The Voice SA: We Rank #TeamKaren and #TeamLira
Earlier this week we ranked Team Bobby and Team Kahn. Now it is the turn of those lucky enough to find themselves under the leadership of lovely ladies Karen Zoid and Lira.
Team Karen
R: Jono Grayson
Dude has a solid voice, no doubt, but so have the rest of his talented team members. Simply, he doesn’t stand out. He’s in the last spot because I think he has the smallest chance of surviving the upcoming cut.
J: Jono Grayson
I really like Jono but I fear that he might not have left as memorable an impression on the viewers as some of his team mates. With a stellar performance this could all change of course and I sincerely hope it does because he has a great voice.
R: Nadine Sisam
Another solid singer, another singer who I’m not quite sure stands out enough. Personally, I gave her battle to Tracey-Lee, but Nadine is a good enough singer. She’ll need to blow everyone away to stand a chance.
J: Zaretha Duvenage
As with Jono I fear that Zaretha might become somewhat forgettable which is really a pity because she has a beautiful voice. Hopefully a stand-out performance can propel her up the ranks.
R: Zaretha Duvenage
Her rendition of “Liza se Klavier” during her audition was beautiful, but she didn’t really leave a big enough mark during her battle to rank higher. That said, her solo performance could be a stunner and shake things up quite dramatically.
J: Nadine Sisam
A pretty girl with lots of spunk and a solid voice. Unfortunately she has some stiff competition in her team and a spot in the Top 4 is not guaranteed.
R: Marcel De Almeida
He was part of the trio that delivered one of, or even the most fun, battles of the season. He rocked it out, and his range seems really good. He sits in the middle of the pack, though, ripe for the taking. It’s simple – give a great performance and he has a shot, give an underwhelming performance, he’s out.
J: Mbijana Sibisi
I was ecstatic when Karen decided to steal him. He is definitely one of the more interesting singers in the competition. Does he have a shot at the title? Sure. He is unique enough to not have to worry about splitting votes with anyone else.
R: Mbijana Sibisi
Karen’s steal is a pretty valuable member. He may not have the strongest vocal, but what he does have is a very authentic, earthy vibe. He’s just a nice guy with a good voice and a complete identity. He’s in his own lane. He has a shot, alright.
J: Marcel De Almeida
I really like Marcel – both as a singer and as a person. Although I’m not entirely convinced that 80’s rock is the way to go, personal choice and all, I do believe he has a shot in the competition.
R: Thapelo Lekoane
Karen’s former backup singer also does not necessarily have the biggest voice, but, like Mbijana, she’s in her own lane. Her slightly indie vibe makes her a unique, authentic talent. She knows who she is and is great with what she does. She’s an artist, already.
Interestingly, neither of my Top 2 left a great impression after their auditions. It was their battle performances that stunned me, and here they are.
J: Thapelo Lekoane
Thapelo oozes true artistry and that sets her apart from many of the other contestants. She is ready to take the step from backup singer to solo artist. I hope the South African public embraces her uniqueness.
R: Thembeka Mnguni
Karen was the only coach who turned for the big voiced diva, and I must admit, I thought it was a waste of a turn. Then she delivered a knockout vocal during her battle against Blaque Harmony. She killed them. The sky seemed like the limit. Her range was a revelation. The key for Thembeka, though, is to connect with the voting audience. If she’s not Karen’s pick, she might even be in trouble.
J: Almur Marais
Almur didn’t impress greatly during his Blind Audition but he definitely stepped it up a notch during the Battles. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say Almur will make for a pretty damn good pop singer (yeah pop, not rock)
R: Almur Marais
His “Budapest” cover during his audition was an uninspired song choice which made me think he’s a pretty generic rock singer. Aerosmith and a triple threat rock battle later, Almur stood out. He stunned me. That voice, his energy, his natural edgy performing ability – it all worked. When the music starts and Almur connects, he’s a force. I hope his live performance is as exciting and adrenaline filled.
J: Thembeka Mnguni
I’m not generally a fan of big female voices but this girl is good. She gave Blaque Harmony a run for their money. Song choice will be key for her but if she is able to connect with the viewers she could be in with a real chance.
Team Lira
R: Meyrand Roux
Speaking of generic rock voices, Meyrand has one. It’s not my cup of tea. Nothing new to see here, move right along.
