The Jamaica Star :: Entertainment :: Kahlil rises to the occasion

Anthony Minott, Freelance Writer

The group Kahlil stole the show with a medley of sitcom songs. - Nathaniel Stewart photos

Kahlil, a five-man group, rose to the occasion on Sunday, as the top 10 finalists faced off in the Digicel Rising Stars competition at the Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston.

Kahlil, the last performers of the night, proved to the live studio audience, the judges and Jamaica, that they were a cut above the rest.

The group performed a television-themed medley of The Jeffersons and Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Judge Nadine Sutherland could not contain herself. "Kahlil, you come to win?" she asked. Sutherland described the group as one of the better performers since the inception of the show five years ago.

Impressive

Anthony Miller, the usually caustic judge, was also impressed. "I think these guys are the real deal," he said.

Clyde McKenzie thought that of the night's performances, they saved the best for last.

The seventh performer of the night, Cameal Davis, who sang Jimmy Cliff's The Harder They Come also had a good showing. All the judges loved her. "I love it," Nadine said, while adding that she's impressed when an artiste can use someone else's music and manipulate it with her own style.

Clyde said Cameal convinced him that she can really sing, and Anthony thought she was the best he had seen up to that point.

K'Alee, sixth on the bill, had a decent performance. Singing Young Hearts Run Free, she had the backing of two judges, Clyde and Nadine, who loved her vocal abilities. Anthony was not impressed.

K'Alee

Wowed audience

SLR, the only girl-group in the competition wowed the audience and the judges with their cute outfits, but their harmonies, on Jordin Sparks' Tattoo, were not as tight as the previous week.

Lashana Stephenson, the second performer, has a big voice, and showed glimpses of it on Marcia Griffiths' version of First Cut Is The Deepest, but the judges thought she limited herself with that song.

Policewoman Leisha Rose was shockingly tentative while singing Lauryn Hill's Can't Take My Eyes Off of You, and the judges weren't too impressed. Clyde said she was too timid and Nadine agreed, while, adding that her true voice came out mid-way the song. However, Anthony basically put the cuffs on her. "I think you sounded pretty flat," he said.

Leisha Rose in performance at the Rising Stars live performance show held at the Courtleigh Auditorium on Sunday night. Read a review of the show on page 23.

Wayne Williams, who opened the show, had an ordinary performance. He sang Luther Ingram's If Loving You is Wrong. Clyde thought he was playing it too safe with the song. Nadine said she expected more, while Anthony thought the song was too big for him.

R3, a group of three male singers, was just hanging in there with their performance of Michael Bolton's version of To Love Somebody. Clyde thought they gave a decent account while Nadine commented on the improvements. Anthony, however, didn't like it.

Two performers, the group, Secret Melodies and Nigel Wilson, had serious problems with their vocals. The judges all agreed that they were off-key and needed some work.

Come next Sunday, only eight contestants will remain, as two will be going home on Friday.

Cameal Davis