Showing posts with label Digicel Rising Star. Show all posts
AND THE DIGICEL RISING STAR FOR 2009 IS MISTA MISTA DONELLE JOB. Aye allyuh!!! Donelle win!! Mr. Tobago…Mr cocky himself took it home…..The first male Digicel Rising Star and the second winner from our sister isle, Congrats hun it was a well deserved win. Now what I want to macco/see/hear is whether or not this 10% of your winnings you promised will really go to “one special child” in an orphanage…remember is you that promise the public that eh or was it marketing gimmicks, playing with emotions…Boy, I really hope not! This is how I feel with no apologies, Afiya’s performances were not winning performances, if the final performances were the determining factor in deciding the winner, Donelle would have won it still! There I said it! Whey……Junior Don came out with a vengeance boy!! Allyuh eh see that trio performance? “I’m Alive” was Junior’s time to shine…he chantttttttttt…..just how I wanted to see him for so long. I love this song..great job guys and excellent performance Junior Don. Now on to the performances (last time I started with Donelle so this time Afiya going first) Afiya Athill – The $60 000.00 Cinderella! “Lord you are Holy” by Helen Baylor – During this performance Afiya was a little out of breath and horse as usual. I felt as though this song selection did not give her an opportunity to showcase her vocal ability. Afiya your dress code was on point as usual; absolutely gorgeous brown dress, flowing, elegant but it did not mask the fact that you did not deliver 100% :-( Great diction but the performance just did not do anything much to me. “Missing Generation” by Ella Andell – Ummm a little off in the beginning and I am sure that I was not the only person who heard a couple offkey notes….Afiya were the low notes too hard to stoop to? You worked the stage much more in this performance and the song was transformed into your interpretation which I appreciated…This one was much better than the first performance. Hi Mr. Tobago, Mr. $100, 000.00…guess what? It is your turn now! “Beauty for Ashes” by Crystal Lewis – Donelle from the time you stepped out on stage the vibes was there. It was a vocally flawless performance although there was a low energy point but it was hard to detect..an absolute beautiful and appropriate opening song. :-) “Love is you” by Daniel Winans – You love the Winans ent? You do their renditions so beautifully. More vibes…more fire…you looked so comfortable and I appreciated that. Another vocally flawless rendition, for me this was one of your most engaging performances; very warm, very loving performance. “Giving Back” by Donelle Job – Is it safe to say you had Gospel Swag (it is copywritten eh peeps…I own it hmphh). I wonder if any one other than me felt like willy-bouncing for Jesus! The energy level was high, passionate and a really well thought out composition; a catchy song. I also need to add that you looked absolutely smart in every part of your suit throughout the performances. :-) I am a little sad that the competition is over but I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. I would like to thank Mango Media for the invitation to Blog. Nicole Phipps you rock! Thank you for welcoming me to the competition and for showing me around during the auditions and allowing me to do and see as much as I wanted to; keep up the great work. Joanna De-Silva I stole/borrowed so many of you gorgeous photos; Thank you so much! The photos used this week are for then to now purposes....before they were the top 3! :-) Fellow maccos the comments, oppositions and reactions were greatly appreciate, please continue reading and commenting. Ah well *sniffs*……gotta find something or someone else to macco. 
“Stronger” by Mary J Blige – This performance was executed with more feelings and emotions..much more entertaining and I think it was a true representation of you. Glenda Collens keeps saying that you are a fighter and a strong woman..so I guess if that is the truth then this is your song. This performance was extremely beautiful and touching…very close to pore-raising. Loved the Cinderella Black Dress Ms. Athill! 
We reach the final two already? This competition did not just begin? It is down to the final 2 and I know both contestants probably campaigning like crazy eh..so I wish both of them all the best…may the better man or woman win….
A little part of me was sad to see Junior Don go home (shocking right?) but he really did come a long way..maybe a little too long but he started to prove he deserved to be in the competition too late but Junior boy you resting comfortably with $40 000.00…Congrats hun. Your parting performance was well done; the reggae version of Michael Jacksons’ “Human Nature”
Now on to what took place on Saturday….both contestants had to sing three (3) songs…two of which they sung previously during the competition and any other of their choice…. Glenda (the judge) was overly emotional this time around and I really did not expect that from her at all...she cried for everything!! :-O
So let’s go with Donelle’s performances first…..
