Ding Dong Brings “Happiness” And “Bounce” To Jamaican Graduation Ceremonies

It is high school graduation time in Jamaica again, and so far Ding Dong’s recently-released tracks Bounce and Happiness appear to be songs of choice being used by school principals to bring irie vibes and much dancing to graduations across Jamaica.

From the early childhood, primary and high school levels, the notion that clean, fun, music is not in high demand and crassness is what is being embraced, is being debunked.

Ding Dong has been re-sharing videos of graduating students from primary schools, Hydel High, Holmwood Technical and even basic schools dancing up a storm to Bounce.

“Every graduation right now!!!! What a blessing 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥,” he shared in one post.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfly3bhu8XY/

In one video which he shared, of a basic school graduation, a group of five-year-olds dance and prance gleefully to the Happiness track, as if there was no tomorrow.

Ding Dong’s fans, in response heaped praises on the Nannyville native for continuously creating Dancehall songs that are pleasing to the ear, fit for public airplay, and which can be enjoyed by all ages, without censorship.

“This is the kind of music we need, the kind that people of all age group even the Christians, the kind that will bring a positive impact peace, happiness and unity among our people and the world at large. Thank you for all the positive songs you create if the world had more artiste like you it would be a better place. Your songs bring joy to my soul #Happiness,” j_ennel said.

“Yaalll need to give this man his roses 🌹 most influential dancehall artist(in the dancing category). Music always appropriate for all ages. Always from the streets, to the prime minister, to the schools even in church if possible lol.🙌🏾🙌🏾Always so simple and fun!” another fan, prettytashauna noted.

As the cheers for Ding Dong continued, some fans said that he was a breath of fresh air and a blessing to the Dancehall genre.

“When u song can play anywhere even in infant school.that speaks value 🔥🔥🙌🙌🙌❤️❤️❤️..#Growth,” Nessa_in_fullforce said, while pg hardy added: “What a blessing to make music where ages 0-100 can enjoy freely without censorship.”

“Jah know Ding! Is like yuh a save dancehall!”editallinc noted while hottasfilyfe added: “Whoever said that clean fun music was not in demand come look over here 🔥🔥🔥🔥.

Others said that Ding Dong’s songs were proof that he understands the essence of the Dancehall genre.

“dingdongravers 😎🇯🇲🇯🇲 Thank you for making DANCING shunes that represent why reggae was created in the first place! “Happiness” Big up from Costa Rioca,” aishathesong said.

“Mi love it .. see why artist fi do good music it’s the children who enjoy it the most,” bless_boy_junior.

The hook from Ding Dong’s Happiness, was also interpolated by the Jamaica College’s graduating class of 2022, who sang: “happiness, we jus a pree success, couple grade ones and a couple millions, an dat a fi wi business/Just try wi a reach to di sky/nawmal a lie”, to the delight of their family and friends in attendance.

Masicka is also delighting in the sampling of his song History as a graduation song for this year’s cohort of boys who have completed their studies at the Hope Road-based institution.  They shared a clip of the JC Boys singing the song’s hook, which they had interwoven with Happiness, belting out “history wi meckin out here” along with Happiness which they performed as a medley.

This, though, is not the first time Ding Dong’s songs have been heard blaring through the speakers at graduation ceremonies.

In 2019, the last time graduations were held face-to-face, his songs were given eminence during graduation ceremonies, at even some of Jamaica’s most esteemed academic institutions.

Ding Dong had beamed with pride after St. Georges College’s graduating class of 2019, sampled his Good Ting Dem single, belting out the song on the podium while dancing and rocking to the beat as videographers rushed to record the action.

“I don’t think they understand the levels to my music. St. Georges College graduation… the good thing dem…everybody snapping,” he had written under a video repost of the performance.

His compatriot Govana was also in celebration mode at the time, and uploaded a video with students from Clarendon College in their traditional blue and gold gowns, belting out the lyrics of his song Champ during their graduation ceremony.

Koffee’s Toast, though, was the staple song at graduation ceremonies all across the length and breadth of Jamaica in 2019 including Robert Lightbourne High School in St. Thomas, where graduates danced to the hit song instead of doing the traditional slow-march graduation walk, and Holy Trinity High School graduating class which did a rendition which saw the audience erupting in cheers when they ended.

The phenomenon of Dancehall being incorporated in official school ceremonies such as graduations could perhaps be attributed to Television Jamaica’s (TVJ) highly popular All Together Sing choir competition for secondary schools.

In the annual competition, high school choirs vie for top honours in performances which integrate mainly Jamaican genres of music ranging from Dancehall, Reggae, Ska, Mento, Rocksteady and traditional folk forms in the weekly nationally televised programme.