In the sweeping much-deserved, Caribbean and T&T euphoria over the Tessane Chin The Voice win I couldn't help but notice we Trinis don't seem to generate the same machinery and fuel for our own–Bunji Garlin's and Anya Ayoung Chee's online voting storms notwithstanding. We need as a nation to connect the dots more often and more scientifically when it comes to our champions. We need to claim our talents and genius and make noise about them.This is an attempt to put into perspective the number of achievements that T&T nationals and diaspora massive put on the international map in 2013. It's an impressive list–and far from complete.
We lead with Bunji Garlin and the global waves made by his song Differentology. The song won MTV Iggy's Song of the Year for international acts and Soul Train's Best International Performance award. The song punched out into mainstream US pop culture, being used by a flash mob in Long Island's MacArthur airport and was used in a Grey's Anatomy episode. The song was re-mixed by global DJ Major Laza and others who played it in raves internationally.
It won US hot hip-hop radio station's Hot 97 Battle of the Beats Competition where it outvoted Eminem and Dj Khaled. Differentology also became one of the NBA's favourite arena anthems, airing during the Brooklyn Nets vs Portland Trail Blazers game at Barclays Center and Toronto Raptors vs Miami Heat face-off.Bunji himself did a photo shoot with iconic pop culture photographer Jonathon Mannion.
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