THIS WEEK ON DIGICEL RISING STARS

Though the King of Pop is gone, his memory still lives on, as contestants brought their all to the stage in the best overall performance of the season, thus far.

Sunday’s Performance show of Digicel Rising Stars was dedicated to the memory of the King of Pop, the late Michael Jackson. Those who saw the show would agree that the contestants would have made the King proud with either their soulful, heartfelt performances, or their energetic crowd rocking display in true Michael Jackson fashion.

Kiki joined the show this week, in the very hot, redesigned Chill Room, which has a 1950’s diner appeal, candy cane swirls and all. Though having a guest judge this early in the season is a rarity, Miss “And So!” D’Angel joined the show this week, replacing Nadine Sutherland and held her own alongside Anthony Miller and Clyde McKenzie. Backup singers were also introduced to this week’s performances, ensuring that each rendition fulfilled its maximum potential.

Outstanding Performances

The Top Ten made it clear to the audience this week that they had no intention of going home. Even the usually very abrasive Miller commented mid show that he was giving out too many complements for the evening. Though all the potential Digicel Rising Stars were shining brightly, some were able to outshine their competition, namely Angele Smith, Stacheal Smith, and no longer holding Diva-to-be status, the newly ordained Fluffy Diva, Adena Myrie.

Performing Jackson’s edgier Dirty Diana, Angele had the audience in a frenzy with his slick dance moves, impersonating Jackson’s moves right down to the waist gyrations that had the female audience members going crazy. Stacheal on the other hand, brought back the life and the funk to the Jackson 5’s Want You Back, a performance that redeemed her from last week’s mediocre display, and brought her back seriously into the competition. Anthony agreed, stating “Before, what we were getting was fancy dance steps, I’m getting a real sense of somebody’s vocals, and I like it.”

Adena outshone her competition again this week, with her extraordinary vocals, leaving the audience in an uproar after her rendition of Never Can Say Goodbye. Seeming still in awe, Miller had just one thing to say, “Simply put, you have the best voice in the competition.”

Fashion

Though most contestants this week were seen sporting either a white or black glove, MJ’s style was carried through, even to Angele’s zipper jacket and pantsuit, white socks and black shoes, and Brown Sugar’s red jumpsuit complete with gold tasselled epaulettes. Princess Tia, another contestant following the MJ fashion train, performed Man in the Mirror in a shiny, gold, square shouldered, narrow waisted jacket and skinny jeans, accompanied by a black velvet hat with a gold rim, and a pair of gold, stiletto, open-toed sandals.

Sandy brought an edgier look to the stage during her performance of Black or White, and though her black corseted dress with layers above the knee skirt was a hit, her half boot, round-toe, laced pumps were a miss, along with Crissy’s fur jacket and boots combo.

Notable Judges Comments

Moments performed on par with last week’s performance, using the song The Girl is Mine to leave the audience more than satisfied, and the judges happy, namely Clyde, who showed his liking for their performance, saying “You’re bad, you’re bad, you know it!”

However, Princess Tia’s performance got mixed reactions from the judges. While Clyde agreed with D’Angel, who thought Tia’s performance was lacking, stating that she “could have put more into it, more passion”, miraculously, Killer Miller disagreed, stating “She did well. She had a minute to make her magic, and she made her magic work.”

But Dennilee, received a unanimous negative front from the judges again this week, after her performance of Heal the World. Anthony practised even more tough love with Dennilee this week, as he told her rather irritably “I took that performance the least seriously of the evening.”

Audience Comments

Judging by the constant applause, and occasional screams and whistles that came from the audience, it was made clear that not only did they fully enjoy the show, but most were huge Michael Jackson fans.

One audience member, so taken up with the show stated: “Dis much betta dan weh BET di have fi Micheal, Digicel Rising Stars to di World!”

While another audience member who was so impressed with Diva Adena’s performance last week that she had to come and see her live simply said: “I was blown away!”

Stay tuned this Friday on TVJ to see which eight will continue to the next round of Digicel Rising Stars Season 6, and don’t forget to vote!

