THE first studio final for Season 7 of Digicel Rising Stars introduced viewers to a new host, Lady Renae, a new stage and set, and the first eight of Digicel’s 2010 Rising Stars finalists.

The first eight finalists, who include the six that Jamaica voted for: Crystal Matherson, the only finalist from Montego Bay this year; Travaugne Ming, Dreams of Memories, Toni Blair, Latoya Chambers, and Dellese Douglas; and Rising Star’s judges Clyde McKenzie’s and Nadine Sutherland’s Wild Cards, Simone Hamilton — better known as Camaley — and Jermaine Michael respectively.

Also judging the competition this year is Rising Star’s seven-year veteran and unofficial star of the show, Anthony Miller.

Though all the contestants brought their all to the stage, three young ladies outshone the rest, setting the trend for the Season 7. Toni, who shone at the Portmore auditions, lit up the stage with her vivacity in her upbeat yet soulful rendition of Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart by Alicia Keys.

Toni was also the first contestant to get positive feedback from Anthony, who said: “She seized the moment, she brought some energy to it, some oomph, and that’s a good thing!”

Nadine, agreeing with Anthony, added: “I think you’re going to do very well in this competition.”

The next lady to wow the judges and the audience was Latoya, who had made it to the Rising Stars Live Stage last year, but was quickly cut down by ‘Killer Miller’. Before her performance of Lisa Fischer’s How Can I Ease the Pain, Latoya warned Miller that he better “watch out!”, and that’s all he could do, as she rocked her song and rocked the stage, even busting a Michael Jackson move, sparking the crowd and further putting the audience on her side.

All Anthony could say was: “That was a great song and easily the most accomplished performance I have seen all evening.”

But even after all those positive comments; it was Camaley, who stole the show. Though she didn’t have the advantage of moving around the stage, because of a disability, Camaley hit every note from her seat, centre stage, Celine Dion’s Love You More. Ending to a standing ovation by the audience, she faced the judges who could only sing her praise.

Clyde, who was touching his head afterwards, said: “I’m feeling for my hat. If I had one on, I’d have to take it off to you, it was beautiful. I really felt that.”

Anthony, who seemed somewhat stunned, said: “I am not a Celine Dion fan but I thought she did more than justice to that song. Clyde won the wild card selection for tonight.”

And Nadine closed the comments with: “There is something coming from inside and I felt it, you sat there and… you used your hands and you used your eyes. Apart from the vocal delivery, that was so great. You sing with something from inside.”

Fashion

Being the first live show, the season has yet to see any true fashion trends, though there were a few honourable mentions. Dellese stepped on stage looking ready to rock in her black and red Mohawk, black mini dress with silver studs and black strappy pumps with fringed, suede detailing ankle to complete the look. Toni brought back the funk and pop of the eighties in a floral, strapless, eighties style ‘ra ra’ mini dress, with hot pink patent leather peep toe pumps. And Latoya went for an earthier feel in a dark brown, pin stripe mini dress with silver gladiator platforms, earrings and shoulder cuff.