Idols South Africa Recap: Deep Waters
Last night’s Durban auditions continued the narrative of having to sift through the bad (and I mean very bad) to get to some of the good. I personally cannot wait for live shows to start so that we can just be left with the good. This episode too brings us about two or three standouts. So far, there have barely been 10 contestantants who could make up the top 16.
16 Golden Tickets were handed out in Durban, the first of which went to another chick from Port Elizabeth (my hometown represents! For a little while at least), 19-year-old Amanda Antony. Pretty cool vibe, crazy red hair and a pretty solid cover of ‘Titanium’. Three yes votes and she’s through.
The next half-hour brought some pretty poor form. You know, like the form we saw from The Sharks this season, it being Durban and all. Contestants massacred ‘Budapest’, ‘Sexy and I Know It’, and ‘Stay with Me’ in one package.
Eventually we got Winston Moonsamy, 28, who also auditioned in 2011 and 2012. After his last elimination, he was pretty bitter, and had some nice words for Idols on his Facebook page. Included in the rant was something about the show not wanting to give Indian guys a chance. Well, he’s back, and Gareth asked him to apologize. Based on the audition, I don’t think he’ll go much further than the last two times he auditioned. Get ready for more angry Facebook posts in the near future. 3 yes votes and he’s going to Sun City for a third go at it.
Nonhle, Mandla, Siphelele, and Msawenkosi all go through during a rather forgettable audition package. You cannot fully judge them based on a few seconds, though.
The first contestant who really stood out was 18-year-old songwriter Bridgitt Leahy, who first sang a cool breezy cover of ‘Too Close’. It was a solid version of the song, and she has a cool tone, and a cute but cool vibe to go with it. Randall asked to hear an original composition, and she obliged with a really strong song which I wanted to download immediately. Unathi thinks she’s special. Four yes votes, and Bridgitt is through.
Poor Mlondi, 25, works at a carwash. He sings Ne-yo’s ‘So Sick’ before Unathi asks him to do a South African song in vernacular. He has a good voice, and I thought his ‘So Sick’ was strong enough to go through. “Don’t be scared to be you” was Unathi’s profound advice. He goes through. Very likable guy indeed.
Funeral jokester Hayden, 19, was the next to go through. I liked this kid, funny dude. He auditioned with ‘Budapest’. It was a good cover and he hit all the right spots, but maybe it was a little too similar to George Ezra’s original. Certainly worth a ticket to Sun City. 3 yes votes. He’s not going to Budapest, but Sun City rather.
The Doctor who sings, Lihle, 27, made a welcome return to the show. Eliminated at the top 31 stage last season, she just narrowly missed out on a spot in the voting stages. She at least did Sam Smith’s ‘I’m Not the Only One’ justice. That poor song has been through so much this season – a bloodbath, really. Lihle sang a strong enough version but, Randall is right, we have heard this song way too much. Four yes votes and she’s through. Holding thumbs that she makes it this season.
16-year-old Arliya Peters received the second to last Golden Ticket with a ‘Counting Stars’/’Timber’ mash-up. My first thought was that she’s too young. She’s talented, and fresh, and there’s a clear artist in there, but some time will do her only good. Four yes votes, though. I hope she doesn’t get the “You need to come back next year” speech at the long mile.
The last Golden Ticket went to orphan Sizwe Mthalane, 20, who gave the best vocal performance of the night and to my ears was the star of the episode. His impressive cover of ‘Beneath Your Beautiful’ was accompanied by the guitar. I’m a sucker for some grit, and his voice had just enough of it. So naturally, four yes votes.
Now that was the good, and by that I mean those who went through to Sun City. The episode also tried to bring some laughs, as usual, but at this stage, I just want to fast forward to the good.
Neliswe shouted some South African song and couldn’t sing a Mariah Carey or Jennifer Hudson song when Somizi asked. Just crickets. She’s won’t be going on Noot vir Noot anytime soon.
Mzilikazi, 20, proclaimed that he was their next Idol before singing an original song called ‘Puberty’. Nope, you’re not going to be the next Idol, but an entertainer you could be.
And then there was Charl Rink, the waterboy. Yes, he came back. For the third time this season. Three for three. He was turning 31 the next day, so it was his last opportunity to audition. They gave him a present to celebrate the occasion – a 5L bottle of water hidden inside a huge package. Can we not drown him in Durban’s beautiful water, just to make sure that he does not return? He likes water. It’ll be the right way for him to go.
What did you think of the episode? Any standouts? A new favourite? Leave a comment on our Facebook page and join the discussion!
