s doing us proud! Rember to vote! #TeamTessane [43]
— Mr Boombastic (@DiRealShaggy) November 4, 2013 [44]
By the next day, US mainstream media were also praising her performance:
Tessanne Chin Steals the show – according to People Magazine! #theVoice [45] #TeamTessanne [38] #Jamaica [46] http://t.co/91GLRZdO6W [47]
— Creative Industries (@jamprocreative) November 5, 2013 [48]
Jamaica's media, however, were way ahead of the game, doing their part to help secure votes:
Amazing this Tessanne Chin frenzy in Jamdown…radio shows are co-ordinating voting drives for her!
— anniepaul (@anniepaul) November 5, 2013 [49]
The media were not the only ones; in Jamaica, musicians – and fans – were happy to support their own:
One of the BEST things associated with @Tessanne [11] performance on @NBCTheVoice [16] : how many OTHER Jamaican artists tweet their support. #UNITY [50]
— Junior Rodigan (@JuniorRodigan) November 5, 2013 [51]
Nokia! Startak! iPhone! Samsung! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! For @Tessanne [11] !!! 877-553-3710. If you're in Jamaica buy the single on itunes..it counts!
— Yendi Phillipps (@IAMYENDI) November 5, 2013 [52]
In the end, though, it was really all about a strong and moving performance:
Saving the Tess for last #TeamTessanne [38]
— Wayne Marshall (@Wayne_Marshall) November 5, 2013 [53]