Preliminary judges Roy Rayon (left) and David Wedderburn examine the talent at the Rising Stars audition held at Fayors Entertainment Centre, Mandeville, on Saturday.

Andr Jebbinson, Staff Reporter

The second audition for the 2007 Rising Stars competition rolled into Mandeville on Saturday and the town came out to see.

With over 500 registrations before noon, the influx meant the judges had to split the audition into two locations. Last year's winner, One Third, auditioned in Mandeville and the talent there is always encouraging. When the first three tryouts made it out of the preliminary round, it seemed the day was going to deliver on the expectation, but things are not always as they seem.

Many might have also thought it was going to be a cool day, but they were wrong on the first two counts. First, the coolness generally associated with the plateau town was absent. The sun was blazing and of the 634 registered rising stars wannabes, only 117 impressed the preliminary judges to earn the chance to appear before Anthony Miller, Clyde McKenzie and Nadine Sutherland yesterday. That total was narrowed down to only 10.

Rising Stars junkies will have to wait until the show starts airing to find out who those 10 are, but apart from that, there were those who did not stand a chance. For the entire day, singing went from one extreme to another. Some of the contestants' voices were as clear as a whistle, but then there were those who sounded as if someone stepped on a cat's tail.

Optimistic judges

From left, Teno Stewart, Wendy Lawrence and Stephanie Francis audition to be the 2007 Rising Stars. - photos by Colin Hamilton

The judges, for the most part, were optimistic and seemed anxious to grant many of the contestants' wishes.

"See these slips in my hands, they are yours. All you have to do is go out there and shine to get one," said David Wedderburn.

With that pep talk, they were also on hand to offer advice to those who had potential, but did not shine quite as brightly.

"You have the star quality, you just have to brush up some more and come back with some more conviction," Wedderburn said to some contestants.

It was common advice throughout the day and it is yet to be seen whether they will take heed. However, one group, Secret Reload, came back after a few obstacles.

The group made it to the studio top 10 in 2005 but was voted off. They then reappeared at last week's audition in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, but one group member could not make it to the call-back, hindering the group's progress. They made it through the preliminary round on Saturday and maybe the third time will be the charm for them.

Lesson to learn

This could also be a lesson that it is sometimes better going solo. Jimmy Hamilton, another top 10 finisher in 2004, took his own time to solve his personal issues then try again this year. The judges remembered him and admired his persistence.

One Third made a return to the town where Jamaica first saw them and the fans were excited. Of course, the camera phones were all out to capture a moment with the reigning champs.

By then, at the end of the day, the judges were ready to give Mandeville's audition the edge over Ocho Rios'.