The finals of Season 5 of NBC's The Voice [1] are in progress – and Caribbean netizens are already glued to their television sets, smart phones close at hand, waiting to see if Jamaican vocal powerhouse #Tessanne Chin will win. In the final face off on Monday night, social media users were practically live (micro)blogging the show, commenting on everything from song delivery to the stage presence of the three contenders [2].
Jamaica has naturally been supportive of Tessanne [3] from the outset of the competition; with her constant progression to the finals, the country – like the rest of the regional blogosphere – is in the grip of Tessanne fever:
Night time in Kingston watching #tessannechin [4] on #TheVoice [5]. I can understand now why the whole of #jamaica [6] is rooting for #tessannetowin [7]
— Fiona Anderson (@fionaatweets) December 11, 2013 [8]
Her tribute to Whitney Houston on Monday night with a perfect rendition of I Have Nothing [9] marked her attempt “to go out with a bang” – by the next morning, her version of the song was Number 1 on the iTunes singles chart [10].
Tonight, Tessanne sang a duet with Celine Dion [11], one of her idols, and Twitter has been going crazy in anticipation of the Jamaican singer's victory…
#thevoice [12] #tessannechin [4] #teamtess [13] #jamaica [6] #jamaican [14] #celinedeon [15]. Tessanne and Celine Deon. Boom.… http://t.co/VrCA9nc38c [16]
— fyah_d (@dameonb1) December 18, 2013 [17]
Whoa! Go, @Tessanne [18]! Holding your own with Celine Dion!!! #TeamTessanne [19]
— Kellie Magnus (@kelliemagnus) December 18, 2013 [20]
but y'all watching #TheVoice [5] rightnow ?! #TessanneChin [21] just killed it .
#jamaica [6] is turnt rightnow
— Kodyann (@kodiikinz_x3) December 18, 2013 [22]
Sending good vibes to #TheVoice [5] #TessanneChin [21] What an amazing talent. #Jamaica [23] in the house. Good luck tonight #Tessane [24].
— VACA (@VACAORG) December 18, 2013 [25]
The voice season finale tonight I'm so excited for Tessane I hope she wins #TheVoice [5] #TessanneChin [21] #Jamaica [23]
— Karry F (@iSassy_Karetha) December 18, 2013 [26]
wow I jus realize tht #Jamaica [23] has the #fastestman [27] , the #fastestwoman [28] an last but not least #TheVoice [5] best ever performer #TessanneChin [21]
— Venessa Baker (@fluffyvb) December 18, 2013 [29]
When tessane win Jamaica Is going to be one big parade. #jamaica [6] #TheVoice [5] #TheVoiceFinale [30] #TessanneChin [21]
— Shinelle (@S_dior) December 18, 2013 [31]
Tessanne herself stayed humble and gracious, tweeting just minutes after her performance with Dion:
Absolutely speechless Miss @celinedion [32] thank you for making my dream Come true :) you are even more amazing in person!!! It was an honour:)
— Tessanne Chin (@Tessanne) December 18, 2013 [33]
Her natural affability has captivated netizens across the region:
.@Tessanne [18] I love your spirt, your vibe and your humility. <3 #TeamTessanne [19] #TeamAdam [34] @adamlevine [35]
— Robyn (@radrc) December 18, 2013 [36]
Many twitter users – including Jimmy Cliff [37], the internationally lauded Jamaican singer with whom Tessanne honed her skills as his backup singer, reminded #TeamTessanne [38] fans to vote for her:
Please vote for Tessanne Chin! She can get it if you really want! #jamaica [6] #TessanneChin [21] #thevoice [12] #finishline [39] http://t.co/Ny7zxOLUZF [40]
— Jimmy Cliff (@THEJIMMYCLIFF) December 17, 2013 [41]
Tamo-J lamented that it took a contest like The Voice to make Jamaicans appreciate their own:
Congrats @Tessanne [18], but I just wish it didn't take this for Jamaica(ns) to recognize their own talent! #Jamaica [23] #TessanneChin [21] #TheVoice [5]
— Tamo-J (@OfficialTamoJ) December 17, 2013 [42]
Even Jamaican politicians were getting in on the action:
Tonight is your night @Tessanne [18]. You are my winner and Jamaica's winner. You've made us all proud. #TeamTessanne [19] AH
— Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) December 18, 2013 [43]
The online discussion soon got to the point where several Twitter users announced that #TeamTessanne was trending:
#TeamTessanne [19] IS TRENDING #1 WORLDWIDE !! WE DID IT!!!!
Follow I am a Jamaican https://t.co/Hixh8aKS9Q [44] http://t.co/JlblS1uxAV [45]
— I AM A JAMAICAN (@IamaJamaican) December 18, 2013 [46]
TESSANNE IS NUMBER 1 TRENDING TOPIC #POW [47] #TeamTessanne [19]
— ♛Dj Duff♛ (@Venom_Unit) December 18, 2013 [48]
Another Caribbean-born talent who won the hearts and votes of US and Caribbean viewers by winning the last season of Project Runway, Anya Ayoung-Chee [49], tweeted:
I'm dying that I'm in LA and can't see @Tessanne [18] win live!!!! #TeamTessanne [19] you have won already in all our hearts! Simply AMAZING!!!
— Anya Ayoung-Chee (@AnyadeRogue) December 18, 2013 [50]
@outlishmagazine added:
Is anyone in the Caribbean not backing #TeamTessanne [19]?