“No love like your love” – An original composition which for some reason made me want to cry…it moved me in so many different ways..I felt calm, I felt assured. It was an honest and genuine performance which I thoroughly enjoyed.
“Make you smile” by Jermaine Edwards – Compared to the last time he performed it a few adjustments were made and they worked in favour of Donelle..the audience was really feeling this performance..maybe it was the reggae vibes..whatever it was Donelle you had them in a trance…(not me though) but I will honestly say that there is no doubt in my mind that you could sing..I mean sing! You made me smile :-)
“I found love” by Bebe Winans – The original singer would be extremely proud to hear your interpretation and execution of this song. Donelle you looked really smart during this performance and your vibe and charisma on stage reminded me of a wedding singer. The mood was set…yes you set the mood…Does a role as a wedding singer look promising for you? I think so! You seemed really comfortable with this song and I loved that….This time around your cockiness did not show but that does not mean that you still do not have to work on it!
Now…on the Afiya Athill; I call her the queen of the pact because she is the last woman standing..congrats!
“Bust the windows” by Jazmine Sullivan – A much better performance that the first time you did it and the attitude was there as usual. Although you had a couple odd-points in the performance vocally you still managed to hold it together and represent. This performance did not have that surprising/wow element but you did you.
“And I’m telling you” by Jennifer Hudson – This song was sung earlier in the competition by Akilah Wilson-Claxton and although Afiya’s vocals are not as smooth as Afiya’s, the dramatization and performance factor was out of this world. Afiya you were a little out of breath but with that added flavour I really did not care that you were fighting to keep your breathing together. From the taking off of the shoes, to the throwing it on the ground behind you, to the passion, to the throwing yourself onto the ground and close to tears performance, need I say that you ROCKED this one!
One problem though why did you feel it necessary to keep dropping little odd lines about your hoarse voice..Sympathy? We know you were horse..you have been for quite sometime!! :-)
So who allyuh feel going to take it home? Who has been the most consistent/deserving competitor out of the two finalists? I have my winner do you? Stay tuned for the Grand Finale on Sunday 22nd November @ Alchemy Night Club…..who going home with the Grand prize?
Thank you again to Joanna de-Silva..these shots are on-point..the macco is seeing big things in your future!
The Judges - Michael Sallickram, Glenda Collens & Johnny Gonsalves
This is my THEN and NOW – Last week to this week’s Review….
Props again to Joanna de-Silva for the beautiful and very useful pictures...do not worry hun the stealing/borrowing is almost over! Thank you so much for sharing them with me…
Last week the contestants had to sing a Power Soca and any slow song from a
To macco good you all need to follow the trend of THEN and NOW…. look for the key words!
Last week I got a headache. I was so disappointed Akilah Wilson-Claxton because you have so much potential to be something great. Clearly both songs were out of your league, it is not your style, you were not comfortable at all and neither was I. I do not want to believe that you filling in for Junior Don with that off-key, off-beat kind of confusion.
When I heard you were going to sing “Voices from the Ghetto” – Singing Sandra, I was excited, I figured someone who sings with as much soul as you, should have been able to mash up that song. What went wrong babes? :-(
On the up side I really liked your outfit for “Max it up” – Destra. However I am sure Destra was quite disappointed after you convinced her and everyone else that you were going to mash up the place and then what we got instead was no rhythm and absolutely offkeyyyyyyyyyyyyness! (yes I making up my own words, A Macco can do that)
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Last week again 
Afiya Athill, I had an issue with your constant reminders that you are “Shy” I did not buy it the first time you said it and it still not convincing. You did a fabulous rendition of Heather Headley’s “I wish I wasn’t”. Yes Yes Yes it was another moving performance from you. I had some problems with the second song “Sassiness”; that was the most boring version of that song I have ever heard/seen in my life. I felt as though something was missing from the execution of that song, maybe you were tired OR was it the “shyness”? Afiya surely has a voice but that didn’t sound like a soca to me nah… “ah ah ah” what was that? Girl, I thought you were in pain?
NOW Afiya really moved the crowd with her version of Whitney Houston’s “Saving all my love” She is now the queen of the pact and she stands out well. Her second selection was “Stronger” – Mary J. Blige and it is only fair to admit that it was a well meshed performance vocally, she took her time; it was calm and not an overdone performance.
However, I found that she sounded a lil “huskier” than usual @ Stronger but she worked it; really honest and genuine attempt.
