On the road to being the first ABC rising star, reigning Guyana star Lisa Punch managed to amass 80 points that raised the wall of the international television song competition and most of Guyana celebrated.
Her tool was her vocal abilities coupled with her emoyional presentation. Both connected with the audience and voters the worldover causing many on the home front to be teary eyed. And of course she sang a song from her musical Idol Whitney Houston asking the question “how will I know”.
Starting like ballad and bursting into and energetic bubble of freshness overall delivery won the hearts and the additional 7 votes each from the four judges. But IT was award winning hip hop star Ludakris who started the judges positive swiping that did it for Lisa.
After showcasing her life’s reality in Guyana and the USA Punch a proud Guyanese in an exclusive interview reflected that before hitting the stage “I was a tad bit nervous but I placed that all behind me and went up there and performed.” The natural performer who ensured that Ludakris pronounced Guyana correctly further added that after then she began singing she drew strength emotionally from her family’s circumstances in Charlotte street and the apartment that she shares with 12 others in Brooklyn.
“After I started to sing all I thought of was my family, Guyana and New York.”
Super excited after her performance at number two on the show’s premere while her critique included her nerves being heard in her voice Judge Ludakris said she desreves her own tour bus. What does Lisa plan to do next to ensure she remains in the competition and ultimately be the first rising star? Naturally she said “I’m just gonna step my game up Now.”
BY Mondale Smith in New York