Great technical execution, great performances all around, visual presentation spot on and glitch free, and a gigantic stage that rivals any major music event on the international scene were among the high points of Saturday’s staging of The Best Dressed Chicken Fun in the Son at the National Stadium.

Making its return in a big way since the novel coronavirus pandemic, Fun in the Son delivered the goods and much more to the massive crowd that came out. They were not disappointed.

Andrea McCurdy, member of the six-person Signature Women Worship Team, shared in a post-performance interview with the Jamaica Observer: “Being here today was really good to start the process, because we were the first ones out and we could establish the protocol for worship. Our job was to put the attention on the Lord, and the experience has been excellent.”

The backup singers work overtime to enhance the worship experience.

The ensemble guided the crowd in a spirited worship song medley.

The event went up a notch with the award-winning gospel artiste Prince Saj, who proceeded to unleash a musical fire that kept patrons on their feet throughout his set.

Armed with songs such as Fully Jesus, Godly Woman and Watch Yuh Step, Prince Saj had full command as he went to church to deliver his sermon.

Gospel artiste Dr Carlene Davis onstage at The Best Dressed Chicken Fun in the Son.

“This was a dream come true for me. All glory to God. When I was younger I said to myself that one day I’d like to perform inside the National Stadium, and now that dream has become reality. When I got the call to perform at this event I didn’t know how to react, and when I really found out the magnitude of this event, I was like, ‘Wow! How did I get here?’ And to be performing alongside legends in gospel music, all glory to God,” Prince Saj told the
Observer.

Multi-award-winning gospel vocalist Petra Kaye said that when she got the call to perform at the event she was both humbled and excited.

“Being on stage, the energy was good, it was evident that the spirit of the Lord was in the place. I feel blessed and I felt the love,” Petra Kaye shared.

She added: “What I’ve heard about this event is that it’s always a good show, and it’s all about giving back to Jamaica. I am honoured to be on the line-up.”

Her set was an uplifting one, which saw patrons dancing and singing along to songs such as Consuming Fire, Christ Alone and
Sovereign God.

This little one claps along with the worship songs

Jermaine Edwards took up the baton delivering a beautiful set that included the hit songs Make a Way, Hallelujah, and the 11-year-old hit Beautiful Day. A warm reception was received to Protection, which was released a week ago.

“The high point for me was being back with the people and just seeing them smile and the appreciation that they gave,” said Edwards.

Dr Carlene Davis soared alongside her background vocalists with This Island Needs Jesus, The Assignment, One Day at a Time, and Goodness of God on her musical voyage.

“Just seeing the people worship with us and singing along, lifting their hands and saying ‘Lord I thank you,’ I just wanted to do songs that connect with the hearts and minds,” said Davis.

She had some words for people who were not in attendance.

“Who didn’t come, mi sorry fi yuh. You missed a great celebration of praise and worship, as well as the day’s activities such as the Children’s Village, the job recruitment, the medical and dentistry and, of course, the food,” said Davis.

This was gospel singer Kevin Downswell’s fifth time performing at the event.

“Fun in the Son is like the stage that you want to be on. This one felt like the best one yet for me. My team is in a different place, my mind is in a different place, and my spirit is in a different place. We didn’t go up on that stage to do anything else but to bring God the glory and do it with style,” Downswell shared.

Dressed in a white jacket suit with red shirt, Downswell went to work ministering the word of the Lord. His background singers and musicians also strutted their stuff.

Stronger and Goodbye World were well-received.

Kevin Dowsnwell engages with fans during his set at The Best Dressed Chicken Fun in the Son..

“The faces of the people, the tears flowing, worshipping, those were what stood out most for me. It’s everything just being on a stage like this,” Downswell asserted.

Multi-Grammy-winning and platinum-selling American contemporary Christian music singer Toby Mac, a former member of the group DC Talk was also in fine form.

TobyMac, who is married to a Jamaican, said he has been to the island on several occasions.

“I’ve written so many songs here and I love the land, the people, and Jamaica has given me so much joy… it feels different here,” he said.

His high-energy set punctuated with songs such as the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) gold-certified Get Back Up and
Love Broke Thru earned him a new legion of fans. Patrons danced, sang, and had their hands in the air during his set.

“I enjoy telling people about Jesus. It’s not about me, it’s all about people’s eyes being open to the word of God,” said Toby Mac.

Recording artiste Kirk Franklin, one of the headliners of the staging, brought his energy Fun in the Son stage.

The 20-time Grammy-winning entertainer blessed the audience with his talent, at one point even playing on the keyboard and chatting with the audience.

He reeled off song such as Brighter Day, My Life is in Your Hands, and Looking For You.

He closed his set with the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs #1 hit Stomp.

Festival Director Danah Cameron, for her part, said: “What an amazing event! The artistes came out and just did an amazing job. I’m just so grateful that Jamaica came out and celebrated and gave God thanks with us.”

TobyMac connects with the National Stadium crowd.

“It takes many teams and many people to pull this off. [T]hanks to… all had a united vision and the willingness to say, how do we do it differently… and, importantly, how do we praise the Lord,” Cameron reasoned.

“The Best Dressed Chicken was involved as title sponsor in 2016 and then it changed to Jamaica Fun in the Son in 2018. There were smaller executions at the community level during COVID, so this is the first big one in a long time. And, for us, because it was our 65th anniversary, it was an opportunity for us to give thanks to Jamaica…”