Dalton’s Rising Stars panel sings praises.
THE JAMAICAN music industry has long reaped the benefits of talent searches. For instance, it was the Tastee Talent Contest that first exposed the talent and showmanship of entertainers such as Yellow Man, Beenie Man, Papa San and Mr Vegas.
Though that contest is no longer staged, the practice carries on through programmes like Digicel Rising Stars and Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall.
More expansively, Jamaicans have found reason to celebrate international talent searches when they feature one of our own.
Tessanne Chin charmed the United States during her winning appearance on NBC’s ‘The Voice’. Now, it’s Dalton Harris making waves on the ‘X Factor’ UK.
Harris, who is now a semi-finalist on the show, has garnered the support of an international audience, his fellow countrymen, and his former Digicel Rising Stars judges.
“I’m ecstatic! I’m watching along with everybody. I think all Jamaicans feel a sense of investment,” Nadine Sutherland told The Gleaner from New York.
Comparing her experiences as one of his former judges on Digicel Rising Stars and now as a spectator of his efforts in the international competition, Sutherland said that she sees a more worldly, confident performer. “As part of that panel, there’s a deeper sense of investment for me. I remember a gangly, awkward-looking kid blowing us away,” she recalled. She said that Digicel Rising Stars has produced some formidable talents, as did the Tastee Talent Contest back in the day.
“I’m the first winner of the Tastee Talent Contest, and I haven’t done too badly with my life. Look at Romain Virgo, Christopher Martin. Shuga is doing her thing. We cannot discount the relevance Rising Stars brings forth,” Sutherland said.
DIFFERENT ARENA
Like many others, Anthony Miller has his fingers crossed for the young singer’s success. However, Miller said there should be no comparison between Harris’ international showing and his local success. He said: “This person was a teenager back then. Now, he found a completely different platform. We’re seeing what he’s capable of; it’s stunning. Obviously, he can sing. His vocal range is amazing. He speaks clearly. They like his emotional delivery and he has an interesting story. He’s a good package, tailor-made for TV.”
Recalling Harris’ recent ‘wow’ performances, including classic UK hits like David Bowie’s Life on Mars, Radiohead’s Creep, and Elton John’s Sorry Seems To
Be The Hardest Word, Miller believes the choices are clever, as they appeal to the UK audience. “He’s being asked to perform songs he didn’t know much about. It’s a challenge that sets up interesting tension. I think it stretched him. They are cleverly selected songs that bring out the very best in him,” he said.
“It’s a pity no one [locally] saw the potential and he languished. Producers out here are going to say, ‘Damn, I should have been playing closer attention.’ It makes you wonder, why do we have to leave to realise potential?”
‘He’s being asked to perform songs he didn’t know much about. It’s a challenge that sets up interesting tension. I think it stretched him. They are cleverly selected songs that bring out the very best in him.’
‘I’m ecstatic! I’m watching along with everybody. I think all Jamaicans feel a sense of investment.’