Getting the follow-up to a big hit song is one of music industry’s great pitfalls. Singer Egg Nog rocked the dancehall 20 years ago with Party Time, and although he has released solid singles since, none have duplicated that track’s success.

His latest song, Fool’s Heart, partially jabs those who have written him off. According to Egg Nog, the single “has brought a sick, dead man back to life”.

He did not disclose the reasoning behind that dire prognosis, but said given the opportunity, Fool’s Heart can revive the career that soared with Party Time in 2002. The song, recorded with deejay Danny English, was done on producer Steven “Lenky” Marsden’s massive Diwali rhythm.

Fool’s Heart, produced by Win Win Production, also hears Egg Nog expressing his spiritual side.

“Mi’s ah God-fearing yute. Most ah di yute dem now don’t seem to have dat kinda God love, an’ as a singer an’ writer, wi want to lead in dat way,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Egg Nog (real name: David Thomas) is originally from ‘Two Miles’ on Spanish Town Road. He began recording songs in 1989 but his initial effort, the Tony Tuff-produced Mr Wannabe, was never released.

Things changed in the 1990s when he cut a number of songs for different producers. They included collaborations with Danny English (A Wha’ dis God) and Baby Wayne (Gal a fi Hot) as well as the solo Get Away Driver which created ripples in British reggae circles.

Egg Nog’s big break came in 2002 when he and Danny English dropped the club-banging Party Time on the hit-laden Diwali. He revealed that he was not the first choice to accompany his longtime friend on the song.

“It wasn’t supposed to be me but ’cause me an’ English did have a flow, Lenky bring mi in an’ di song shot,” said Egg Nog.

Get Busy (Sean Paul), Sufferer (Bounty Killer) and No Letting Go (Wayne Wonder), and Party Time helped make Diwali the best-selling dancehall beat of all time. Egg Nog admits there was pressure to make another hit of that magnitude.

“Wi know sey dat cyaan happen every day, but a song like dis [Fool’s Heart] can gwaan wid a ting,” he said.