Last night (Sunday, 22 March 2009) the Top 8 Idols hopefuls delivered their third Spectacular of the season. The theme for the evening was
Robbie Williams New Millennium songs and in between their performances they shared news about what's going on in their house, which looks much better than the rigourmortis place
they stayed at last season.
Snippets revealed through the inserts included:
1. Every girl would date Graeme for a laugh.
2. Lendel spends all his time shaving a thin line instead rehearsing.
3. There are two romantic liasons going on: one serious and one not. Our possible combo's: Lizé and Graeme, Lizé and Lendel, Lizé and Cameron, not Lizé and Jason - reason to be revealed soon.
4. Sasha-Lee should be a talk show host instead of a singer.
Here's what the judges had to say about the performances, as well as vids of each:
Jason Hartman
Jason opened the show with Seal’s “Love’s Divine”.
Dave said it was the perfect start to the show. “That came close to perfection,” Mara gushed: “You’re magic, baby!”, and Gareth agreed. “That… was sensational.”
Randall said that Jason had chosen the right sort of song for him and that it was a “measured performance”. “If you stay, you should stick with that sort of song choice,” he advised.
Jason’s voting number: phone - 086 2277710 or SMS “Jason” to 34680.
Sasha-Lee Davids
Sasha-Lee followed with Leona Lewis’s cover of Snow Patrol’s “Run”.
Dave commented that Sasha Lee was “one of the smartest people of the bunch” when it comes to song choice. “You know what works, what the public will respond to,” he said.
Mara agreed that Sasha-Lee is “growing in leaps and bounds”. “You have the best ear of anyone who’s ever been on Idols,” Gareth raved. “It’s an incredible talent.”
Randall commended her for focusing not only on the theatre audience, but also on the audience watching at home.
Sasha Lee's voting number: phone - 086 2277708 or SMS “Sasha Lee” to 34680.
Lizé HeermanLizé performed Gnarls Barkley’s 2006 hit, “Crazy”, from his debut album St. Elsewhere.
Dave thought the song was a funky, brave choice. “You’re a courageous artist,” he said.
“You surprise me,” Mara said. “I’ve been bored before, but this week I enjoyed what you were doing.” Gareth seemed speechless by Lizé’s performance and Randall seemed similarly struck. “In the past when I’ve given you positive comments, you ended up in the bottom half. Do you want me to be really mean?” he teased and went on to say that he couldn’t find anything mean to say.
He commended Lizé on choosing a song that people expect to be done in a specific way. He said it was dangerous, “but it’s good - it shows you’re a musician.”
Lizé's voting number: phone - 086 2277709 or SMS “Lizé” to 34680.
Cameron BruceCameron chose “Breakeven”, from the Irish pop-rock band, The Script.
“It’s pop music - it’s what this is all about,” Dave said. “You’re getting into the excitement now and that’s fantastic.” Mara praised him too with a “You rocked!”
Gareth said he loved Cameron’s guitar accompaniment, “but it got a bit static. Maybe next week we could get some movement going.” Randall agreed that it was good to hear something contemporary from Cameron.
Cameron's voting number: phone - 086 2277702 or SMS “Cameron” to 34680.
Graeme WatkinsGraeme chose Coldplay's Clocks, from the band’s second album.
Dave said that Graeme was a fine singer, but that unfortunately there was just something he didn’t get in the performance. Mara agreed. “Don’t panic,” she consoled, and added that she detected problems with the pitching.
Gareth thought Graeme’s performance started well but then deteriorated. Randall pointed out that the four previous contestants had each added some personal dimension to their performances, but that he didn’t get that from Graeme.
Graeme's voting number: phone - 086 2277713 or SMS “Graeme” to 34680.
Thembi Nkosi Thembi chose “Right Here (departed)” from Brandy’s fifth studio album, Human.
Dave praised Thembi on making a shrewd song choice, and said that out of all the contestants, “you’re displaying the most hunger to win.”
Mara echoed this sentiment. “You’re not here to fool around,” she said. Gareth was impressed with Thembi’s energy. “When you’re on that stage it’s just alive!”. Even Randall was uncharacteristically charitable. “This year we’ve seen the widest range of personalities. I’m sorry someone has to go - I’d like to see you all just keep singing.”
Thembi's voting number: phone - 086 2277701 or SMS “Thembi” to 34680.
Lendel Moonsamy
Lendel performed “Closer”, from Ne-Yo’s third album, Year of the Gentleman.
“You’ve been missing the past couple of weeks. I’m pleased to see you back,” Dave said. Mara also approved, but she cautioned Lendel to “keep pushing that envelope”.
“You were in your depth - not out of your depth!” Gareth praised and Randall said that it was “a very strong performance.” But he cautioned that Lendel also failed to bring his own personality to his song.
Lendel's voting number: phone - 086 2277712 or SMS “Lendel” to 34680.
Pixie Bennett Last up was Pixie who sang “I’m Outta Love” by Anastacia.
Dave said that he couldn't believe that there are “four tiny little girls with such strong voices” in the Top 8. - which made Mara laugh.
She complemented Pixie on being “full of life”, but said that in her opinion “the guys are kicking butt!”
Gareth praised Pixie for not being afraid to do a wide variety of songs. “And you’re so cute!”
Randall was amused and impressed by Pixie’s glamorous new style. “What happened to the tie-dyed hippie who first came to audition?” he teased.
Pixie’s voting number: phone - 086 2277706 or SMS “Pixie” to 34680.