Denise Reid, Star Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

As the coaster bus, which transported the Digicel Rising Stars crew and the 2008 top-three finalists, slowly entered the quadrangle at the Montego Bay High School (MBHS), students became excited and the auditorium erupted into deafening screams.

Joined by students from Cornwall College, Harrison Memorial and Mount Alvernia high schools, the ladies of MBHS cheered the acts that were that performed at the Rising Stars school tour, held on Thursday.

students sang lustily

As the Rising Stars prepared to grace the stage, pop music blared from the speakers and the students sang lustily to hits such as Usher's Love in This Club and Serani's Doh. Students wasted no time getting their groove on, doing 'Nuh Linga' and 'Gully Creeper' dances.

SLR was the first group on stage, however, due to illness, the group was without Anna-Share Blake. Nevertheless, Latoya and Roshauna did a fabulous job of re-enacting their performances on past shows and sang songs such as Love Is Wicked and Nothing To Smile About.

She needed a male. This was Cameal's request when she took the stage, and MBHS students eagerly offered Maurice Clarke, their music teacher. "Mister Clarke! Mister Clarke!" they chanted, until he appeared on stage, at which time they burst into maddening screams.

moments of close contact

As Cameal serenaded the music teacher with a rendition of Beyoncé's Dangerously in Love, the crowd was delighted, screaming at moments of close contact.

Her lively performance had the crowd going and she sang some of the hits she performed on the show, such as Love is Real and Jennifer Hudson's Spotlight.

With only one act left to go, the MC tried to add some suspense, telling the girls that Kahlil had been unable to make it. He lamented that "whenever something can go wrong, it will," as electricity had gone. But the dejected-looking crowd erupted into happiness when music suddenly blared from the speakers.

When Kahlil entered the stage, the marker that was the designated boundary, which students should not pass, seemed to disappear as students ran to the front of the stage. Some of them held placards, which read 'Go Kahlil'.

When Kahlil decided to serenade a birthday girl, Sasha-Gaye Morris, it was enough to throw the students into hysterics, and this was before Shane held the student close, saying, "Happy birthday" in a deep voice.

The group performed some of the hits that made them crowd favourites on the televised show. These included Mavado's On The Rock and If I Ever Fall In Love, during which they showcased some of their well-choreographed dance moves.

After leaving the stage, the group returned to perform one last song and again the students raced to the front of the stage. They sang along lustily to Movin' On Up to bring the exciting afternoon to an end.