Remember back in the day when the main music associated with political parties were already hit songs? For example in 1993 when the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) used the Terror Fabulous and Nadine Sutherland hit Action or more recently when they used TOK's Chi Chi Man in the North East St. Ann by-elections on their campaigns. Well this time around the two major political parties are using original tunes.

The catchy ditties that run the whole gamut of reggae to soca and everything in between have been getting plenty of radio time with their musical ads. The JLP has among others the very popular Who Yuh Voting For? While PNP Massive is one of the favourites from the slew of People's National Party (PNP) songs.

"They are different," said one listener. "Is really the first time I hear the parties putting out their songs as ads," she continued. Alwyn, another listener, says he first really liked the JLP's song but now he is on the fence because he thinks all the songs are good. "Boy when I first heard Who yuh voting for, I said yeah man this can gwaan, and then I heard the PNP one which say 'wave yuh hand and say PNP, jump around and say PNP' ­ and I really like that one too. In fact the two of them good and me sing the two of them."

So why have the two major parties decided to use more of their own songs than to go the past route of using already popular songs? According to a spokesperson from the JLP "We have always used official tunes for our campaign, what is different this time around is the heavy use of the songs as advertisements."

For the PNP the move to use the songs as advertisements was very deliberate according to Shocking Vibes CEO, Patrick Roberts ­ who happens to be running for the party for the North West Central St. Andrew constituency. "As a record producer, I don't want any entertainer's songs to be used for any political messages without their knowledge or consent, so as a result we chose to write and voice our own songs."

Mr. Roberts has produced three of the PNP's advertisements. These are Don't Stop the Progress, "We did the Planting" and a remake of Neville Martin's My Leader Born Ya. For the latter Mr. Roberts said it "was re-recorded with a fresh sound. The same lyrical content but we added today's technology as well as a deejay section."

Mr. Roberts told The Sunday Gleaner that every PNP candidate has a copy of this song.

Describing the creative process of making the advertisements, Mr. Roberts said that they are all in fact full-length songs. "The songs are all full-length, about three and a half minutes, but we bring them down to 60 second advertisements. We pull out the chorus and the important parts of the song and then put it in a system called Pro Tools to make it a one minute advertisement," said Mr. Roberts. "We also used the singer and deejay combination which is so popular right now. And in writing the songs we made certain to keep pushing the solid achievements message."

For their part the JLP songs are all along the theme of 'Make The Change'. In a recent interview, sitting Member of Parliament for Central St. Catherine, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange said that, "Our theme is that Jamaica should make the change happen now, it is a call to action for the populace. The JLP already has a CD with four tracks out including Who Yu Voting For?, the hip-hop and dancehall versions of No PNP and Conscious Leader.

In the past the party has had songs such as Deliverance is Near and this they say will be added to their new songs. "We are using original songs, but we will also release songs we've released in the past such as Deliverance is Near and Spread Out," Ms. Grange said.

So how did they get artistes to put their voices on songs that espoused the views of political parties? Mr. Roberts told The Sunday Gleaner that apart from Neville Martin, they stayed away from using already known artistes.

"Neville Martin who already had My Leader Born Yah from in the '70s was the only big artiste that we use. The others were artistes who have not yet got their break, so we voiced them." He added that, "we don't release the names of the artistes unless they want them to, so if they want to tell people that they did the song that is up to them."

Neville Martin admits that he has been branded as a political singer and says that he does not

mind. "It was my choice from the beginning. I mean when they first used My Leader Born Yah, it was not written for that purpose, but I did not mind them using it."

Since that time he has done a few other songs for the PNP including No Mr. I.M.F, Stand Firm and this year's Don't Stop The Progress.

Mr. Martin has admitted though that his musical association with the PNP over the years has hurt his career. "Well to be honest with you it is a hindrance but as I have said it was my choice and I am not sorry that I have done it."

The JLP says that they have never really sought out any particular person to do their songs, "We just look for local talent and have them come in and do our songs" said a spokesman.

One of the artistes who voiced an advertisement for the JLP said he is not open to being identified. "People don't know seh is me did do it, and I not telling anybody because me fraid. Dem might come kill me or something so me nah tell nuhbody."

He claims that he is not a supporter of any party and when he was first approached to do the song he was very hesitant. "At first me neva' waan do it still, but dem tell me seh it woulda criss and so me do it. Me get a food offa it, so me voice it."

The JLP says that a new song will hit the airwaves tomorrow to coincide with Nomination Day and with a song they expect the PNP to be releasing soon. For their part the PNP is tight-lipped about any new releases but say that 'something is in the works.'

Thus far though, both parties are pretty pleased with their releases. For the JLP Ms. Grange says, "We like our product so far." While the PNP spokesperson said, "Our songs are very good and very popular - we are very pleased with what we have done."