Avellon Williams
JAMAICA- Thousands of people around the world have been touched by a youngster’s rendition of “It’s A Beautiful Day”, a song that has become a worldwide anthem due to his use of music to improve his educational performance in primary school.
Now age 16, at the age of 10, Rushawn Ewears sang Beautiful Day, composed by Jamaican gospel singer Jermaine Edwards, during lunchtime at Top Hill Primary School in St Elizabeth during lunchtime with his former principal Cavene Bisasor-Headlam.
The youngster had everything against him, and she describes his story as one of “rags to riches”.
“Academically, he was not doing well, and he was at the lowest socio-economic level, but, because he wanted to write and sing his own songs, he decided he had to learn to read,” the educator recalled.
There have been music lovers from Malaysia, Indonesia, Africa, parts of Europe, North, South, and Central Americas, as well as the Caribbean who have contributed to Rushawn’s rendition becoming an overnight hit.
It has been said that he has been a blessing to the world, especially at a time when the spirit of the world needs to be lifted.
“There is an innocence in his voice. I wonder if he knows how many hearts he has touched? This song puts me in tears almost every single time I listen,” said one YouTube user, a sentiment echoed by many others.
In the past, Rose Binns, Rushawn’s teacher at the time, described how he and his brother would find their way to school with no shoes or money to buy lunch, just to sing to their classmates.
“When he started singing, the students would gravitate towards him, and that motivated him. He was bent on being the star performer in front of his personal audience,” she told The Gleaner, adding that the young man, who is now a student at B.B. Coke High School, could be heard across the classes.
“His classmates would use the desks as drums,” she added.
The stardom Rushawn craved suddenly descended on him, and it is unknown if he has received royalties for the use of his voice on several remixes.
In total, more than 14.8 million people have viewed It’s a Beautiful Day on TikTok, and different versions have been viewed more than 8 million times on YouTube up to Sunday evening.
A portion of the success of the song can be attributed to South African singer David ‘The Kiffness’ Scott, who spoke to The Gleaner from his home.
While he has never met Rushawn in person, he adds that it is likely that they will meet in the future.
“We are planning a real-life union at some point,” said The Kiffness.
Meanwhile, a number of bands are accused of exploiting Rushawn’s song to gain exposure without supporting him. Two fake GoFundMe campaigns purporting to collect donations for Rushawn were also launched.
His family had not authorized any fundraiser on his behalf, he said on his Instagram page @rushawn.ewears on Sunday afternoon.
According to Rushawn’s page, he and his mother registered his rendition of the tract with the Jamaica Music Society and collected royalties.
In response to The Gleaner’s inquiry, Jermaine Edwards declined to comment.
