Empathy brings Tanya near to tears

Tanya Stephens laughs as she says in a discussion about Do You Still Care? on a social-networking website "one man say me a use the song fi promote my Babylonian agenda. Say him a go tell him frien' fi stop play my music". Ironically, he worked as a disc jock somewhere in Los Angeles or California, a hot spot of the 'Babylonian' culture he was criticising.

However, Stephens says, "Me believe in social change for the better, and me believe change should always take place or the society going to be stagnant".

And, as she has no fixed set of songs that she presents on stage, Stephens says she does Do You Still Care? live semi-regularly.

"It depends on what's popular or if me think the message really needed thereso," Stephens said.

When she does perform Do You Still Care?, she said, "Sometimes mi see people a cry, me want to cry too, how it make mi feel bad. Unfortunately, me have empathy. It is one of the most powerful emotion that you can have".

The feeling comes from Jamaicans as well and Stephens says "the homophobic thing is not representative of all Jamaicans. Some express gratitude to hear a different opinion come out".

fearless

The Sunday Gleaner asks Stephens if she was concerned about doing Do You Still Care? - especially the verses about 'Bigga' - in a country where many performers have put their views against homosexuality on record.

"When I am writing I don't think about reaction at all. Writing is my expression entirely. The way them feel about my feelings, them no 'fraid fe express it. So me no see why me shoulda feel a way fe say how me feel," Stephens said.

"Most of that kind of song doesn't get as popular. People will listen it and respect it, but it doesn't come to the fore," Stephens said. Still, she reflects that Do You Still Care? did not come out as a single, so it is possibly a factor hindering its popularity.

- MC