Jamaicans complain about Hold You - Gyptian's hit tune racks up calls to Broadcasting Commission

The award-winning single Hold You by Reggae artiste Gyptian, was the most complained about song for 2010 according to latest data from the Broadcast Commission of Jamaica (BCJ).

The song received heavy charting and radio play during the summer months and got 15 per cent of the 27 complaints in June alone. The BCJ which regulates cable and broadcast media recorded these complaints in its Monitoring and Compliance Report for the April to June quarter released in December. It was the only 2010 quarterly report (between January to September) which contained song complaints.

The song would have angered some listeners as it is fit for airplay but equally suggestive as banned songs. The chorus includes a triple play on words that likens a hug to a sexual act. The BCJ Monitoring and Compliance Reports rarely singles out personalities and artistes in its quarterly report.

The complaints in June about Hold You equalled that of controversial talk-show host Kingsley 'Ragashanti' Stewart (in June), while surpassing those of controversial song Blood Cloth by artiste Lloyd Lovindeer and comments made by talk show-host Wilmot 'Mutty' Perkins.

The BCJ only said that persons had "concerns about lyrics in the song".

Hold You which has been released by VP Records, is currently charting on iTunes top-10 reggae singles charts. It is No 3 in France, No 3 in Canada, No 4 in Denmark, No 8 in Switzerland and holds the ninth spot in the US.

His album of the same name charts at number six on Billboard's Reggae Albums chart t (despite his album's release in August where it peaked at 2). "Not since 2003 has a locally based reggae artiste had that level of chart success," noted Billboard about Gyptian. That chart success has fuelled his online popularity which is reflected in the jump in his search traffic to mirror that of Vybz Kartel the most popular local based deejay. It indicates that more persons world-wide are searching for news and music from Gyptian than in 2009.

In October, Gyptian won the MOBO Award, in Britain, for Best Reggae Act. In November he won the Soul Train Music Awards for Best Reggae Act.

The single Hold You has resurrected his career from his debut hit Serious Times some five years ago. Since then, he has racked up a handful of minor hits including Mama Don't Cry, I Can Feel Your Pain and Beautiful Lady. Hold Yuh however, is his first global hit which has transcended the Jamaican Diaspora into the mainstream music markets. The fact that, unlike some other Jamaican dancehall artistes Gyptian still holds a valid US visa, which has allowed him to support his chart success with a relatively big US tour which started in July.

Gyptian was raised in the rural St Andrew by his Christian mother and Rastafari father. Gyptian, often wrapped shirts around his head in the style of an Egyptian pharaoh, which inspired his moniker. He honed his talent by singing at his mother's Sunday morning church services and at the Saturday night dances promoted by his father who owned the Sugar Stone sound system.

Source: Jamaica Observer