Entertainment

Surviving Anthony

By TANYA BATSON-SAVAGE, Freelance Writer

Rising Star judges from left, Clyde McKenzie, Nadine Sutherland and Anthony Miller. - contributed

WHEN MOST PEOPLE dream of stardom what they think of are the positives. The life of ease and fame that is graphically displayed in videos and on shows that feed off celebrities like Cribs and Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous and spur the imagination of would-be superstars.

Yet, what these shows never reveal is that to get to that superstardom and even after you get there one has to deal with much criticism and a lot of it will be given publicly. The contestants in the Rising Stars competition quickly learn about the criticism factor as they have to face the judges and then the public, but at least they may not have to hear what the public actually thinks of them.

Even coming through the auditions some contestants come in for blatant ridicule often as weird failed to transform into star quality, or for what ever other reason. Others, like Changa Changa, earned an underground celebrity status though he never made it to the finals, and probably never had a real chance.

Powerful to influence

After the Rising Stars show on Sunday night as the contestants gathered themselves to return to the Knutsford Court hotel, THE STAR asked whether they thought Anthony's comments would affect their chances with the public vote.

Of the three judges, Anthony Miller, Clyde McKenzie and Nadine Sutherland, Miller has consistently been the most cutting, holding to a very high standard of his perception of star quality. He is in a way then, the hardest guard to pass at the gate to stardom. On Sunday the group Touch, Christopher Martin, Keisha Clarke, and Chantelle 'Chanti I' Smith had all got a taste of Anthony's disapproval. Indeed, Touch was hit the hardest as none of the judges were impressed with their performance.

At first the group was dismissive of the potential fallout of Anthony's comments. However, Chanti I quickly disagreed. "It actually does (count)," she said, "because the Jamaican people listen to what he says." The 17-year-old had performed the deceptively difficult Ordinary People.

Like Chanti I, Martin had earned the approval of the other two judges. His postcard had also shown him to be quite charming, and the studio audience loved his performance, so he may well have a good chance of surviving. He said that he would use the comment as motivation.

Over-played

"Mi a go use dat fi push mi," he said. Martin had performed Sam Cooke's Bring It On Home, which Miller declared over-played the oldies slant as Martin had earlier performed I Don't Wanna Bore You. He explained that he had selected Bring It On Home because he liked it. "I think you should work off your comfort level and I'm very comfortable with that song," he said.

Keisha Clarke remained unfazed. "Mi good still," she said. "If Jamaican people out there think that you're good then they'll vote for you. That's what I'm working with, the people," she continued.

And indeed their fates, at least this part of it, have been turned over to the public who will decide which two of the seven contestants will not be making a return.

Of the three judges, Anthony Miller, Clyde McKenzie and Nadine Sutherland, Miller has consistently been the most cutting, holding to a very high standard of his perception of star quality. He is in a way then, the hardest guard to pass at the gate to stardom.