Next up, the very cocky Donelle Job, week after week Donelle is not spectacular or surprising, he sticks in his comfort zone and the sister isle continues to vote (big shock right **sarcastic grin**).
Last week he sang “You told me” which was originally sung by Fred Hammond and Commissioned, and was very similar to last weeks’ performance, same energy level, not surprising at all because he is a comfortable performer but he was very soothing. Now, now, Donelle hunny I did not know that “Reach” – Rizon is a soca! Wait did you speed up the song? Donelle not because Rizon from
NOW this week Donelle chose Daniel Winans “Love You” I am really upset still because this boy really does not challenge himself at all. I disagree with Glenda talking about he challenged himself? Blehh I eh see/hear that! His second selection was of praise and worship; a gospel reggae originally sung by Jermaine Edwards - "Make you Smile" and was wayyyyyy better than the first but I still feel like he has to make some adjustments for the next round. He was good as usual but he is so safe… the consistency is there but break out your shell a little bit nah…What I can say is that you know how to pick your comfortable selections well.
Junior Don, Boy all I want to know is, sooooo long it took you to learn how to sing properly? Last week I really wanted to scream out and tell you that you really didn’t do too bad with that Barrington Levy “Too experienced”…I am surprised. However, you had a really low energy performance when it came to the second song “Higher than High” ….. I mean is a Machel you were doing **sighs** I can see though that you were trying to focus on the vocals aspect of your performance, you know that is what you get bashed for all the time but you were out of breath badddddddddd! Better you did sing Breathless yes because you had that aspect of the song down pack… lol **dead** Well I already realize that I could say what I want about your performances; the females still love you. Yuh hear what the judges say? Finally boy you figure out what you are supposed to sing and I was right you are a reggae/dancehall/chanter man. I still have my reservations about you being a “Soca man.” Anyhoos JD I will lay off your case for now!
NOW Junior you are really lucky eh? After you “buss” singing easy songs like “If I ever fall in love again” – Boyz II Men you decided to sing Michael Jackson’s “Rock with you” and John Legend’s “Everybody Knows”….well I nearly dead, I am close to being speechless (I cannot be totally because I have to finish writing this blog..lol)
I can tell that your vocal trainer (Glenda Collens) worked over time with you boy, it was what you really needed and you did not fail but made those songs your own and I liked that…. every week it continues to show that the crowd and ladies love you. :-) You came out and you delivered.
Next week somebody going home (at least they going home with money) and there will be the final 2 and performances..I have my top 2 picks do you?
I hope allyuh seeing how the thing getting really competitive now; there is no doubt about it, these contestants really love to sing, although some of them still really eh “make the grade” yet…..
Yet again this week I feel as though another male competitor has taken the place of someone much more talented than he could ever be….Junior Don still in this competition boy? Buh what I seeing here? After that horrible rendition of “If I ever fall in love again” he came back and chose to sing a Boyz II Men and again he crashed and burned. Junior hunny what made you decide after failing miserably to sing “I’ll make love to you” in the original key and you cannot hold a note? Ah well…moving along…he is really cute and clearly a charmer because the ladies love him and really do not mind that he cannot sing certain songs to save his life. I said certain songs because there is a part of me that strongly believes that Junior Don is a reggae/dancehall/chanter man!
It so sad that the voters determine the winner yuh know! For those of you who are not aware, the participants are determined by the viewers/public by text or phone call and I am off the opinion that this criteria encourages biasness. Leh meh see if meh mathematics any good…. ummmm here goes:-
1 participant (who cannot sing) + 20 family members + $100.00 phone card each % $2.00 per text message = 50 votes per person x 20 family members = 1000 votes.
Nah!!!! That cah be right. So if a person who deserves to be there gets 999 votes, the man/woman who cannot sing is selected (because dais wah the public choose) and the judges just have to sit by and do nothing…. That cah be right!!
An honest and passionate rendition of “Addictive Love” was what Donelle Job did; I actually like him this week, he won me over! (I am admitting it!!) His performance was silky but I would really love to see him do more exciting songs. Come out of your comfort zone a little bit nah babes…yuh eh see how I bashing the men…hopefully you would be able to set the standards for any other DRS (males) to come! I can see that you are here to stay and Tobago will have it no other way because you know that everyone in the sister-isle voting for their “Tobago boy”. Good Job, JOB (no pun intended)
That girl sang a really difficult song and she killed it, she made it her own and she wowed the crowd, I would say that she was the best performer of the night….. What girl is that? I talking about Akilah Wilson-Claxton she has a warm and inviting aura when she is on stage and I love it! A few of the contestants have to pay close attention to her yes because this girl looking like she want to take it home! That Jennifer Hudson “I’m telling you” wow…girl I'm telling you that you have it in you no doubt about it!
