From ten down to two, voters have gotten rid of the rest and left only who they thought were the best and the final performance show of the 2009 Digicel Rising Stars competition has left them with an even harder decision to make.
 
As Princess Tia, the Negril royalty, went head to head with the sweet but spicy general of Bogues, Brown Sugar, they held nothing back in their final three performances. Each contestant was first asked to perform their favourite song from the competition, with Princess Tia doing her well received Lion’s Paw by Tarrus Riley, which was even better accepted the second time around, and Brown Sugar doing her Dancehall Medley which included crowd favourite Lady Saw’s Chat to Mi Back which left the crowd riled up and Judge Nadine Sutherland with the comment: “The first time you did it, it sweet me, It sweet me even more this time!”
 
Their second performance was the Musical Producer’s and Director’s pick, and Peter Ashbourne and Micheal Harris decided that Richie Spice’s Earth a Run Red would best reflect Princess Tia’s voice, while Survivor’s 80’s hit Eye of the Tiger would best suit Brown Sugar. 
 
The final Performance was the Judge’s pick and the contestants were given the option to do one of the three songs that that the weekly judges, Nadine Sutherland, Anthony Miller and Clyde McKenzie had each selected for them. Princess Tia shone in Nadine’s Pick of Vanessa William’s Save the Best for Last meanwhile Brown Sugar had the audience grooving to Grace Jones’ Pull Up to My Bumper.
 
And while all this excitement was going on stage, Kiki was joined in the Chill Room by the 2009 Digicel Rising Stars’ third place winner, who caused a minor uproar on Friday, Diva Adena alongside Stacious, who causes an uproar wherever she goes, while DJ Cut Eye was on the ones and threes for the last time.
 
Outstanding Performances
Though the last two remaining gave each performance their all, there were still one or two performances that were more memorable than the rest.
 
Princess Tia’s re-do of Lion’s Paw may have elevated her royalty status to Empress as she rocked the roots vibe perfectly roaring like a true lioness should.
 
“That song should be your theme song you know, because it sums you up, you are brave, last time you sang it, not a duppy lef’ inna Courtleigh!” was Clyde’s response, while Nadine said: “Likkle girl you tek sum buff inna dis completion, and that lion song, every time it comes up, I feel you so much, it’s so real it’s almost like it’s a testament of your journey in this competition.” She finished by stating “I am not your mother nor your father, but the pride I feel in you Tia, this night, congratulations.”
 
Brown Sugar’s re-do of her dancehall medley was also a crowd and Judge pleaser, with audience members singing along and beating the backs of their seats in rhythm, and ended in a standing ovation, screams and all. Still impressed by the performance, Anthony stated: “This is probably going to be the winning performance of the competition, people enjoyed that, they enjoyed the delivery of that more than they enjoyed the delivery of any other performance from any other contestant in the whole competition. That really works for her.”
 
Clyde, agreeing, stated: “No one could ever say you are not colourful. That medley made pipe side tracing sound so beautiful!”
 
Fashion
The girls really showed us this week that the true fashionistas come from the west, as though Yendi’s lilac pencil skirt and royal purple bustier went down in our fashion notebooks, Tia and Sugar definitely taught the class with Brown Sugar’s purple snake skin and suede mid calf boots and Tia’s brown, suede gladiator pumps and matching falcon feather necklace.
 
Princess Tia’s halter back, loose legged jumpsuit with peacock feather print, and green belt with orange peep toe pumps and chunky wooden bracelets from her first performance said “All eyes on me, I’m gonna do something big!” While Brown Sugar’s second performance gave way to an ultra sleek, ultra sexy leopard print mini cocktail dress with red, green and gold sling back, peep toe pumps and chunky gold jewellery screamed “Ferocious!”
 
Both contestants rocked out their third performances with cute little black, glittered numbers, shining as brightly as they were, with Tia in a strapless mini dress with a black silken bustier top, and glittered, flowing bottom, completed by gold, gladiator pumps, and Brown Sugar rocking a fully sequined super mini dress, with one sleeve made completely of strings of rhinestones.
 
Notable Judges Comments
After Brown Sugar’s spunky performance of Eye of the Tiger, the Musical director’s pick, Anthony Miller had this to say: “So how come the musical directors flop poor Tia? Them give Brown Sugar this song and she mash it up, you can’t give two reggae song one after the other.” referring to Princess Tia’s director’s choice, Richie Spice’s Earth a Run Red, which she sang after her first Reggae song, Lion’s Paw.
 
Princess Tia’s third performance for the night gave the audience a very pleasant surprise. Her rendition of Save the Best for Last, Nadine’s pick, really impressed the audience as they sang along and some even stood as they applauded. Her newly gained confidence and vocals in the competition really seemed to shine through this last performance. However, the Judges didn’t seem to be as moved as the audience.
Miller stated: “She is known for her cuteness, and she was good for the competition, I am surprised she got this far, but truth be told, she is not in the same league as Adena or Brown Sugar.”
 
After Brown Sugar’s third, and very memorable performance of Pull Up to My Bumper in her ultra mini dress, Clyde just could not stop himself when he said: “With an invitation like that, and that little black blouse, you are asking for trouble. I like it!”
 
Audience Comments
Though the audience seemed fully impressed at this week’s show, one audience member, who seemed to think that the final performance show was still a few bars short of spectacular stated: “Yes I enjoyed the show, I always enjoy the show, and the performances were great, but I am so used to great, I really wanted a mind blowing experience for this last show. The both of them should have gone out with a HUGE BANG!”
 
Another audience member a little more concerned with the outcome of the competition had this to say: “Bwoy it going tight still, I mean everywhere mi go mi hear people a seh ‘A Brown Sugar mi a carry!’ an it seem like all a Jamaica a carry Brown Sugar, but is all a Jamaica voting? Tia on di oda han’ she likkle but she tallawah, an she have all a Negril a vote. We will see.”
 
This week is your final chance to vote and to determine who will be Jamaica’s next Digicel Rising Star, so make sure you vote, and don’t forget to buy your ticket to the final show at Mas Camp this Friday!