It was a see-saw musical journey for the fantastic four in the Digicel Rising Stars competition at the Courtleigh Auditorium.

Toni Blair gave her emotional last song Sunday night as she was sent home in fifth place in the competition. The remaining contestants, Jermaine Michael, Camaley, Nekorah Philips and Dalton Harris, performed two songs each for the first time - a popular current song and a song from the year they were born. Camaley was up first with Air Supply's Nothing At All. Guest judge Ce'Cile thought it was a great song choice whereas Anthony Miller thought she sounded "screechy", commenting, "you never made much out of nothing at all".

For her second song, the singer changed gears coming out in a colourful outfit and performing Demarco's True Friends. Miller thought the performance was fake and not consistent with Camaley's image. Nadine Sutherland said, "I have to give you kudos, you are competing."

good voice

Jermaine Michael did a smooth rendition of How Am I Suppose to Live, as Sutherland said it was the first time she had seen such an emotional performance from Michael. Clyde McKenzie said he wasn't electrified, but believes Michael has a very good voice.

He performed Chino's From Mawning for his second song, but it didn't go down as smoothly. Sutherland said, "I really thought you should have chosen another song that was better for your voice." Miller said, "You started out by looking down and you defeated yourself from the word go, I wanted to like it but really didn't."

Powerhouse Nekorah Philips did Madonna's Papa Don't Preach, which got a mixed reaction. Ce'Cile thought Philips could have done better. Miller said, "I thought you kicked it tonight." Her second song, however, Battlefield, by Jordin Sparks, the judges believed, wasn't a good song choice. Ce'Cile said the song was hard to do but she has a great voice. Miller added that Philips was the best singer in the competition but said, "that song was a dud, it died on the spot ... so off base".

Dalton Harris was back in his comfort zone, giving a moving rendition of Lately. Sutherland enthused: "Dalton, all who sey yuh done, you just prove dem wrong, you just quiet your critics. I felt like I was gonna cry, you're back." Ce'Cile thought it was the best performance of the night. McKenzie said, "I tell yuh something, tonight if you even sing a doctor's prescription you sound good."

Harris closed the night with Justin Bieber's Baby Baby, but Miller commented: "Producers usually save the best for last. That was not the best, you left us on a low," but Sutherland liked it, thinking it was young and charming.

Toni Blair

Camaley

Colin Hamilton photos

Jermaine Michael

Nekorah Philips

Colin Hamilton

The audience gives an enthused response after a performance at Digicel Rising Stars on Sunday.

The top five await the results as Lady Rennae speaks.