One of the country’s top entertainers is saying an extra special “thank you” to frontline workers while reminding them that they are not alone.
It was last Friday that Edwin Yearwood made public a cover version of Simon & Garfunkel’s 1970 mega-hit Bridge Over Troubled Water.
From the time it was made public it went viral. Barbados TODAY was the first media outlet to post the video on its social media platform Facebook. Within the first hour, the video was seen 5, 000 times, and as of Wednesday morning, it had reached close to 200, 000 viewers in less than a week.
When Bajan Vibes spoke with Edwin, he said he never envisioned such a huge reception in such a short space of time. But most touching for him was the response and gratitude from frontline workers both here and abroad.
“Since the release of the video, I have been doing plenty of online interviews and getting so much thanks and appreciation from the actual frontline workers, both here and overseas. Many called or sent messages with tears in their eyes and cracked voices sobbing, telling me thank you.
“They felt nobody cared or nobody appreciated what they faced but the magic for me was them realising through the song how much we as a nation truly appreciated them all. It just brought massive awareness from both sides that we were all in this together. So what started as a song to show support became something that woke people up to show gratitude and kindness from both sides,” the renowned entertainer said.
The COVID-19 crisis continues to cripple the world and has caused countries to press their frontline workers into harsher than normal circumstances. As of Monday, 5,039 people have died and 9,018 cases have been confirmed in Latin America and the Caribbean. In Barbados, we have recorded six deaths, 76 confirmed cases with 27 people recovering.
Edwin explained that it was on Good Friday that he was thinking of songs to give encouragement to frontline workers who were getting by with very little fanfare for their hard work.
He recalls that he was speaking to some members from the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) who thought of singing some hymns for Easter Sunday. But he thought that it could make people more aware of the tireless work of frontline staff.
“People very close to me and many I knew were giving me horrifying stories of having to directly deal with people who had tested positive. I spoke to a friend who had to stay home from work. She is a frontline worker but was told to stay home as she was high risk. Within days, people very close to her, who worked with her, had stopped communicating with her. Days passed nothing. She called me to talk. Within hours, she got the news that she had lost a very close friend in the line of duty. That person had succumbed to the virus, being exposed while doing their work.”
The multi-award winning artiste continued: “I also spoke to someone else close, who, every day, was treating people who had tested positive and worked long hours isolated from her family but getting up and going to work because she loves nursing; [she gave] not a second thought about if she caught it. That is a higher level of superheroes. I thought then of the song and called my friend and played it for her. She said it was one of her favourite songs. I played it for both and they were so grateful I decided I’d record it for everyone and hope it had the same effect to show support to all frontline workers,” said the lead singer of the band Krosfyah.
Edwin, who is also known as The General in entertainment spheres, said this particular project was especially dear to his heart for other obvious personal reasons as well.
“As someone who worked at Star Discount dealing with people, and at the mercy of the law, the customer is always right. I spoke to merchandisers who were always exposed and to cashiers too. Some of them are actually scared but get up and go to work so I could understand their concerns as they hoped every day not to catch the virus.”
The acclaimed singer, whose main genre of music has been soca for the past 30 years, said at the time he wasn’t thinking soca or ballad or any particular genre. All he knew was that that particular song spoke to him. He then researched it some more and thought it was fitting. He explained that he thought people needed it right away, therefore sitting and penning a new song was not an option. The next move was production.
“I called DJ Bubbles [Kevin Marshall] about the song and asked if he could record my vocals as social distancing was implemented. It was a concern, but we worked out the best way and recorded the vocals. Then the challenge was the video. I thought a video would make people feel and understand more what these people had to deal with from doctors to nurses to security to police to postal workers to supermarket employees to sanitation to the bus driver and the utility employee. They are all more at risk, some more than others.”
The entertainer explained: “A lot of the video was done through cell phone footage and people I saw on social media asking permission to use their pictures or asking some to send us pictures. Some didn’t get back to us but we had enough and got some doctors to take actual footage of staff at work directly in the firing line in Barbados mainly. We took a few days, talking every day, Selwyne Get Bizzy Browne and myself cussing out each other and getting on each other’s nerves. We all wanted to get the message out; things just fell into place. We even got Chris Allman involved to do another version.”
Edwin believes that while the COVID-19 virus has caused much pain and heartache due to the colossal loss of lives around the world, there is much “goodwill” coming to the fore.
“The virus has brought havoc to so many families and countries. We all have to start over, but we do not know-how. Whenever we do start over, we will be missing many innocent friends and family who did not deserve to die at the hands of a virus they had nothing to do with. At the same time though, I’m seeing some people become so much closer than we thought. There is a lot of goodwill out there as we keep each other’s company online. Some are even teaching and learning how to cook.”
The General said he strongly believes that entertainers have a key role to play in terms of helping the wider society get through this trying time.
“I believe it is our duty, as entertainers, to continue to entertain wherever possible to give people more reasons to not only stay home but to keep a smile on their faces and encourage unity. It’s our duty.”
Edwin, who was in high praise of Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley’s leadership, pledges to continue to help the country fight the deadly pandemic.
“It’s the first COVID project but I’m sure more will follow. It’s the only way to beat this together – by creating that environment of unity, peace and strength and support for each other. The Prime Minister is doing a fantastic job. We are learning as we go along, as it’s a new learning curve for us. I’m sure most feel comfortable with her efforts and guidance from her and her people. Whatever is required of myself and entertainers, the ones I know, we will be ready to help our nation however we can,” the artiste said. (IMC)