J: Meyrand Roux
I rather like Meyrand’s rock vibes. I’m glad he won his Battle. If he wants to outlast the likes of Gavin and Richard he is going to have to give world-class performances each and every time.
R: Blaque Harmony
Their audition was good, their harmonies during their battle against Thembeka not so much. I think these boys are limited to their genre. That’s what they’re good at. They’re just not very exciting.
J: Blaque Harmony
In all honesty I have not seen enough of these boys to rank them fairly. Their audition was solid but they faltered slightly against Thembeka in the Battle Rounds. I can see them being very popular with the viewers though so it’s a tough call whichever way you look at it.
R: Busisiwe Mutlaka
When Lira turned for the singer at the last second, I was surprised. Her Lira cover wasn’t good. However, Busisiwe’s battle performance was an eye opener, beautiful and controlled. I should note that any of the following three girls can give a great performance and clinch a spot in the Top 16. They’re good. Busisiwe just stands out the least.
J: Busisiwe Mutlaka
Another tough contestant to rank. Her Blind Audition and Battle Round were worlds apart. She is talented and comes across as very likeable. Does she stand out enough to be remembered by the viewers? Only time will tell!
R: Zoë Modiga
Her surprising choice of “Take Me to Church” during her audition was edgy and inspired, and her voice is powerful and unique. She wasn’t convincing during her battle, but her audition makes me believe she could deliver a killer performance. Or she can fall flat. She’s the most unpredictable.
J: Zoe Modiga
One of my favourite Blind Auditions! This girl has tons of spunk and a powerful voice. She took a step back during her Battle Round but I have no doubt that she will come back with a bang during the Live shows.
R: Sibulele Miti
Sibulele has a beautiful tone, a warm, rich tone that struck me during her audition. Sure, it’s maybe not as powerful as the girls below her, but tone trumps power in a lot of cases, and this might be one of those cases. With the right song that connects with Sibulele and the audience, she could clinch a spot.
J: Jeremy Olivier
I loved Jeremy’s cover of ‘All of Me’ during the Blind Auditions. The viewers love him and he seems like the type of guy you can just hang out with. This is such a tough group to be in and I fear that Jeremy or my personal top-guy Jono might not both survive the cut.
R: Robin Pieters
Personally, his music isn’t in my lane. It’s not something I love, but he’s a very popular dude and he might well end up in the finale. He has a very strong voice but moreover, he’s a great performer. He’s a lock.
J: Sibulele Miti
Definitely one of my favourite girls in the competition. She has a hauntingly beautiful voice and is extremely down to earth and relatable. Sadly we know by now that women voters tend to prefer the male contestants and this could see her exit the competition too early.
R: Jeremy Olivier
I hate that Jeremy and Jono are singing on the same night next week. It means that one of them could likely go home. Still, I rank them in my Top 2. Jeremy’s “All of me” made for a standout audition. He’s also a popular figure and an all around nice guy. His battle didn’t completely hit the mark, but I don’t think he can do much wrong in the eyes of viewers.
J: Robin Pieters
Robin has been a front-runner in the competition from within seconds of him singing during his Blind Audition. The guy has a serious set of pipes on him and the viewers will buy whatever he has on sale. Is he a personal favourite of mine? No. Do I think he is in the competition for the long haul? Yes.
R: Jono Johansen
Easily, Jono is one of the most skillful singers in the competition. At 19, he’s pretty damn good. That said, Jono might fail to connect with viewers and may be dumped out of the competition, which would be a huge bummer. This kid deserves to be in this competition for the long haul. It’s The Voice, after all, and he’s got it. The key for him is to let loose and deliver a knockout vocal performance that would convince Lira to hand him the automatic save.
J: Jono Johansen
I went with my heart on this one. Jono is by far one of the most polished performers in the competition. At 19 years old he displays a musical maturity well beyond his years. His glorious vocals paired with his movie-star looks will make him a hit among young and old. I firmly believe that this is his time to shine. He is in a tough group but he definitely has what it takes to go all the way to the finale!
So there you have it - all 32 contestants ranked.
How does your personal ranking compare to ours and whose live performance are you looking forward to the most?
Let us know in the comment section!