Sadly Janique Charles was not at her best this time around but I still think she is Sassy, maybe a little too much “Sass” for a 16year old ( those heels ain’t for 16yr old..she doh really even look it at all boi)…. Anyhow let me not go there, that is a different story for a different blog! I think Janique just tried too hard to be Brandy..to do Brandy and forgot that this competition is about her talent and ability to make a song yours. I agree with Glenda (the judge) when she said that “Have you Ever” really is not a dramatic piece and Janique made it appear as though it was. Have no fear Janique you are talented, gorgeous and still young there will be many more competitions. :-)
The only person who took the funky, dancing and upbeat route was Xavier Baptiste and I applaud her for that. Although she went off-key a couple times, the glow she has on stage when she is performing is phenomenal and she worked the stage well. I doh think that Deniece Williams would be mad at her at all; she made an honest attempt at “Lets hear it for the boys.” I look forward to seeing her move up in this competition as well. Lets hear it for the girl – Xavier Baptiste.
She is definitely a dream girl and it showed in her performance on Saturday night, she had many people in a trance, and just catching every note she threw at them. Is Afiya Athill I am speaking about allyuh! She dressed the part..minus the fact that she did not have on any shoes (yessssss a macco does see these things), she sang her heart out. Alicia Keys would be proud of her interpretation of "Fallin." I liked her at the auditions but I didn’t when she was bussing people car windows (when she sang Bust the windows out your car..) Great job Ms. Athill.
Well I am looking on to see how the cookie crumbles; only four people going on to the next rounds, I have my pick, do you?
**Runs back to post after publishing it** - Kudos to the photographer Joanna de-Silva...girl these pics coming in real handy the blog won't look right without all of them I have used and will continue to use.. Yessssssss I am theifing/borrowing more... lol
-->Macco Gear
-->Macco Look
-->Macco Eyes
-->Macco Ears
-->Macco Smile
-->Macco Talk
-->Camera
-->A notepad just in case I feel to write down stuff…
I am pretty sure that you all saw the first six Semi Finalists on Sunday 11th October and I am sure you all may have favourites but this is how I feel. The thing real sticky now but I am still not totally impressed with the semi-finalists as yet. The first three finalists are Akilah Wilson-Claxton, Donelle Job and Afiya Athill just as I picked them.
Alright the final 10 DRS hopefuls we saw last week was the most talented bunch and it boiled down to two persons being selected by the public; Jason Luke and Janique Charles. It proves again that voters really have all the say, which I do not agree with at all but that is for another blog.
Jason Luke - When I heard Jason sing I was really disappointed, I kept asking myself "Wah wrong with these fellas them boi?" He could sing and that is it, he has a voice but he being selected prevented someone else more talented from getting in; someone with more DRS potential than him. He looked really smart in his tuxedo and might I add he is handsome, great diction but no goosebumps. I really wish he had done more with his voice and just sweep the ladies off their feet. He could have been the one male voice to stand out in this female dominated competition.
Janique Charles - I did not like her in the auditions but after seeing her at the live taping, I fully understand why she was chosen; so young (16 years) and such a beautiful voice!! She was a great start to the show and she set a relaxing and willing mood for the other contestants to fit into. At last the talent in her is showing….
THEN the WILDCARDS….
The person in 3rd place as far as the voting was concerned is Junior Don…OMG…he has a little charm but I have no idea what went wrong this time. He came out on the stage overly confident and then he crashed and burnt. If he ever falls in love again (d Sanchez remix) he will not ever choose to sing that song again. He looked cute though (I will admit that). Maybe he is a little tone-deaf? I know for sure he was out of breath a lot during the song or maybe the key of the song was changed (well that is what he kept mumbling on stage) But one thing I am certain about he was clearly confused!
Nzingha Job – OMG!! Ms "I can do bad all by myself" (dais wah she sang).. She looked a little off….maybe the hairstyle was the help her portray the song to the best of her ability but she was awful. Another waste of a wildcard, I did not like her at the auditions and I still was not feeling her at the Semi-finals. It was really difficult to look at her and worst yet listen to her. Apparently Michael Sallickram was listening to a different person because he “loved her” unlike Glenda and Johnny and a lot of the audience members. All i have to say is she can really do bad all by herself..