ARIF COOPER AND SANJAY MAKE THE 'RELATIONSHIPS' RHYTHM A HIT

SupaCoop’s latest, laid back Relationships Riddim is the perfect reggae follow up to Guardian Angel.

Arif 'SupaCoop' Cooper is at it again with another one of his righteous, laid back reggae rhythm. The Relationships Rhythm, SupaCoop’s latest release is the reggae follow up to the widely popular Guardian Angel Riddim released only a few years ago. Though not yet formerly released, the rhythm was serviced to radio this month.

Relationships, like its name suggests, has the smooth, rock away vibe that makes it the ideal base for the love songs that occupy most of the rhythm. Sanjay, who was on the previous Guardian Angel Rhythm with the popular track, Man of My word, is back carrying the same feel good vibe and lyrics with his song Slipping Away.

Slipping Away describes the all too well known feeling of despair upon realising a relationship is near its end. Adding a necessary human element to Sanjay in the eyes of his listeners’, it paints him as a dynamic artist who can not only display the emotional strength of a man of his word, but one that can also show his vulnerable side. He is neither afraid to express his love, nor is he afraid to speak on looming heart break.

"On this rhythm, Sanjay has once again been able to tap into real emotions of relationships, although this time on the melancholy side, just as he was able to on the Guardian Angel, but in a way that shows his musical growth and maturity as a vocalist and as an artiste" stated producer SuperCoop.

The Relationships Rhythm carries some big names such as Sean Paul with his Hold My Hand a simple, sweet song about trusting the one you love, which rides the rhythm so well that they too go hand in hand. Also on the Relationships rhythm are the likes of Collie Budz with Now She’s Gone, J-Status featuring Shontelle with Pieces, TOK with Single Mom (Keep your head up), Daville with Just Another Day along with I-Wayne with his conscious tune What Will They Do.

The Relationships Rhythm, which promises to be another one of Cooper’s major successes, was described by Sanjay as being able to “tap into the common human emotion that tends to makes songs successful, just like Guardian Angel did. It’s a very good follow up”.

Slipping Away will be the first song on the Relationships Rhythm to have a video début. Directed by Benjamin Harrison of Machine Man Inc, the video which was shot in Tribeca, New York is in the final stages of post production.

Download Sanjay's new track here: Slipping Away

For more information on Sanjay click here: Sanjay Music

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This Week on Digicel Rising Stars

This week’s contestants all left something memorable after coming to the stage; whether it was their soulful voices, ability to hit every note, audience charged energy, or their fabulous outfits.

Monday July 6 Kingston, Jamaica: If you missed Sunday night’s Digicel Rising Stars performances, you missed a great deal. Sunday’s show had the last seven contestants who are vying for the final five spots left in the Digicel Rising Stars’ Top Ten. Though this week’s line up was once again dominated by the women, the fans of the two male performances made up a large chunk of the crowd. Spurred on by their lovely and vivacious host, Yendi Phillipps, each contestant brought their ‘A’ game with some showing their true Star potential, while others, as Anthony Miller put it fell as “flat as a pancake.”

Outstanding Performances
This week’s contestants all left something memorable after coming to the stage; whether it was their soulful voices, ability to hit every note, audience charged energy, or their fabulous outfits. Two performances however stood out above the rest, leaving the audience in a satisfied frenzy. The first was by Andre and Fabian, members of the male duo ‘Moments’, with the song Muriel. Moments not only achieved perfect harmony in their rendition, but also had the right steps to complement their performance. The audience agreed fully with judge Clyde McKenzie, who congratulated them, saying: “you guys really captured the moment.”

Diva-to-be Adena Myrie gave the second breathtaking performance of the evening. Her goose-bump inducing, soulful rendition of Gladys Knight’s Midnight Train to Georgia left not only the audience, but also the judges in awe. Even the extremely critical Anthony admitted: “that was the best performance I have seen tonight.”

