When of-the-moment singer Tessanne Chin was invited to be the only performer at the PUMA/Team Jamaica Olympic after-party in Beijing, Jamaican’s were left with their mouths agape.
Tessanne is by no means your run-of-the-mill artiste – but let’s be serious. no one can deny that this sizzling songbird is talented and able to hold her own, and a note. The shapely 20-something woman is bringing the sounds of alternative music to our indeginous reggae sounds and people are liking it, clearly evidenced by the success of her singles Messenger, BlackBooks, and the run-away-make-you-want-to-grab-the-person-next-to-you-and-hug-them-track that everyone knows, Hideaway.
She spoke to Observer last week about her experience, and as she brought the scenes of the country that temporarily became the centre of the world closer to this writer than ever before, the slight shrill in her voice as she excitedly relays her experience, is evidence that Tessanne Chin is a real person.
“Oh my goodness, it was absolutely great,” the soulful artiste exclaimed on the phone.
“This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, because I finally got to really connect with that side of my heritage,” Chin said.
Of Chin’s sightseeing escapades in Beijing, she says her visit to the Forbidden City was most exciting.
The Forbidden City, which was the Chinese imperial palace from the mid-Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty, is located in the Dongcheng District, in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum. For almost five centuries, it served as the home of the Emperor and his household, as well as the ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government, and normal people were not allowed in.
“I mean, the attention to detail, just everything about the visit was mind-blowing. I love it,” she said.
Tessanne also toured the Summer Palace, and certainly had her fill of real Chinese cuisine, which she also said was exciting.
Speaking of exciting, Tessanne could not begin to explain how thrilling her performance at the PUMA/Team Jamaica after-party was.
“The crowd was so diverse, and fun to perform to,” she began.
“And our amazing athletes, Usain (Bolt) took on the role of being DJ for the night, so yeah, that made it even more exciting.”
And how was the Olympic champion and world record holder for the 100-metre and 200-metre events on the wheels of steel?
A sharp giggle, morphs into a small laugh and gives way to “he did well. The whole club was having fun.”
So, she’s back, and for now Tessanne Chin will be known as Jamaica’s Messenger to China. not a bad title at all.
Source: JamaicaObserver