Idols South Africa Recap: Respect to One Direction
If you didn’t respect One Direction for being the biggest group in the world before going into tonight’s Idols, you certainly do now. So many terrible group performances have never graced a stage in the history of talent shows. It was similar to seeing a car crash happen, but being powerless to stop it.
That said, some of the blame must lie with the producers. More on that throughout the recap.
The busses that were supposed to go to Sun City went to a classy hotel in Sandton instead. At the hotel the contestants were introduced to the first ever “master class workshop” hosted by RJ Benjamin.
Khaya Mthethwa and Graeme Watkins (was Elvis Blue not available) were there to help the contestants. When group rounds eventually came, it was like these contestants were performing for the first time. They’ll be needing a few more of those “master” classes it seems.
The judges made their way to the hotel too, double checking audition tapes. If they were still uncertain about some of the contestants, they could watch their one-on-one vocal training during said workshops. From what the judges saw, they had to make a tough decision. Who was not going to make it to Sun City.
The judges called everyone in, hell week was about to take off. Finally. Two busses are going to Sun City, the other bus is going straight to the airport. Bye-bye. The contestants climb on the busses, unbeknownst where they’re going. Thirty are on the wrong bus, heading home. It was pretty brutal cut. The first of many terrible producer decisions.
When the contestants finally arrived at Sun City, they were told that the judges already picked the groups. The second terrible producer decision of theatre week. With that, they forced some contestants to sing together who had no right to, and some contestants were lucky enough to be paired with voices perfectly suited to their own. This was never a fair decision to begin with, and some talented singers struggled to get through a simple song. The leader of the group will be responsible for the song and arrangement. The leader of each group had to pick a song, and the theme? Boy band versus girl band. All of the songs are sung by groups, limiting these contestants to some terrible songs.
Winston, Hayden, and Phila were first up with Westlife’s ‘If I Let You Go’. Hayden messed up and Phila was completely off, and their harmonies were terrible. Pretty much a disaster. Randall called it “spectacularly bad”. Phila stays and the other two go home. It’s great to have a celebrity dad, isn’t it?
Jaco, frontrunner Sizwe, and Uitenhage’s Loyiso struggled their way through “Somebody to You’ by The Vamps. They fumble the beginning and had to start over. Their harmonies were horrendous. Jaco sounded okay – passable. Sizwe wasn’t at his best at all, and Loyiso sounded like a pop star. The chorus came together a tad until Sizwe forgot his words. Somizi called Loyiso a gem and thinks Sizwe is wasting their time. Randall said Jaco’s voice has no charisma. Jaco goes home and the others go through. Sizwe dodged a bullet. No, Sizwe, calm down – don’t implode! Jaco deserved to go through more than Sizwe during this performance, but hey.
Emma and co did All Saints and it was pretty much a disaster. Somizi said they sounded like they couldn’t hear the track - off-key most of the time. Only PE’s Amanda goes through.
Following was a terrible package consisting of three horrific groups. They go home.
Rhema, Matthew, and Ron do The Beatles. Rhema sounded off, and the harmonies were terrible. A loud mess. Ron goes home and Rhema and Matthew survive.
Boys No Men arrived and proved that things could get worse.
A package featuring two boy groups were up next - Tebogo and Daniel went through, and Josh goes home. One of my favourites from the auditions. Josh is a perfect example of group rounds being a waste of time and talent. John-Neil and Thami also go through, and Ora goes home.
Mandla, Lungisa, and Karabo were up next, the only boy group who actually sounded like a cohesive whole. That said, they were one of two groups who were lucky to be paired together. At the very least, they were a big improvement. It wasn’t amazing, but it was pretty solid. Their voices sounded beautiful together – thank you, producers. They all go through.
Shenay, Nadia, and Dineo did the Spice Girls. Just no. Their voices did not fit together. Somizi thought it was funny. I would have only put Dineo through, but they all make it. Okay.
Then a girl group sang Fifth Harmony’s ‘Sledgehammer’. Yes. I needed a sledgehammer to beat my ears in, but, “potential” gets them through. A boy group’s ‘She Looks so Perfect’ was very imperfect, another female group survived. Bridgitt, Nina, Ruan, and a wannabe Destiny’s Child manage to make it through.
The last group of the night featured Nonhle, Busisiwe, and Mmatema. Their voices fit together, and they should collectively thank the producers. They’re supposed to work and they do. They gave by far the best vocal performance of the night. Gareth called it a “master class” and Somizi thought it was the best performance of the day. Deservingly, they all go through.
Only 29 contestants made it through to the last solo performance of theatre week. It can only improve.
