7 News Belize

Can you Sing, “I Am Belize”?
posted (August 3, 2010)
The Restore Belize project was launched in June but since then not much has been heard. But now they want you to hear them very regularly, in a song called "I am Belize."

There's something for everyone in the catchy tune which is sung in English, Garifuna, and Spanish with a rap to round it off.

Something for everyone, and the pride inspiring tune was launched with a new logo today. We got a first listen and look today:...

Emaun Hyde Reporting
With its pulsing beat, catchy chorus and all star cast, including Tanya Carter, Mr.Program, Supa G, Shawn Saldano, and Titiman Flores, "I Am Belize" is a song that is crafted to be irresistibly catchy. Tanya Carter, was commissioner the songwriter and she told us what she was after:....

Tanya Carter
"Came up with something that could inspire young people and older people and also I wanted to captivate how we could say positive without being negative and with saying the different problems in Belize. I didn't want to get too logy or sad about the different things that happening in Belize. I just wanted to stay on a positive note, a powerful note. The first initial reaction that I got when I heard the song, I got cold seed not because it's my song, it's because it starts really powerful like a ballad and then it goes straight into soca and its like wow. The first reaction that any other person would get is happiness. It's a party tune. After a while when you really start to get into the lyrics, like you start to learn the lyrics to a song. we wanted it to have an infectious beat so that we can have something powerful to say."

Another artist that participated in the production is Berne Velasquez. Perpetual hypeman that he is, he shared with us his thoughts

Berne Velasquez
"To me it's the hypest and the best thing and is something that is needed right now in Belize with what's going on and the way how we want to make a change and make a difference; this is the song. I am honored to be a part of this song; I am actually honored to be a part of this song because it's like the biggest collaborative effort of Belizean artists. This song represents the artist that came before us that have been fighting for artist to come together and it's definitely represents the future. Young Shawn came through and bless the song with a real prolific voice and it's like now is the time for us to embrace each other and move forward in a loving way and to just be happy to be in Belize and to embrace Belize. This is our Belize, I am Belize."

But more than just a song, it is a theme song for the Restore Belize project and program director Mary Vasquez, told us what they hope to achieve:

Mary Vasquez, Restore Belize Project and Program Director
"What Restore Belize is about? It's about transforming society creating a society that is peaceful, where are all Belizeans feel that this a comfortable home for them where they have economic opportunities, where you are safe to go to school, so given the situation we are in now where there is actually a lot of negative things happening. We really felt that we need to provide a special impetus to the social transformation and that impetus would be through the public education campaign. The public education is seeking specifically to have Belizeans change their attitudes and change their social behaviors to behaviors that are supportive of a democratic and peaceful society."

Emaun Hyde
"And how do you think this song will help that? Help pushing the message that you guys are trying to get across to Belizeans."

Mary Vasquez
"Belizeans love music. Belizeans are dancing sometimes before they can walk, you'll see little babies bobbing to the music, so music is a big part of our life and so music and song is a way to get a message across. When you hear it, you feel the joy of being Belizean, you feel I am Belize and you just feel happy and you want to celebrate just being Belizean."

And while the upbeat song does inspire - the real test for Project Restore Belize will be whether it can inspire change....

The campaign is a collaborative effort of the BTB, NICH, and RESTORE Belize.

The song was performed by Tanya Carter, Shawn Saldano, Berne Velasquez, Supa G, Mr.Program, Titiman Flores, and Captain Roby.

It is in regular rotation on radio but not yet availabe for purchase. The I am Belize campaign is currently working on a video for the song.

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