Fashion
The contestants not only displayed their talent in song, but following in Yendi’s stylish footsteps, their great sense of fashion. Yendi dazzled in a beautiful cream, layered ruffle chiffon dress, which showed off her long, sleek legs and tasseled animal print stilettos. The contestants came in at a close second, with Sandy Smith, the vocal replica of Celine Dion, wearing a gorgeous above-the-knee fuchsia dress, with what appeared to be a brown chiffon belt and train. Another contestant, Stacheal Smith, also glowed, with a black one strap mini dress which appeared to be the sister to Yendi’s.

Moments represented for the guys, appearing very dapper in a combination of red shirts with a black vest and tie and of course, square toed shoes.

Notable Judges Comments
While some contestants pleased both the judges and the audience, others fell short. Though the first contestant, Donielle Goddard, performed Whitney Houston’s You’ll Never Stand Alone to the satisfaction of the audience and judge Nadine Sutherland, who said: “you did not disappoint, you had it girl, you had it!”

Killer Miller without hesitation quipped that her performance was “competent, but overall bland.”

This was not the only variation between the judges’ comments, as Stacheal Smith who performed I Can’t Help Myself by Four Tops was at first complemented on her sense of musical maturity by Nadine, but shot down from a high by Miller, who opined: “Sugar Pie Honey Bunch is an upbeat and exciting song, but you did not display that. That was as flat as a pancake.”

The harshest comment of the night came when Killer Miller struck again at the expense of Dennilee West when he scorched: “I honestly don’t see you as a Rising Star”. A comment the killer claimed was an effort at tough love after her attempt of The Shirelles Will You Love Me Tomorrow.

Audience Comments
The audience appeared to have fully enjoyed the show, with most audience members coming to support at least one of the contestants. One contestant who seemed to have had more luck with the audience than the Judges was Jeremy Campbell, who, after his performance of a medley on the “Love Bump Riddim” got a mere passing mark from the judges; most of the audience however cheered loudly. While some members of the audience agreed with the judges, with one member stating: “Him can sing still, but him want a likkle more vybes,” a greater majority believed that: ”Campbell should be a name in every household in the world, he is the next Rising Star.”

Stay tuned this Friday on TVJ when Jamaica will chose which five of these contestants will make it to the top ten joining Angelle, Brown Sugar, Stratdon, Crissy & Winston and Princess Tiana.

LADY SAW AND D’ANGEL – ‘DIVAS OF DANCEHALL’

Announced as Brand Ambassadors for Digicel for sumfest 09

Digicel, Jamaica’s Bigger, Better Network is once again set to be one of the main sponsors for this year’s staging of Reggae Sumfest, the highly anticipated week-long reggae music festival, to be held July 23-25 in Montego Bay.

At the recent launch of Sumfest 2009, held at Devon House, Digicel unveiled their theme for this year - “Divas of Dancehall”, featuring Lady Saw and D’Angel, two of the hottest divas in dancehall today. Shelly-Ann Curran, Senior Sponsorship Manager at Digicel commented, “This year we are paying tribute to the amazing female dancehall artists that have graced the Sumfest stage over the past sixteen years with lady Saw and D’Angel leading our campaign as Brand Ambassadors.

The divas were ‘unwrapped’ from life-sized Barbie doll boxes in a thrilling moment, and later unleashed electrifying performances to delight the audience. “Sumfest is widely acknowledged as ‘The greatest Reggae show on earth,’ continued Curran, and Digicel is excited to be associated with the show in a bigger, better way. We’ve been involved with Reggae Sumfest for a number of years and we’re happy to help promote the development of Reggae music through such a quality event.”

Reggae Sumfest celebrates its 17^th anniversary this year. A weeklong celebration in Montego Bay culminates with the 3-night Reggae Festival from July 23-25. The show will feature a host of reggae artistes, including Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Konshens, Busy Signal, Mavado, Etana, Queen Ifrica and Damian Marley, among others. International acts Tony Braxton, Jazmine Sullivan, Neyo and Nas have also been confirmed to headline this year’s festival.

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ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP
Since its launch in 2001, Digicel has become renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services and state-of-the-art handsets. By offering innovative wireless services and community support, Digicel has become a leading brand across its 31 markets worldwide.

Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and now has operations in 31 markets worldwide. Its Caribbean and Central American markets comprise Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Panama, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos. The Caribbean company also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths. Digicel Pacific comprises Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and South Pacific sports teams, including the West Indies Cricket Team, Special Olympics teams throughout the region and national rugby teams in the South Pacific. Digicel is also title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Championships and the Copa de Naciones Digicel, which are the Caribbean and Central American qualifiers to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

CLYDE MCKENZIE BELIEVES IN DIGICEL RISING STARS

Mckenzie, who has been with the competition since 2005, is pleased with how the competition has been able to shape promising artistes.

Jamaica: From Shocking Vibes CEO and former manager of dancehall kingpin Beenie Man, to columnist and judge on Jamaica’s most popular television show, Digicel Rising Stars' the name Clyde McKenzie defines ‘entertainment insider’.

Most Jamaicans will remember McKenzie commenting on Beenie Man’s escapades in the music industry and that unforgettable press conference after Beenie was released from hospital following his harrowing crash on the Mandela Highway. However, for the past four years, Clyde has been beamed into millions of homes in Jamaica as one of three judges on the Digicel Rising Stars series.

With all five audition sessions completed, McKenzie is excited about season six. McKenzie, who has become known as a fair judge, with sometimes lengthy comments spiced up a little with various puns and jokes, comments on the success of the show: “I think what is happening to Digicel Rising Stars alumni such as Laden and Romaine Virgo is very exciting; they have used the platform provided by the competition to propel themselves to the next level.

“Digicel Rising Stars Season 5 was an interesting competition. As a judge, it’s special for me because I get to watch these people grow as entertainers and performers from audition stage to the studio finals, until a Digicel Rising Star is crowned.”

Of the thousands of persons expected to audition this year, 16 will see make it into the studio finals, and benefit from the experienced hands of Michael Harris and Michael Holgate, the shows’ voice specialist and performance director respectively.

Mckenzie who has been with the competition since 2005 is pleased with how the competition has been able to shape potential artistes. He is pleased with the growth the competition has seen: “As time goes on, you see that people get more comfortable with the idea of being not just singers and deejays, but entertainers. They get more comfortable with the stage, the microphone, the audience, and it’s good for our industry that we have an avenue like Digicel Rising Stars, whereby these people can get exposure and experience.”

Last year, Cameal Davis created history by becoming the first female winner in the show’s history. Davis, who recently premiered her first video for the single Believe, has been encouraging all potential Digicel Rising Stars to bring their “A-game”, and Mckenzie agrees.

“Impress us,” McKenzie said, before adding that Digicel Rising Stars “has turned some kids from very humble circumstances who can get an opportunity to better themselves and their families. Many of them have not become top recording artistes but are still able to make a living. This, I think, is very good for the country and the music.”

Watch Clyde McKenzie in action on Digicel Rising Stars every Friday and Sunday on TVJ.

HOW TO BE A MILLIONAIRE WITH DIGICEL RISING STARS

-KFC and Pepsi Jamaica have partnered with Digicel Rising Stars to make one fan a millionaire.

Now known as the KFC/Pepsi Be A Star …Be A Millionaire, this nine week promotion kicked off on July 06 and continues until August 31, 2009. KFC and Pepsi have gone above and beyond to ensure that along with great food and beverage, customers have the chance to be a star, meet stars and win a million though Digicel Rising Stars.

The lucky winner will receive the grand prize of $1,000,000 as well as a celebrity makeover, VIP backstage access to the final show and access to the Digicel Rising Stars after party at the Mas Camp as well as the opportunity to appear on stage with the finalists live on television at the final show at Mas Camp. The Digicel Rising Stars experience does not end there however as the grand prize winner will also receive VIP transportation along with one night’s accommodation at the Knutsford Court Hotel and a trendy Digicel Sony Erricson phone.

Rohan Hasall, of KFC explains that this, the second year of the promotion had to be bigger and better for their customers: “The feedback has been tremendous and so we decided that we want to make it better for the customers. Last year we had unannounced concerts that drew well over 2000 patrons who come out to see the Top Ten Digicel Rising Stars and so we felt it necessary to expand all the aspects of the promotion”.

