Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Top of the Pops!
Dawn Penn
Entertainment, Music
Kevin Jackson  
October 19, 2023

Top of the Pops!

It Wasn’t Me, the chart-topping global hit by international recording artiste Shaggy (number 273), Get Busy by Sean Paul (number 341) and Dawn Penn’s cover of You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No) — number 454, are the only songs by Jamaicans that are ranked among Billboard magazine’s 500 Best Pop Songs.

The list was revealed on the music and trade publication’s website throughout this week. It was compiled to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, which was first published in 1958.

In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, Shaggy said he knew that It Wasn’t Me would have been a hit from the song was being recorded.

“I knew it was a hit from inception. There was something special about the song. The thing about it is the subject matter; it’s relatable to so many people regardless of their religion, race, colour or sexual preference,” Shaggy shared.

Shaggy

It Wasn’t Me was recorded in New York at Shaggy’s home studio.

“The song was recorded at my house in Valley Stream, Long Island where I had a small basement studio called Ranch Studios. The recording was done pretty inexpensively, and it was produced by Sting International. We’ve had a string of hits together including Oh Carolina, Angel, Mr Boombastic and of course, It Wasn’t Me,” said Shaggy.

It Wasn’t Me is featured on Shaggy’s Hot Shot album for MCA Records. The song was never originally intended to be released as a single, but after it was discovered by DJ Pablo in Hawaii, it began to generate airplay on American radio.

The song shot to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 2000 and is ranked as Shaggy’s highest charting single to date, spending two non-consecutive weeks on top. It also topped charts in 10 other countries including the United Kingdom (it was the biggest selling single of 2001).

Sean Paul

It Wasn’t Me, which features singer Ricardo “RikRok” Ducent, has been certified gold in Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Denmark, and Austria. It racked up a 4x platinum certification in the United Kingdom, 3x platinum in Australia and platinum in Belgium, France, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands.

“It Wasn’t Me is the gift that keeps on giving! It’s a great accomplishment, especially in the genre of dancehall whereas there has not been much success — of this magnitude — in that genre,” Shaggy reasoned.

Get Busy, which rode producer Steven “Lenky” Marsden’s hand-clapping Diwali rhythm, spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in May of 2003.

Described as a party anthem, Get Busy is featured on the DJ’s Grammy-winning album Dutty Rock for VP/Atlantic Records.

“I feel awesome to know that so many years ago I did this song, and its still being hailed as a big one. Great look and I’m proud of the works and everybody involved,” Sean Paul told the Observer.

The video for Get Busy, which was shot on location in Ontario, Canada and directed by Little X, was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards in the categories Best Dance Video and Best New Artiste.

Get Busy was also a commercial success globally, topping charts in more than 10 countries. Among them are the Netherlands, Hungary and Italy.

Gold certifications were issued for the song having sold well in Austria, Australia, Denmark, France, Italy, Japan, Sweden, and Switzerland. In the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Norway, Get Busy has been certified platinum.

In 1967, Penn had recorded a version of Willie Cobbs’ 1960 song You Don’t Love Me, which was based on Bo Diddley’s 1955 song, She’s Fine, She’s Mine. However, in 1993, Penn re-recorded the song for Steely and Clevie’s Play Studio One Vintage compilation.

The new version of You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No) became a hit stateside and was snapped up by Atlantic Records subsidiary Big Beat Records. The song raced to number three on the UK Singles chart, number 74 in Australia, number 13 in Austria, number eight in Belgium, number 41 in France, 38 in the Netherlands, 25 in New Zealand, and number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song was featured on Penn’s major label debut album No, No, No and it has been certified gold in the United Kingdom.

Penn performed the song at the BET Awards in 2014.

Other songs making the Billboard 500 Best Pop Songs List include Work by Rihanna featuring Drake (#368), Funky Town by Lipps Inc (#297), Someone Like You by Adele (#295), Best I Ever Had by Drake (#292), Every breath You Take by The Police (#287), This is How We Do It by Montell Jordan (#286), Levitating by Dua Lipa (#261), Beat it by Michael Jackson (#209), We Found Love by Calvin Harris and Rihanna (#107), and Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O’Connor (#87).

Among those making the top 10 are Billie Jean by Michael Jackson (#7), Like a Prayer by Madonna (#6), I Want it That Way by The Backstreet Boys (#4) and Dancing Queen by ABBA (number 2).

Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) is number one on the list.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Business, Latest News
‘Grandma was right’: Christopher Williams bats for real estate investment
December 14, 2025
Christopher Williams is encouraging persons across the region to consider real estate investment for strong returns while hedging against inflation. T...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Investigation ongoing after student allegedly ‘pushed’ from bus, says JUTC
Latest News, News
Investigation ongoing after student allegedly ‘pushed’ from bus, says JUTC
December 13, 2025
The Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited (JUTC) says investigations are still ongoing into the circumstances that led to a female student being repor...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
daCosta Cup semifinalists decided
Latest News, Sports
daCosta Cup semifinalists decided
PAUL A REID Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com 
December 13, 2025
Former champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), Dinthill Technical and Glenmuir as well as Kemps Hill High advanced to the final four of...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Excelsior round out Manning Cup semifinalists
Latest News, Sports
Excelsior round out Manning Cup semifinalists
December 13, 2025
Excelsior High clinched the last semifinal spot in the ISSA Wata Manning Cup on Saturday with a last gasp 1-0 win over Charlie Smith High at Wincheste...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
PM asks for residents’ cooperation amid imminent closure of Petersfield hurricane shelter
Latest News, News
PM asks for residents’ cooperation amid imminent closure of Petersfield hurricane shelter
Anthony Lewis, Observer writer 
December 13, 2025
WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness is asking hurricane-affected residents of Petersfield in Westmoreland for cooperation as Gove...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Police Federation expresses condolences following death of traffic cop
Latest News, News
Police Federation expresses condolences following death of traffic cop
December 13, 2025
ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — The Jamaica Police Federation has expressed condolences to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and colleagues of Constable Er...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Police warn against obstructing traffic
Latest News, News
Police warn against obstructing traffic
December 13, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) will be taking a zero-tolerance approach to persons who obstruct the free flow of traffic in ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Tony Roy reflects on ‘I’d Love You to Want Me’
Entertainment, Latest News
Tony Roy reflects on ‘I’d Love You to Want Me’
December 13, 2025
Whenever Tony Roy reflects on his career, he is likely to pinpoint 2025 as the year he got the big breakthrough. That came with I’d Love You to Want M...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct