The Voice South Africa: A Whole Lot Of Blah
Another week, another episode of The Voice South Africa. I was tempted to skip it altogether and rather indulge in trashy kids’ entertainment on Cartoon Network but my FOMO got the better of me.
I am hoping for a talent overload tonight so let’s get to the performances right away.
First up is Alex from Port Elizabeth. He looks like a genuine musician and is a pretty good guitarist. This is ‘No Diggity’ like we have never heard it before! There is just too much vocal gymnastics going on for my liking which is a pity because he has a beautiful gruff voice. Bobby turns and because he is the only one to do so Alex becomes his.
Next up is Eston who is an accountant by trade but a musician at heart. His wife thinks he is a rock star. He hopes to impress the judges with his take on ‘Slide’ by the Goo Goo Dolls. His voice is pleasant enough but it just did not make enough of an impact to see a chair turn. Bye bye Eston, hope to see more of you in the future.
Al is a full-time musician and busks her way around Cape Town. She is a really pretty girl with a sad past. If she can put half of her emotion into her performance I think we are in for a pleasant surprise. She gives an Amy Winehouse spin to The Wailer’s classic ‘Turn Your Lights Down Low’. I genuinely thought more chairs would turn but she is more than happy to be a part of #TeamLira
Celeste is 28 years old and hails from Cape Town. She has been singing since the age of 7 and is hoping to take her career to the next level. Hopefully her passion for music translates into her performance. She is a brave girl to take on a song by one of the greatest artists in the world. She’s no Adele but she is pretty damn good. I felt every single word she sang. She gets the 4-chair turn and after much groveling from the judges chooses to join #TeamKaren
Queen is also representing Cape Town and really wants to show her mom just how much music means to her. Her take on Nelly Furtado’s ‘I’m Like a Bird’ is not as impressive as I was hoping it would be. She has a powerful voice but she was terribly pitchy throughout the performance. No chairs turn.
Christie is cute and bubbly but can she sing? She has extensive experience in stage productions and sure talks a lot. She has a rather sweet and unusual voice but it isn’t anything spectacular. Karen and Lira co-ordinate their chair turns. Christie joins #TeamKaren
Mia has been performing for 8 years and is definitely looking for a break in the industry. She hopes that Bobby turns for her (and we are sure it has nothing to do with his hunkiness). She is taking a huge risk singing one of Bobby’s songs. Not too sure how impressed Bobby was but Kahn liked what he heard and turned his chair. Welcome to #TeamKahn Mia!
Shakira looks like a bit of a pop princess and she refuses to give up on her dreams of having a career in music. She takes to the stage with Leanne Rimes’s ‘How Do I Live’. I think nerves got the better of her because she was terribly pitchy. I actually felt bad for her when no chairs turned. Take care Shakira!
The pimp spot of the night belongs to hearing-impaired John-James. A 4-turn chair AND a standing ovation? He is talented beyond doubt BUT I don’t think that performance was quite as hype-worthy as the judges made it out to be.
I am beginning to fear that this season is going to leave me feeling like a chubby kid at fat camp. Where is the mind-blowing talent we were spoiled with last season? Are the producers really holding out on us or is this as good as it is going to get?
Were you impressed by any of the performances tonight or are you sharing my sentiment of pure disappointment? Tune in next week as we, hopefully, get to experience some of Mzansi’s true talent!
Photos courtesy of The Voice South Africa
