Digicel Rising Stars' From Yendi's Eyes By Yendi Phillips

Tuesday, August 12; Kingston, Jamaica: As the new host of Digicel Rising Stars, I am privileged to work with the rising talent of Jamaica. What I love most about being a part of this competition is the chance to bond with the contestants, talking with them and getting to know them a bit more. As the competition progresses and the number of finalists decreases, Jamaica is able to judge the talent a bit more closely.

Of course, the finalists are not the only persons being watched. As the new host, I am aware that many persons have advice and comments and I appreciate the critics. Just like the finalists, I am adjusting and having fun at the same time. I am trying to just let things flow, stay natural, and let my personality run free.

The contestants have also allowed their personalities to run free, and in Sunday's (August 10) show, the eight remaining contestants from the public's vote last week joined the Producer's pick (Tiffany) to create a passion of R&B hits. The performances generated a sizzling vibe as the contestants sang their hearts out asking Jamaica to make them a part of the lucky eight come Friday.

The finalists are finally listening to the judges and stepping up their game. This week we saw more performances that were powerful enough to please even the judges. Though I can't take any sides and have to remain neutral, here's a quick rundown of what happened this week:

Leisha Rose the Constable, delivered Alicia Keys' No One; Cameal celebrated her birthday by being Dangerously in Love, from the album of the same title by Beyonce. Kahlil told the ladies it was All Because of You as well as to come Closer, both from the Ne-Yo collection; Lashana wanted attention with Beyonce's Listen; and Wayne agreed with Usher's You Got it Bad. SLR harmonized En Vogue's Hold On; and K'Alee did justice to Rihanna's Take a Bow. Secret Melodies held back the tears at the end of One Republic and Timberlands' Apologize. All the contestants including the producer's pick, Tiffany, were well-received and got thunderous ?forwards' from the live audience.

All the contestants were wonderful and delivered well. I am especially proud of how all the contestants captured and took a shade of the stage light. The competition is heating up! So remember to keep those votes coming in!

DIGICEL RISING STAR JUDGMENT – By Clyde McKenzie

In his own words, Digicel Rising Star judge Clyde McKenzie gives his honest opinion on Season 5.

Saturday August 9; Kingston, Jamaica: So far, Digicel Rising Stars Season 5 is turning out to be an interesting competition with the contestants finding themselves and getting more comfortable with the stage.

The performances so far have been relatively good with the top-ten displaying their talent in the top-ten show on Sunday night (Aug 3). In fact, I saw some exceptionally strong performances and some weak ones.

Khalil, the group out of Montego Bay gave an outstanding performance and I was really impressed with them, it was a creative and diverse act and you could say the Jefferson met the Prince. Khalil’s is one of the finest performances that I have seen in this competition since it started next to that spectacular performance by Noddy Virtue and Jodiann Pantry. The group is just great, they know it, and have been using their harmony to make that stamp on the public early and are a crowd favourite. The reactions that the in-house crowd gave on Sunday were just enough to say how these young men are being received so far.

Cameal also delivered a good performance on Sunday night with her own interpretation of the Jimmy Cliff hit The Harder They Come, which should help make an impact on the public. Cameal gave her own interpretation of the song, developed the meaning and delivered it well; something that other contestants should do.

Despite their performance on Sunday, I think SLR was reasonably good. However, I didn’t like their choice of song, even though their might be talks of it being contemporary and all that. In essence, the song was not their song and that was evident in the way their voices blended with it, they need to choose songs that can display their harmonizing, almost reminiscent of what they used to ‘knock us away’ in Ochi.

The barber from Linstead, Nigel Wilson, was tentative on Sunday night; he has the capacity to deliver and it was evident in that R. Kelley medley. Wilson’s only problem was that he held back. Obviously Jamaica agrees with this and so he is going back to Linstead. Lashana, from Westmoreland held back too, she has a marvelous voice that she needs to let Jamaica hear it. Leisha on the other hand had a good performance even though it was not her best, she can improve.

I do not want to compare this crop with previous groups because each group differs and brings their own variety and taste to the show and that is what the competition is about, uniqueness.

One of the things I would like to see are the contestants choosing songs that are risky, songs that show their true talent; not songs to struggle with though, just songs to help them to develop and feel more comfortable performing. SLR showed a clear example of what I’m talking about when they went back to the Chill Room, if they had sung that song the reactions would have been different on the main stage; in that piece you could hear the distinctiveness that they possess as a group.

You know there is something remarkably different about this year’s set of contestants as forty-percent of the top ten groups, perhaps inspired by the success of Digicel Rising Stars 2006 winners One Third. One is even left wondering if we will see one group or more in the top spots this year.

As usual there is going to be some controversy about one or two contestants who persons believe should be in the top-ten and are not there. The truth is I was really looking forward to seeing Patrice Ellis in the top ten as she was a good package. Top Team was another contestant I was expecting to see in the top ten too, they had a lot of energy and I was looking forward to seeing more of that.

Finally, the new host Yendi has been doing a good job; she has a personality of her own. The thing is when you have gotten so accustomed to seeing someone in your living room for so long, it’s going to take some time to adjust to the changes and people are like that. Fans will soon get accustomed to Yendi. Denise should however get commendations for the energy she brought to the show; she was like duck to water. Yendi however, has been doing a fabulous job so far, she has her own personality and just has to be herself.

HUTCHY FEELS THE GAS PAINS

The Enigmatic dub reggae singer Hutchy has returned with a new single: Gas Prices.

Monday August 11; Kingston, Jamaica:- Washington D.C based Dub Reggae singer Hutchy has gone out of the box to create a timely and relevant social commentary on the present situation of high gas prices. Known for his gritty dub tunes and his innovative style, Hutchy dug deep and has also created a humorous video to go with the song.




Most Jamaicans and people worldwide have been grappling with high gas prices for the passed few months; with this in mind Hutchy thought it would be a good move to chronicle the plight of the masses the way he knows best.
“He who feels it knows it, I have to fill up each week and every week is a higher price, gas prices gone up wicked, everything connected and I know I am not the only one out there going through these issues worse if you have a SUV. Hutchy’s life is like everyone else’s, we all face the same trials and tribulations in life so when people listen to the lyrics of Gas Prices they will walk away with a better overstanding of their current situation, even if it’s just to make them dance because the music is wicked” – Hutchy, Ruff Cut Records recording artiste.

The video for Gas Prices was directed by Robin Bell and filmed in Washington D.C last month. The video features Hutchy and some of his friends grappling with high gas prices. In the video Hutchy is faced with a choice between filling his Hummer with petrol or buying dinner for his girl, Hutchy chooses his hummer which results in him losing his girl to a Chinese man on a bicycle. The video is a cracker and takes jabs the present gas crisis. The song Gas Prices and its video will be released simultaneously on the nineteenth of August in Jamaica.

Hutchy is presently working on a new Electronica album, a follow-up to his My Time album which was released last year on his Ruff Cut Records label. The artiste has been touring consistently, promoting the My Time project and sees the Gas Prices song as a labour of love.

“I think the song is impeccably good and people will enjoy the video. It might even sooth a few gas pains” – Hutchy, Ruff Cut Records recording artiste.

For more information on Hutchy visit: http://www.ruffcutrecords.com