Reggae Redemption night may have saved some contestants, but it also put the spotlight on who should be going home.
Thursday, August 18th, 2011, Kingston, Jamaica: On Reggae Redemption night, a night created for the contestants to prove to Jamaica why they all should stay in the competition, the top six tried to redeem themselves from the previous week's performances. But by the end of the show, the only conclusion that could be drawn is that only the votes will show if Jamaica was satisfied.
The night started out on a low note, as host Terri-Karelle reminded viewers that both Dominic Young and Latty J were in the bottom two. Soon after, the audience sat in stunned silence when she announced that crowd favourite, Latty J would be going home. She reminded the audience of the importance of voting, then reminded the contestants to do their best to impress the voters.
And there to ensure that the contestants brought their all this week was this week's judging trio, resident judges: the lovely Tessanne and the Dapper Bambino, and guest judge the Executive and Creative Director of Ashe Performing Arts Company, Conroy Wilson.
The Intense Chicka Pepita held down the Blackberry Chill Room again this week, this time with special guest 2007 Digicel Rising Stars winner, and recording artiste, hot off his European tour, Romain Virgo.
Outstanding Performances
Tash made her voice dominate her performance when she belted out Etana's People Talk. Holding all her notes, she gave a very convincing performance that impressed the audience, and for the most part, the judges. “The performance was very good.” Said Conroy, and Bambino, while though admitting he enjoyed it, felt like it was still missing a little something, saying “It could have been more... Tash-y!”
A true lioness on the rise, Anna roared Tarrus Riley's Start A New, which the audience heard, and was impressed. Belting out this song about domestic violence, Anna the Diva rocked and moved the crowd, with the hunger for the number one spot being heard in her voice. But though the audience loved it, the judges weren’t as easily impressed.
“It was an excellent song choice by an excellent artiste, but I think the key was too low for you… you really have to watch that,” critiqued Tessanne.
Conroy agreed, saying “The performance was good… but I think you could have been a little more forceful with the words, and how it came across.”
However, after making a joke about ladies not confusing the song lyric “cut it off” with physical violence, Bambino sided with the crowd, saying “I disagree, I thought it was a good song, and I thought it was one of the better performances for the night… mi only vex seh Latty J neva deh here fi tun some flame under you.”
Mr. Smooth, Dominic Young, proved to Jamaica that he earned all their votes on Sunday night when he took an already soulful song, and made it his own masterpiece, which had the live audience on the edges of their seats, applauding and screaming. Re-harmonizing Tarrus Riley's Far Away, his convincing performance also won over the judges!
“So far tonight was your show, because that was, to me, the best performance to date.” Said Conroy, impressed.
Bambino, also impressed, added: “You come een like a kinda R&B Tarrus Riley, like Tarrus Riley mixed with Maxwell. You shell it!!”
“That’s what I’m talking about. You took that song and made it your own! I’m so proud of you!” beamed Tessanne, who then suggested he watched all of his previous performances to see how much he’s grown, and how much more he can grow.
Fashion
Fashionista Terri-Karelle left the stage smoking this week with her one shouldered, little, black, sequined, mini dress with a chiffon sleeve, and black gladiator stilettos; and the regal Rocio dressed to impress in a sandy coloured, long sleeved dashiki, with blue and orange print, a sky blue inside blouse, cream pants, and baby blue, suede pumps! Anna also brought some serious fashion heat to the stage in her fitted, cheetah print, bustier dress with sheer sleeves and neck. While Tash's grey, open toe ankle booties made the biggest splash in footwear for the night.
The guys also brought the heat this week, and were all looking edgy in local designer Drenz' suits that showed off their futuristic swag!
Judges Comments
Double Trouble, Jah Flaamez put on a comedy show for the second week in a row. His flop performance of Beres Hammond's Double Trouble had the audience laughing at him as he started off cue, forgot the lyrics, and half way through, just stopped trying.
Humoured, but disappointed, Bambino said “I feel like I just watch one of the audition them. I couldn’t hear anything, I only hear double trouble. The third line of the song says ‘I wanna go home’ it looks like you wanna go home.” He then said finally, clearly offended: “No sah, A Digicel Rising Stars this, you hear!”
Letting him down a little more gently after his embarrassing performance, Tessanne said soothingly “I knew from I saw you look to the back-up singer for the cue, that Jah Flaamez is not sure of himself… If you are not sure of yourself or your performance, it’s gonna show. So yeah, it wasn’t the best performance for me.
But Conroy joined the audience in laughter when he said “Jah Flaamez mi sorry fi yuh, Double Trouble, yuh ah go home!” He then said more seriously “Its two weeks straight, and you unsure, and even when you unsure, we don’t need fi know… Do what you have to do.”
After the redemption performances, Chill Room guest, Romain Virgo took his place on the stage and performed System, an original song on the Vikings production label, with conscious lyrics that had the audience rocking and singing along to the chorus: “Feel like letting gooooooo, feel like letting go!”
The Top 6 will remain six this coming Sunday, as though the person with the lowest votes will go home after the elimination show on Saturday Night, the Producer’s Pick will join the remaining five on Sunday.
So Tune into TVJ this Sunday at 8pm to see which previous contestant from the Top 16 will be brought back and given a second chance at the title of Jamaica’s 2011 Digicel Rising Star!
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