Each week for nine weeks, customers have a chance to win one Play Station 3 system with games and accessories, while two iPods will be given away each week for the duration of the promotion. Weekly winners also have the chance to win a party for themselves and nine friends at either KFC or Pizza Hut where they will be able spend time with the Digicel Rising Stars’ finalists of their choice and dine on-the-house as well as receive $200 Digicel call credit each.

And to make it even bigger and better, a total of 40 tickets to the live shows will be given away each week to lucky customers. These winners will receive red carpet access to the Chill Room to meet the stars and VIP front row seats at the performances at the Courtleigh Auditorium.

According to Ayanna Kirton of Pepsi Jamaica, it is all about the value to the customers: “This year we have decided to take it up a notch. We want to make it more exciting for the customers. There are more valuable prizes and there is a greater likelihood of winning. We think that the customers will see the value in it and that the ultimate value is in them.”

It’s easy to be a millionaire with Digicel Rising Star, all KFC customers have to do is complete the entry form located at the back of their meal receipt along with the entry form from specially marked Pepsi labels. Drop off the entries in the branded “KFC/Pepsi Be A Star …Be A Millionaire” box provided at KFC stores island wide.

Everyone wants to be a millionaire and now is your chance with KFC, Pepsi and Jamaica’s most popular show Digicel Rising Stars.

Digicel Rising Stars: A Caribbean phenomenon

“People love to see their friends and family and countrymen on display, and we’ve provided that in a bigger, better way...”

If you thought Digicel Rising Stars existed only in Jamaica... you’d be wrong. In fact, Jamaica’s most popular television show and talent contest has counterparts in Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago and the Eastern Caribbean.

“We’re in our sixth year in Jamaica, in the Eastern Caribbean we’re in our fifth year, in Trinidad and Tobago it’s the fourth year and we’re entering our third year in Haiti,” said Mike Hogan, Digicel Rising Stars Creator and Executive Producer.

Hogan says that it’s not difficult to market a show like Digicel Rising Stars: “because people the show and every market we go into, we’re always travelling on the back of the Digicel brand. By the time we arrive, the people in the country have already been used to the bigger and better things that Digicel provide. Better communication, better features, reduced costs on phones, and so it’s not really hard for us to make it popular”

Hogan continued: “Digicel Rising Stars in Jamaica has been especially great. But it’s a very expensive show to produce, and we have to give thanks to people like Digicel, Pepsi, KFC and NCB, because without them, we wouldn’t be able to produce the show”. The truth is the show has its challenges, but it’s great fun.” said Hogan.

Logistically, Hogan says Digicel Rising Stars in Haiti, Barbados & the Eastern Caribbean are harder to produce. In Haiti, where the infrastructure is not as developed as Jamaica’s, It can take up to 14 hours to drive 130 miles; which in Jamaica would be from Kingston to Montego Bay.

While in Barbados & the Eastern Caribbean, entrants hail from Barbados, St Lucia, St Vincent, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, St Kitts and Nevis. Due to the fact that these countries don’t have large populations to justify having their own Digicel Rising Stars competition, the countries themselves become the audition sites.

Series Producer for Digicel Rising Stars in the Caribbean,Chris Cooke-Johnson believes that Digicel Risings Stars brings to the fore the people of the region, and gives exposure to their talents that would not have otherwise been possible. He states: “Particularly in the Eastern Caribbean, it's great to see that people vote for talent, ability and personality much more than by country of origin”.

“We've been able to replicate the same production standards and values throughout all series, even in more challenging locations like Haiti. I personally believe that people prefer to watch good quality, entertaining local or regional programming above all else, and that is what Digicel Rising Stars delivers” - Series Producer for Digicel Rising Stars in the Caribbean,Chris Cooke-Johnson.

Mike Hogan also believes that the show is important in these regions and says that producing every Digicel Rising Stars is an exciting feat. “People love to see their friends, family and countrymen on display, and we’ve provided that in a bigger, better way. That’s what makes Digicel Rising Stars such a phenomenon”