Raneka Lee out 'for the count'
MoBay singer ends Digicel Rising Stars run
Raneka Lee performing Sunday night on Digicel Rising Stars' live elimination show.

When she auditioned for season 19 of Digicel Rising Stars in Ocho Rios Raneka Lee had one thing in mind.

"I wanted to show Jamaicans what a wonderful powerhouse singer I am," the Montego Bay-based singer said in an interview with the Jamaica Observer on Monday.

On Sunday night Lee was eliminated from the show having tallied the lowest number of votes.

Lady J was also voted off, but was saved by producer Sharon Schroter, who used the Producer's Pick save to bring her back into the competition

Lee didn't make it among the initial top 10 finalists for the televised talent competition which airs Sunday nights on Television Jamaica (TVJ). She was brought into the competition as judge Conroy Wilson's wild card.

She explained how she felt when she got the call that she was being brought into the competition as a wild card.

"Words cannot describe the feeling I felt when I got that call. It's been a while since I had felt that happy. The experience was short but an amazing experience. I got to meet a group of amazing people, a super-talented group of individuals, even the crew members were amazing," said Lee.

She shared that over the three-week period that she was in the competition, she campaigned in the hot sun each day to secure votes to remain among those who would carry on in the competition's journey.

"I couldn't believe it, but I actually went out there every day in the hot sun and campaigned. But I guess it wasn't enough," she said.

The former Green Pond High School student said she has walked away from the competition having received enormous exposure.

"I will miss the other contestants, and especially judge Anthony Miller and his facial expressions. I got a lot of exposure, and more people know my name now," said Lee.

During Sunday night's live show, the remaining seven contestants each performed a song from the decade 2011 to 2020.

Singer Shaneil Muir was the guest judge.

Javid Wilson sang a cover of Sam Smith's Lay Me Down, while Skyye's interpretation of Rihanna's Diamonds didn't get a welcome reception from the judges.

Lady J sang a cover of Adele's When We Were Young that didn't really resonate with the judges, but Odane Weir scored high marks with his rendition of Tarrus Riley's Just the Way You Are.

Annae Campbell received high praises for her take on Beyonce's Love on Top, while Sashae Evans got mixed reviews for her spin on Sia's Chandelier.

Remone Watson was smooth with Chris Stapleton's Tennessee Whiskey.

BY KEVIN JACKSON Observer writer entertainment@jamaicaobserver.com

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