On Sunday night, Digicel Rising Star took us back to an era of truly Jamaican music with Ska night. The five remaining contestants put on a fun, lively and nostalgic show that would have made Toots and the Maytals and Millie Small proud. Complete with live dancers, who Ska’d their hearts out.

Though it was a fun-filled night, it started off on a sad note, with two of the most upbeat contestants, Toni Blair and Latoya Chambers, being informed that they were in the bottom two. After a sing off the judges decided that Latoya’s journey to being the next Digicel Rising Star was over, and she was sent home.

Dancehall artiste Tanya Stephens joined the original panel of judges, as a celebrity guest judge. Holding down the Chill Room this week, Pepita was joined by Reggae act, Wayne Marshall

Outstanding Performances

Bringing her huge smile and even bigger afro to the stage in a performance of sheer sixties delight, Toni Blair got the audience singing and grooving along with her performances of Millie Small’s O’Henry and Bob Marley and the Wailers’ Simmer Down. Her vivacious but still vocally challenging performance brought smiles to the faces of the audience and all but one of the judges. While Judge Anthony ‘Killer’ Miller shared his opinion that anyone who knew their Jamaican musical history could not have given such a dull performance, his fellow judge Nadine Sutherland quickly and openly disagreed with him stating “There is nothing dull about you Toni… you have this natural effervescence, you use your eyes your mouth, you dance… I don’t know how you could ever be dull. That was wonderful!”

Camaley wowed the audience and the judges again this week, even bringing Miller onto her side with her bubbly, girly performance of one of the most well known Ska songs, Millie Small’s My Boy Lollipop. The performance, which had her sitting centre stage twirling her hair, playfully kicking her feet while still fully interacting with a male dancer, and smiling coyly, had the audience in a frenzy, as they stood up and sang along. Obviously impressed, guest judge Tanya Stephens commended her, saying “I really enjoyed it, that was on point, I think Millie Small would have been very honoured. The interaction between you and the young man made up for it.” Judge Clyde McKenzie agreed with her, noting Camaley’s playfulness and vivacity.

But it was Miller who gave her the most insight, saying “Funny thing, people who weren’t movement challenged tonight as you were, messed up. You listened to My Boy Lollipop and you brought your own flavour to it.”

Fashion

The two remaining gentlemen came out as dapper as ever in suits of various textures, colours and fabrics, by Designer Ballashawn. Noteworthy are Dalton’s graphic blazer and Jermaine’s glittering sweater vest. The ladies who had just as much flair brought back the sixties in their funky outfits. Notable were Nekorah’s cheetah print dress with ruffled neck and skirt, brown leggings and bright red, sling back booties, Toni’s Afro and black strappy heels and Camaley’s sexy leather dress with the ruffled skirt. Latoya will surely be missed from the fashion block as she never fails to impress in the fashion department.

Judges Comments

The Judges weren’t too hard on the contestants this week, as they all seemed to enjoy themselves during the performances, but Killer Miller, as usual, still found something to complain about.

After Nekorah’s fun and entertaining performances of Desmond Decker’s 007 and Toots and the Maytals’ Never You Change, Miller pointed out a flaw in her first song:

“If you’re doing Ska, please try and get it right, the first song was not Ska, that was Rocksteady… and I like how they jazzed you up, you’re looking less frumpy.”

And after Jermaine’s vocally pleasing, but otherwise dull performance of Carry Go Bring Come, Miller said quite honestly and bluntly:

“Your Ska was a non starter. I didn’t think you had a clue what you were doing up there, you revealed some of your flaws, your stiffness your lack of flexibility in terms or responding to a different genre, you need to work on that… you weren’t the complete package tonight, I’m sorry.”

Guest Judge Tanya Stephens posses with the five contestants left in the competition

Jermaine Michael was scorched by Killer Miller who did not like his performance