— Outlish.com (Karel) (@outlishmagazine) December 18, 2013 [51]
As the moment for the announcement of the winner drew closer, the tweets became more anticipatory – and humourous:
RT @thecocomag [52]: On the edge of our seats! #TheVoice [5] #TeamTessanne [19] #TeamAdam [34] #TessanneChin [21] #Jamaica [23] #Caribbean [53] #TheCOCOMAG [54]
— Renee Melissa (@COCOLadyNay) December 18, 2013 [55]
JA we have this!!!! #TheVoice [5] #Jamaica [23] #TessanneChin [21]
— ♕ CℂℙP ♕ ♥ (@CarlaPolishh) December 18, 2013 [56]
Portia a raise tax tomorrow if tessanne lose #TeamTessanne [19] #theVoices [57]
— Trill Nigga Tyrese™ (@Chroniq_DT) December 18, 2013 [58]
Some netizens were getting impatient:
RFT "@ShaaDeaanie_ [59]: Can they just announce the damn winner already #TeamTessanne [19] #TheVoiceFinale [30]"
— Real Yawdie (@Kisharia_Ja) December 18, 2013 [60]
Way too much fluff. Release #TeamTessanne [19]
— Jason McKenzie (@macobee) December 18, 2013 [61]
Others – including Tessanne's husband Michael Cuffie – were sidetracked by the car giveaway segment and Tessanne's comment about Jamaica's bad roads:
No… Tessanne never jus loud up we road dem pon international TV lol I love it #TeamTessanne [19]
— Michael A Cuffe (@CuffeStuff) December 18, 2013 [62]
Tess just ago mek the world know bout we moon crater pothole #TheVoice [5] #TeamTessanne [19]
— Reneé Johnson (@RenzJ_) December 18, 2013 [63]
If dat "we have the worst roads" comment nuh mek dem shame and fix de road dem well I doan know what will #TeamTessanne [19]
— Badshah (@mhowian1972) December 18, 2013 [64]
Tessanne won the car and I'm sure she thought "how di hell me gonna clear dat ah wharf inna Jamaica" #teamtessanne [65]
— Garfene Grandison (@GARFENE) December 18, 2013 [66]
The energy on Twitter was palpable; Jamaican netizens were itching to celebrate:
Twitter tun right up man #TeamTessanne [19]
— Shellz (@Sheldon2121) December 18, 2013 [67]
I hope everyone at half way tree hav dem dutchie ready #TeamTessanne [19]
— Alisa Brooks (@leeyen007) December 18, 2013 [68]
Just say tessanne and start d party. #TEAMTESSANNE [69]
— Junior the GREAT!!! (@dukeofhellshire) December 18, 2013 [70]
Some felt though, that win, lose or draw, Tessanne was already on another level:
All wa gwan tessane is already a winner!! Her career nuh normal again! #TeamTessanne [19]
— I Am Jordan (@Dalyricist21) December 18, 2013 [71]
After Tessanne and her team sang Hold On, I'm Comin’, the comments kept coming:
And Tessanne also had the best 'bring back' performance. Insaneeeee. #TeamTessanne [19]
— Mar (@marjsams) December 18, 2013 [72]
Everybody betta hold on… Chinita Goodaz is coming, and she coming large #TeamTessanne [19] #TEAMADAM [73] @NBCTheVoice [74]
— Destiny (@KENZIIREBEL) December 18, 2013 [75]
When the announcement of Tessanne's win finally came, mere minutes to 11 p.m. Jamaica time, Twitter exploded:
And the people have spoken! Yes! Yes!! Yes!!! Congrats @Tessanne [18], #TeamTessanne [19], we made it happen! Dreams come true!
— Judith Williams (@judith_williams) December 18, 2013 [76]
Lawd mi heart a run over wid pride….#ProudJamaican [77] #TeamTessanne [19]
— Samantha Waugh (@waughsam) December 18, 2013 [78]
Thank you for an early Christmas gift @Tessanne [18] #TeamTessanne [19] CONGRATS!!!
— D.J. Shaw (@TheMrImage) December 18, 2013 [79]
.@Tessanne [18], you are Jamaica's darling. You have displayed true talent, and you have made us ALL proud! #TeamTessanne [19] #TeamJamaica [80]
— Kevin-Sean Hamilton (@k_seanDjPowa) December 18, 2013 [81]
@Kevin2woKrayzee remarked that:
When you have an entire country behind you there is no way you can lose. #TeamTessanne [19]
— Kevin2wokrayzee (@Kevin2woKrayzee) December 18, 2013 [82]
Trinidadian diaspora blogger Afrobella noted that it wasn't only Jamaica that supported Tessanne, it was the entire region:
Caribbean people! We do it big. Proud of Tessanne right now like I know her. And I know I'm not the only one feeling that way! #TeamTessanne [19]
— afrobella (@afrobella) December 18, 2013 [83]
One Twitter user made the observation that Tessanne's cause drew more people than usual onto social media platforms:
Seeing some people I haven't seen on twitter for years lol #TeamTessanne [19]
— KimmiSomm (@Cassy_Kimz) December 18, 2013 [84]
Another went back to Tessanne's coach Adam Levine's prediction when he first heard her sing at the show's blind auditions:
Congratulations Tessanne…like Adam said from the beginning "you can easily win the voice, there's not a doubt in my mind" #TeamTessanne [19]
— Karen R (@kbdimples107) December 18, 2013 [85]
@WorldReggaeBlog quipped:
It's pandemonium around the world for @Tessanne [18] #TeamTessanne [19] #ChinWinsIt [86]!
— ReggaeAroundtheWorld (@WorldReggaeBlog) December 18, 2013 [87]
The congratulatory tweets kept coming, but @tsahay summed up the feeling quite succinctly:
I am elated. So happy for @Tessanne [18] @Tessanne_Chin [88]. Proud of her and proud to be Jamaican. We small but we Tallowah! #TeamTessanne [19]
— Tsahay (@tsahay) December 18, 2013 [89]