Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

This wonderful smile from host Yendi Phillipps must be inspiring for the five finalists left in the 2008 Digicel Rising Stars competition. The heat is now on. - File

The remaining five contestants brought intense heat, and host Yendi Phillipps was surprised with a birthday cake and gifts at the Digicel Rising Stars show held at the Courtleigh Auditorium on Sunday.

After the show ended, most of the lights were turned off and the audience members were asked to remain in their seats. Suddenly, a member of Kahlil appeared singing 'Happy Birthday' and presented a cake to the 22-year-old host who celebrated her birthday yesterday. Moved by the gesture, she started crying.

The tears continued with the executive producer Tahnida Nunez, who thanked her crew and Phillipps for being patient and helping to put on a wonderful show each week. She also gave Phillipps a red BlackBerry as a birthday gift.

Before the tears and cake, the contestants performed with a live band at the packed venue. So crowded was it that the usually cold auditorium was extremely hot. People were sitting in the aisles, children in the laps of adults and many stood near the exit.

The huge crowd was appreciative as the contestants only received louder and louder cheers. However, the crowd was harder to control than in previous weeks and the crew had to be constantly restraining them.

K'Alee started the show, as she slid on her knees and did sharp pelvic thrusts while singing Michael Jackson's Beat It.

Nadine Sutherland was not impressed with how she sounded, but thought her overall performance was wonderful. "Tonight I saw you as a performer. I loved when you fell on that floor," she said.

The crowd started to cheer when Anthony Miller said, "I was overwhelmed." Then he shocked the crowd when he continued, "I was overwhelmed by the theatrics of it. It was too much and it took away from your voice."

Cameal was as crisp as usual when she sang Whitney Houston's hit I Wanna Dance With Somebody. Her performance was captivating and for that she received a standing ovation.

Miller was pleased with Cameal's performance and praised, while Clyde McKenzie tried to restrain himself and not dance with Cameal onstage, Sutherland said: "It is well established that you have an incredible instrument. You have good ears and the song showed off your range and power. You are doing such a good job of choosing songs for yourself."

SLR performed I'm Your Angel by R. Kelly and Celine Dion to a receptive audience, including Nigel, Top Team, Leisha Rose and Orale, who were eliminated from the competition earlier.

There was some improvement with the group members saying they have been listening to the judges' comments. However, all the judges said the members were not ready for the competition this year and the group still needed work.

Miller said: "For once, you didn't irritate me. You did sound better and this is one performance that I did enjoy. I liked that performance."

In the meantime, the chill room was reaching feverpitch with Tessanne Chin interacting with the contestants and even singing with Kahlil. Also, clips were shown of the contestants' makeovers.

The live band created the right ambience and helped Lashana Stephenson to give a heart-felt performance. She sang Taylor Dayne's Love Will Lead You Back.

Though her singing was pleasing and even made Miller tap his feet and close his eyes briefly, it did not create the response her outfit did.

"In that outfit, your chances of finding love are zero, but you sounded great," said Miller. Sutherland and McKenzie also said her performance was good.

Kahlil ended the night singing Chicago's Hard to Say I'm Sorry. At the mention of the group's name, the women in the audience screamed and became breath-less. One member almost caused a heart attack when he stepped off the stage and gave a red rose to a woman.

The judges lauded the group but McKenzie was comical when he coughed then said, "If it sounds as if I am choking, that's cause you are smoking."