It is widely believed that if the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) were to conduct an islandwide trivia quiz for the name of the singer and the title of the winning popular song of last year, no one would have the correct answer.

This thinking is being fuelled by the fact that the popular songs no longer capture the attention of the populace, despite the fact that in 1997, the yearly festival song competition was rebranded as the Popular Song Contest. And now, 13 years later, is no more appealing as it was then.

However, the JCDC has no intention of giving up on the vehicle designed by former Prime Minister Edward Seaga in 1966 to celebrate our nationhood and the achievements of the Jamaican people from Emancipation to independence and beyond.

Notwithstanding the limited resources, perhaps this year, more than any other in the last 25 years or so, the JCDC is pulling out all the stops in its effort to rekindle the interests the competition had generated in its formative years.

Beginning with the new media-savvy executive director, Grace Silvera, the image of the 44-year-old contest is in for a make-over. “Even though we are challenged with limited resources, in terms of the promotion of the songs, special arrangements have been made with TVJ,” she told the Sunday Observer shortly after the official launch of the 2010 festival album True Jamaican Patriot at Courtleigh Auditorium a week ago.

She also said that the contestants are free to do their own promotion. And an equally upbeat Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Olivia Babsy Grange, was no less confident. “We have 10 excellent songs to make a difference,” Minister Grange assured.

True Jamaican Patriot features the ten finalists for this year’s contest which the culture minister noted is one that will inspire a sense of healing throughout the nation. She also pointed out its relevance under the Government’s revitalised development programme.

One of the finalists who will bring some element of surprise and who will have an unexpected level of musical competence, is popular comedian Winston “Bello” Bell with his entry Jamaican Deh Deh.

The names of some of the contestants and titles of a few entries are as imaginative as they are colourful in a way that will help to generate some interest. They are Papa Whyte, whose entry is titled Zingy Zingy 2010; Petrol, who comes with Island In The Sun; Kharuso, with My Jamaica, Rock; Irie, with Jamaica Nice; Mojahrock, with Reggae Music; Deru, with Nuh Weh Nuh Betta; Amique and Nazzle Man with One Heart, Marvillus whose inviting entry is Welcome to Jamaica and the lone female Nikki Dillon, with Di Land We Love.

Compiled by Clifton “Specialist” Dillon, the compilation set features a number of top producers, among them Bobby Digital and Grub Cooper, and writers such as Cezar Cunningham, Maurice Gordon and Othniel “Taddy P” Campbell.