One Third, Rising Stars winner for 2006 perfrom at the launch of the 2007 season at the Courtleigh Auditorium on Wednesday.

by Kavelle Anglin-Christie, Staff Reporter

Rising Stars is back and can you believe it's better?

This year the winner will receive $1 million cash and two singles which will be produced and distributed by Green-sleeves Records.

The 2007 Season launch of Rising Stars, which was held at the Courtleigh Auditorium, New Kingston, on Wednesday night, began with humorous highlights of last year's auditions and eliminations.

Then Mike Hogan, the show's executive producer, gave an overview of the show and said in the future he hoped there would be a Pan-Caribbean final, but before that happened they would have to sift through voting details and language barriers.

Then to lighten things up a bit, personnel from the Fame FM programme, 'Full House Friday', along with those from Dance Expressions, did a musical piece about the competition. Those from the 'Full House Friday' crew were Volier Johnson, Christopher 'Johnny' Daley and Elva.

While singing their comical song they attempted to get some audience members involved, including Christopher Martin, the 2005 winner. Elva handed him the script saying, "Read dat and sing it."

An unwilling Chris, only looked at the paper and grinned. "Di bwoy cyan read so good," said Elva, which evoked laughs from the audience.

After the 'Full House' performance, Nickiesha Barnes sang Lauren Hill's Ex-Factor and reminded the audience of why it was so difficult to choose between her and the 2006 winners One Third.

Paula Pinnock-McCleod, Digicel's product manager, then thanked the sponsors, viewers and future contestants for helping to make the show a success.

To close the evening, One Third hit the stage with a surprise of their own, literally. They mesmerised the audience with their usually perfect moves and new songs, including, Candle Light.

To introduce the song, Al, a member of the group said, "I am from the ghetto and whenever any of my bredrin drop out we light candle pon the street side. Yuh fi only light candle pon birthday or romantic dinner or something."

After which they launched into the song, and the chorus goes: "We nuh wha haffi light no candle pon di corner/ a life we a deal wid on yah."

The winners will also release a video for one of the singles. Additionally, they will get $100,000 call credit from Digicel. The first runner-up will receive $600, 000 and will have one single produced and distributed by Greensleeves, plus $75,000 call credit from Digicel. The second runner-up will receive a $400,000 cash prize, one single produced and distributed by Greensleeves and $50,000 call credit from Digicel.

Auditions for season four begin April 21, 2007. On Saturday, April 21, they will be held at Island Village, Ocho Rios, Saturday, April 28, Fayors Entertainment Complex, Mandeville; Saturday, May 5, Neville Antonio Park, Port Antonio; Saturday, May 12, Pier One, Montego Bay; and Sunday, May 19, National Stadium, St. Andrew.

Rising Stars runner-up Nickeisha Barnes. - Colin Hamilton