This week on Digicel Rising Stars, three more contestants went home and viewers were introduced to the new Chill Room host, Kimone.

The foxy Kimone, TV producer and TV personality was the first runner-up in the competition for host, and though she didn’t make it to the big stage, she didn’t fall far, landing in the very comfy, 60’s malt shop style chill room. Usually spunky and full of life, it was obvious the Kimone was suffering from a case of ‘first time’ jitters, but luckily, co host, Season 4 winner, Romaine Virgo was there to save the day. Also in the chill room was popular Zip jock, ZJ Rush, mixing the whole vibe.

Outstanding performances

The judges shared the same feelings for most of the contestants Sunday night, they were either playing it too safe and didn’t select a song that challenged them, or they were not connecting emotionally with their song. The audience, though they seemed to enjoy themselves, also seemed to agree. A few contestants shone this week though, and some, even more than others.

Note-worthy performances can go to Phylea, whose rendition of At Last brought the house down and satisfied both Nadine Sutherland and Clyde Mckenzie who called her the “ace up Anthony’s sleeve”.

Jermaine however shone more brightly, performing Stand By Me, making the song his own, playing on the yearning in his voice. His exceptional performance did not go unnoticed by the audience who applauded loudly, or by the judges, who had this to say: “It wasn’t electrifying but it was competent and you are a big improvement on these contestants that came before you. You did reasonably well,” was Miller’s comment.

Leaving his ‘Dalton whine’ behind, Dalton gave The Reasons to keep him in the competition on Sunday night. After performing this rock ballad, it was obvious that this 16-year-old from Clarendon stole the show two Sundays in a row. The crowd was in such an uproar that it took almost two minutes for Lady Rennae and the stage manager to quieten them enough to hear the judges’ comments.

While Nadine called it “maturity beyond his years”, Miller, obviously impressed said “Basically people want to be entertained… he brought something to the platform that a lot of people didn’t bring!”

And Clyde, forever the joker, decided to do his Ricky Trooper impression when he said “That is powerful, put it pon Youchube!”

Fashion

The fashion this week, however, brought all the sizzle that the contestants did not. From Toni’s one-shoulder peach pencil dress with chiffon trimmings and Latoya’s Cleopatra-inspired black blouse and layered mini bubble skirt with gold accessories to finish off the royal look, to Dorane’s khaki shirt dress with purple pumps and Camaley’s zebra print palazzo jumper with thick red belt.

The guys were also looking very dashing in their futuristic Drenz clothing. While Jermaine wore a back from the future jeans zipper jacket with denim pants, both Beres and Dalton opted for blue and white candy stripe with red undertones, Beres in a bold, horizontal candy stripe hoody with red hood and light blue trousers to play up on his Behind These Prison Walls performance, Dalton went with a more alternative rock star look, in a candy-stripe blazer with red trimmings and a high red collar, red pants, and red pantent leather sneakers. Even Travaune, who only sported a Drenz T-shirt and jeans got some attention in his brown fedora.

Lady Rennae was also the cause of many “ooohs” and “aaahs”, in her black lace mini dress with cream lining and a gorgeous pair of alligator, gladiator pumps.

Judges’ comments

Though Toni impressed the audience and both Nadine and Clyde with her rendition of I’m Woman, done by last year’s winner, Brown Sugar, Killer Miller felt that she just didn’t quite make the cut.

After Nadine complimented her on her stage presence and sex appeal, and Clyde agreeing that she is indeed a singer, Miller said with a sly smile: “I thought it was more of ‘I’m a teenager’. Brown Sugar could bring it off because she was equipped, and you are not.”

Travaune was also spared no mercy as his performance of A Change Will Come didn’t inspire any tears or goose bumps, all three judges expressed their disappointment.

Expressing that he had not quite measured up to Season 2 winner, Christopher Martin, Clyde told him, “When Chris did it, it was really a spell-binder that night, and for me I don’t think this performance had that kind of energy.”

Miller, who is always short and to the point said, “That was a new definition of dull. I have already erased it from my mind.”

And Nadine, agreeing with both, said, “I don’t know man, I’m sorry.”

Dorane also got the brunt of the judges after her performance of Karma, a song done years before by Nekiesha Barnes. It was clear to the audience that Dorane had sang her heart out, but that was not good enough for the judges.

Captions

Jermaine rocked a back freom the future look with zippers

Phylea redeemed herself

Dalton Rocks out in stripe.