Idols South Africa Recap: New Frontrunners Emerge
Is Mmatema a frontrunner?
It couldn’t get any worse than last week’s awful group round performances. It was brutal to watch.
But this week things got a whole lot worse.
Nah, I’m just kidding. That’s impossible. The top 29 performed their last solo audition for a place in this season’s top 16 and a few of them really delivered the goods. It was a marked improvement from last week and it finally looks like this season could be a close race.
A frontrunner continued to stumble while a possible new frontrunner emerged. Maybe even two. Sizwe Mthalane, whose audition clearly made him this season’s one to watch, who I thought was going to run away with this competition, continued on from last week’s dreadful group performance with another below par solo offering. Things aren’t looking good for Sizwe. Things are however looking good for Lungisa Xhamela and Mmatema Moremi, who are sitting kinda pretty after their solo performances.
The remaining 29 contestants got woken up with envelopes with their songs on it, and the producers didn’t do too bad a job this time around. Again, anything would have been better last week’s disastrous group round where the producers did half of the screw job.
22-year-old Elwira Standili was up first. Who is this girl? I really can’t remember her. At all. Elwira made sure I was going to remember her after that performance. It was strong, beautiful, and powerful. Her voice alone already puts her miles ahead of last season’s unworthy runner-up Bongi. It was a great start to the round, and things were already going better than last week. Unathi called it “magnificent”. Somizi said it gave him his first goose bumps of the season, and Randall was impressed. Elwira Standili. Yep, going to remember it now.
Mandla Bacela had a solid, but unconvincing take on One Direction’s “Story of my Life”.
Phila “Who the hell are Gangs of Ballet?” Madlinggozi was okay. Okay is not good enough. His voice strained when he was required to go higher. Some viewers already don’t like him and then he says shit like that. Phila unfortunately comes across as a spoiled wannabe with a rich celebrity father. Please don’t put him through.
Nina Terblance, 16, struggled through a Coldplay song. It was okay, too. Also not great. Randall liked her, though. She might just miss out on a spot in the top 16.
Then came Nadia Herbst. Admittedly, when she auditioned I didn’t think she would last the first day or two in Sun City. Gareth thought her nerves were going to get the best of her, and when I heard she was doing Shakira, I thought it was going to be a disaster. The plaasmeisie shut me up. Nadia looked and sounded like a pop star. It was a fun performance and she totally got into it. Randall said some shit no one understood about her lack of Shakira’s “exoticism”. Yes, Randall, a girl who was brought up on a farm isn’t going to sound exotic. She deserves to go through, but I won’t be surprised if she doesn’t.
Siphelele Ngcobo was up next with “Loliwe”. He has a strong voice, but he was given a good vernacular song choice, something he won’t be able to do each week. He’ll go through.
Doctor Lihle Buthelezi did a boring version of Miley’s “We Don’t Stop”. She probably got handed a rough song choice, a song that is so not her. She did not have the pop star sensibilities needed to fully deliver that performance, unlike Nadia. Gareth said there was no spark, and he was spot on.
Bridgitt Leahy faltered through Lorde’s “Team”. It was a disappointing showing from a girl who seemed to have something special. It was a good song choice, but the arrangement and delivery lagged.
Ruan Grobbelaar’s take on “Riptide” wasn’t the strongest I’ve seen, but it was pretty solid. His voice is different and unique enough. Unathi called him one of her favourites. He’ll go through.
Dineo Moseki delivered with Ariana Grande’s “Break Free”. Like Nadia, she is a pop star. It was really strong, and she looks and sounds like a star – she has the package. Top 16, surely.
Port Elizabeth’s Amanda Antony was a bit below par. I wasn’t as impressed as Unathi. I don’t know whether she’ll squeak through.
Amy Lombard was by far one of the weakest. Her vocals are not strong enough. Basically, more looks than talent. She benefited from those group performances – better singers have gone home. Augustus Waters would have committed suicide if he heard that version of “Boom Clap” in The Fault in Our Stars.
Daniel Minnie was horrific. The fuck was that?
A Viagra wouldn’t have helped Matthew Kent get that sex on fire.
Mlondi Mkhize’s falsetto was terribly bad. Dude should have gone home last week.
Chrystal Worship couldn’t shake off her lack of singing talent. Just another pretty face with little singing ability. At least she knew she wasn’t on the same level as the other talent. She’s not delusional. Good on her.
Shenay stunned with a dramatic performance
Shenay O’Brien shut me up with a surprisingly good take on “Lovers on the Sun”. It was a strong, dark, and dramatic performance that I did not find cabaret-like at all, Gareth. Colour me impressed. She definitely lit it up. She’ll go through. I just hope the viewers get behind her, but that might have gone over their heads.
Loyiso Gijana is a pop star. Dude is only 16 years old and already he has the star quality and commercial vibe to make it big. Vocals weren’t the best, but he’s a star. Give him a few years and he could be South Africa’s Jason Derulo He just has it. One of my personal favourites.
Busker John-Neil Jordaan is a pretty average ol’ white guy with guitar. Gareth loved it, though. Meh. Where are you Josh Webber???
Nonhle Mhlongo had an empire state of mind. She wasn’t great, and the performance felt a bit rushed, but it wasn’t bad either. She has a good voice. She’ll probably make it.
Then came frontrunner Sizwe Mthalane. His light has been dimming ever since his great audition. A terrible group performance and a below par version of “Bad Romance” should be enough to send him packing, but you never know what the judges will decide. He is capable of so much better. He struggled, and almost screamed through the song. Does he deserve to go through after an uninspiring theatre week? No. Will his audition carry him through? Maybe. If he gets lucky again and makes it through, he might win it all because of an already vocal fan base.
Returnee Tebogo Louw again faltered during the final solo audition. Fucked up last year, kinda did this year. I’ve liked him since last year, but he just isn’t good enough.
Karabo “Dishwater” Mogane mumbled through the opening verses of his song but eventually got some soul when the chorus arrived to save him. It was okay. Ending better than the beginning. Must admit, I don’t quite get the appeal. He reminds me of Musa. I didn’t like Musa.
Lungisa Xhamela again ticked all the boxes after he delivered a pretty smooth version of MJ’s “Love Never felt so good”. He has the whole package, and could possibly be the new frontrunner. Randall called it “effortless”. Has he taken Sizwe’s spot? Possibly. Lungisa reminds me of an older version of Loyiso. Both of them could be stars.
Rhema Varrie failed to live up to his incredibly soulful audition, but it was still pretty solid. It was good, but not frontrunner solid. He can do better, though. He has the voice.
Thami Shobede wasn’t as smooth as he needed to be on Nick Jonas’s “Jealous” but it was solid. He lacks the smoothness Lungisa and Loyiso has. He lacks the star factor they have.
Mmatema Moremi continued her great Sun City run as she closed the night with Demi Lovato’s “Skyscraper”. The low verses were a bit of a struggle but the chorus was much stronger. As she went on, it got better. It built up to a great finish. She just needs to get that emotion right from the start. All in all, it was a really strong performance. The producers are definitely pushing her to be the great female hope of this season.
Who will make it to this season’s Top 16? What do you think of this season’s talent? Join the discussion!