Xavier Baptiste – I looked to her…what a beautiful rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I look to you”…From the moment Xavier stepped on stage she had the au
dience in a trance…they were murmuring, they were asking where she was all the time. She is an extremely beautiful young lady, with a powerful and mesmerizing voice. Thru her singing and expressions it was clear that she was comfortable and she was singing from some place deep… maybe her soul. She did have a few odd points in her singing, one or two bloopers but I am not holding that against her at all. Xavier that cleavage is sure to get you numerous male votes. lol
Tiffany Paul – She is the youngest in the bunch and we learnt that she was really sick during the day and right before the show she was shaking with fever BUT you would have been unable to tell. She is really a trooper and she sang her heart out….
I thought it was a great choice of song for her and she makes singing look so easy… I remember her from the auditions (go back to my last blog there is a picture of her there) she has a brilliant voice for such a young person with a meek demeanor. She has brilliant vocals.
You know that Entertainment Macco has to be up in everything, bringing what is happening to all the other Maccos right? So, this is what we are doing and how we plan on doing it…we going DRS!!! Digicel Rising Stars.
Alright so let me make sure I have everything… 
Macco Gear
Macco Look
Macco Eyes
Macco Ears
Macco Smile
Macco Talk
Camera
A notepad just in case I feel to write stuff down…
First there were the auditions…let’s talk about Sunday 6th September 2009, wow; talk about people and talent. The Macco had the opportunity to sit in, witness and observe the happenings of this competition. (Well I was really maccoing eh…but in a real sophisticated way) While I was waiting to be shown around I had the opportunity to walk around, scope out all the audition hopefuls and listen to voices as they bounced off the audition walls. THEN! I was in the mix….I sat next to the first judge who did the pre-screening (you will not and would not have seen him on television)…aww man he was nice, patient and funny BUT I surely did not want a piece of his task. I would call him judge dread...just because he had to make some really tough decisions. You all have no idea how far apart the talent was coming at some times…..It was like 10 horrible singers then one angel would show up.
I always tried to understand (I gave up now) why when a competition comes around and there is a call for singers as well, for some reason every person who has a “bathroom voice”, “home voice”, “indoor voice” or “no voice” come out in their numbers to rinse out the judges ears. The funny part though is that the set that realllllllllllllllllyy cannot sing are the arrogant, the hurt set and the set that hate the judges. How funny is that? Take for example; there was a guy who came in and sung his “heart out” and almost deafen everyone who was in the room he was told, “I am sorry but I would be unable to put you through to the next rounds of DRS…however thank you for coming out though…” He stopped, looked at the screening judge and said, “Huh? Excuse me? Is there any particular reason why **rolls eye**? Hear nah that was a classic….the audacity of some people boy….someone really did tell that boy that he was capable of singing, the sad part however was, they lied! LOL
Oh ho, before that I had the joy of sitting in with the pre-screening judge, I had a little sit down session with Knycky Cordner; the host since 2006 and this is what she had to say when I asked her what she thinks about the competition, “It is a great forum for new and young artistes..not only young age wise but young in the business to get a chance to become someone better” She continued by saying “It is a great opportunity to start off a career with $100,000.00, a world class video and a booking contract, girl I in the business so long and I wish I could get this opportunity! What they want better than that?”
There was this one girl, in a pink and black chequered top that had a voice of an angel….I wonder if she made it in the final 30……Yes only 30 DRS were selected out of about 700 hopefuls… The macco was told that for the Saturday Auditions there were over 300 hopefuls and auditions did not come to an end until 3:00AM on Sunday morning and guess what? There were only 10 spots to be filled!!
One thing I would say that I prefer is a competition with only singers.. I always thought that it is not fair to put a dancer up against a singer and a singer up against a musician and vice versa. This year on DRS I saw vocalists coming out in their numbers and they were chosen. NOW I THINK IT IS A FAIR COMPETITION although we have a couple guitarist/singers but at least they are singing!
The judges are on point as usual Johnny Gonsalves - Judge since 2006, Michael Salickram - Judge since 2006 and Glenda Collens – New Judge 2009. I wonder who is going to be the “Simon” of the bunch! I can already see that it would be the lady; Glenda…Lol
