Twenty years ago, Welcome to Jamrock by Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley and We Be Burnin by Sean Paul, were tearing up charts in America and Europe.
Both songs, which have earned multiple music certifications, are ranked among the 100 Best Songs of 2005, released by Billboard magazine on April 15.
Welcome to Jamrock, which won the Grammy Award in 2006 for Best Urban/Alternative Performance, is ranked at #25 on the Billboard list.
In an interview with Aspen Times in August 2005, Marley spoke about the hit song.
“This is a song about what Jamaicans are living, as opposed to what tourists get. Real Jamaicans don’t get the tourist experience, the beach package,” Marley told the publication.
Welcome to Jamrock is featured on the gold-selling Grammy winning album of the same name. The song peaked at #28 in Hungary, #76 in the Netherlands, #13 in the United Kingdom, #55 on the US Billboard Hot 100, #18 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and #12 on Hot Rap Songs.
It has been certified gold in the United Kingdom and Brazil and was ranked at #270 on Pitchfork Media’s Top 500 Songs of the 2000s list.
Renaissance Disco’s Delano Thomas, who along with Michael ‘Factor’ Jarrett and Andre Saunders produced Sean Paul’s We Be Burnin, the first single from Sean Paul’s 3rd studio album, The Trinity, was upbeat when he learnt of the song’s #86 placement on the Billboard list.
He said the overall production of the song and the vibes helped to make it the international hit that it became.
“Well, we knew the song sounded and felt good after we put the mix and touches to the production, but we didn’t know that it would connect with the new generation. What was special about the song that made it a hit, was the production and structure. The rhythm (Stepz) was hot, the happy good feeling of the song, and of course Sean Paul putting down the vibes,” Delano told Observer Online.
We Be Burnin was recorded at the Renaissance studio. Thomas recalled working with Sean Paul on the track.
“We always had a good vibe with Sean and the Dutty Cup Crew from start, and its always fun working with him,” said Thomas.
We Be Burnin is the biggest solo hit for Sean Paul, having topped out at #2 on the UK Singles chart in 2005. It also reached the Top Ten in 10 other countries including the United States (Billboard Hot 100), Germany, Italy and Ireland.
The video accompanying the song, was shot in Southern California in the desert and it was directed by Jessy Terrero.
The song has been certified gold in Canada, Denmark, Germany, Japan and the UK. Over in the US, it received a platinum certification.
Other songs making the Billboard 100 Best Songs of 2005 list include Pon De Replay by Rihanna (#6), Let Me Love You by Mario (#27), 1 Thing by Amerie (#20), Gold Digger by Kanye West and Jamie Foxx (#4), Mariah Carey’s comeback hit We Belong Together (#3) and Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefanie (#2).
Mr Brightside by The Killers is #1 on the list.