The
Top 46 contestants on Saturday night's episode of
Popstars began Workshop Week at the Fairmont Zimbali Lodge on the Dolphin Coast and their eyes were as big as saucers when they were assigned rooms, only to find all sorts of prezzies on their beds.
Everyone was welcomed, the atmosphere was full of excitement, the sea was visible to those who'd never seen it before and all was good with the world.
For a while. Soon it all came crashing down.
Before they knew it the Top 46 were already into their work and the pace never let up until they were whittled down to 30, with 16 unfortunates packing their bags and heading home in tears into the night.
The first bit of advice from judge PJ Powers was for everyone to
stop singing, as they were all rehearsing and trying to impress each other and putting their voices at risk. That threw a few of them.
The first assignment was the Golden Minute, in which each contestant had to sing in front of the judges and the other contestants for a minute, as a means of getting to know them better.
Day 2 began at 6am sharp with an exercise session and a run and some were lectured for arriving late. If you can't make it to a 6am appointment, how will you make it in the industry? A good question,
Martin.
The Day 2 mentors were Jamali, who were there to help with motivation and vocal training. Who better to give advice than a group who has been there, done that, got the paycheque?
The contestants were split into groups of five or six and could sing either Ain't No Mountain High Enough by Jamali, or I Wanna Know What Love Is by Mariah Carey.
The Top 46 were also put through choreography sessions with choreographer Carlos, who reminded them that it's not all about the singing - you gotta be able to move.
The groups performed at the end of Day 2 and were split into four lines - one line of 16 was eliminated, making a Top 30.
The Top 30 began Day 3 bizarrely, helping their new mentor,
PJ Powers, sing her song Help (which she later sang with their backing again). They also had more vocal training and choreography and in the evening performed for the judges in groups once more, this time singing I Want to be a Billionaire.
Just as more were about to be cut, the show ended - next week the judges will axe more, as the Final Decision approaches.