‘Where are you now’ painful song for Singing Melody after son’s passing

Early in November, entertainer Singing Melody lost his son to a gunman’s bullet, and ever since, a song that he had recently recorded with his group LUST, and was loving, has become almost “distasteful”.

Titled, Where are you now, the theme of the song is centred around offering comfort and hope to those who are experiencing the pain caused by the death of a relative or friend. The intro states, “ I’d like to dedicate this song to just about everybody who has lost a loved one, even a friend. I know what that means …. this one is for you.”

“Yuh know, this single was recorded long before I lost my son,” Singing Melody told The Gleaner after LUST’s magical performance at the Love Jamaica Music and Food Festival last Saturday at the UWI Bowl.

“It was out and we [LUST] were just feeling it and loving it. And then I lost my son in the middle of that and then the song just become distasteful because part of the song is representing you losing someone and it became painful for me,” the Always Missing You singer said.

Singing Melody, whose real name is Everton Hardweare, recalled that the first time he sang Where are you now, following the death of his son, he broke down.

“Literally, that was the first time I cried since my son has passed,” Melody said, trying to sound strong.

Part of the lyrics state, “ I heard you went away that you found a better place but I hope that I am not too late to tell you that I am missing you everything we said and do. Where are you now? Only God knows. Wish I had more time that we could share I’d spend it all with you to show how much I care.”

Kemar Hardweare, 35, was one of eight persons shot in a drive-by shooting incident on Bowens Road in St Andrew on Saturday, November 2. Two persons, including Kemar, who operated a bar in the community, succumbed to their injuries.

“All now some of the other people who were injured still in hospital,” Singing Melody lamented.

Shot twice before

The singer recalled that when his son called and told him that he was opening a bar and asked for a “strength” his advice to him was to leave the community with his young child and his mother. Prior to the incident which claimed Kemar’s life, he had been shot twice before, and Singing Melody was devastated that his son didn’t heed the warnings. He shared that his son wanted to live in the area, even though he didn’t have to and for his own peace of mind he wanted him to leave.

“Kemar started having kids late in life … so I have only one grandson from him. But ... yuh know, such is life. I was always willing to assist him and he knew this, that’s why he felt comfortable to reach out to me for a strength,” the entertainer explained, adding that his son was “a good youth who simply wanted to earn an honest living”.

Despite the song leaving a bad taste in Singing Melody’s mouth at present, plans for the rollout of the music video are going full speed ahead. The video was shot last week and Where are you now is available on all digital platforms.

“Music has been a part of our life and that’s why we make certain songs because it’s words ... and using words to help people and strengthen people is such a blessing. We are grateful for our fan base that has been there for decades supporting us,” said Singing Melody who, like the other members of the group, has a successful solo career.

Eager to exchange the painful memories for happy talk, Melody, who was also celebrating his birthday on Saturday night, added, “Every time I go on stage with LUST it is magical to me. It is a moment that I always cherish. You heard me say it on stage … these guys are my brothers, we grew up together. It’s always electrifying when I hear that I have a show with LUST. There is this little special bubble in me that burst. We might not be the number one artiste, but we are the number one performers.”

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com