Press Release
eMalahleni lost its shot at two consecutive Idols winners in a shock result at the Pretoria State Theatre last night as Idols host ProVerb announced without any preamble that 27-year-old Musa Mashiane received the fewest votes this week and had to go home.
The announcement obviously came as a shock to the entire Top 6 group, but Musa gathered his composure quickly. “You know me - I’m always smiling on stage,” he bravely told ProVerb. “God is superior to Idols,” he said. “He knows best”
Musa entered Idols X at the State Theatre auditions in Pretoria as a professional musician who has worked closely with Idols 9 winner, Musa Sukwene, in an eMalahleni band with the rather prophetic name of “Choice Assorted”.
He was one of the standout contestants during Theatre Week at Sun City. “Some people don’t need to try. Some people just have a whole lot more soul than they should at age 27,” Gareth Cliff told him back then.
After saying goodbye to Musa, the pressure was on for the remaining Top 5 contestants, as they now each had to perform twice to impress the Idols judges and, more importantly, the voting fans.
After working with this week’s musical mentors, Brad and Josh Klynsmith from the South African group Gangs of Ballet, Nelspruit’s
Bongi Silinda (24) opened the show with Adele’s “Set Fire To The Rain”.
“A very, very good start to the song, you’re a terrific powerful singer,” said Gareth Cliff. “Just watch your timing,” he warned.
Unathi Msengana thought it was the perfect opening to the show. “The emotions were there, the lyrical content was there,” she said, but she agreed with Gareth about the timing issues.
But Randall Abrahams disagreed with both of them. “That was probably your worst performance so far,” he chastised Bongi. “The phrasing absolutely got away from you - and that’s the impact of the song,” he said.
For her second round performance Bongi got funky with Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy”.
Gareth thought the timing was a little better on this song, but still not spot-on. But he did think she held the stage very well. “I loved the thug approach,” said Unathi. “When you lose that spark that you initially had you’re going to lose votes,” Randall warned her. “At this stage it’s almost too perfect - too refined.”
To vote for Bongi fans can text her voting number for the duration of the competition,
01, to 37400, or dial *120*33033# Fans can also vote for free on WeChat or on the Idols mobi site or on the Idols X website at
www.dstv.com/Idols.
Kyle Deutschmann (27), the chiropractor from Durban, chose “Wonderwall” by Oasis for his first song.
Gareth thought it was a very “cheeky and experimental” choice. “I also think this was your best performance in the show so far,” he told Kyle.
Unathi agreed –“because you’ve finally given me your soul,” she thought.
“The only problem that I had was, the same way Bongi had a problem with phrasing, you had a problem with pitching,” Randall told Kyle. “And at this stage of the competition the room for error is very, very low,” he warned.
Kyle’s second performance of the night was the Maroon 5 hit, “She Will Be Loved”.
Gareth thought Kyle had a little Adam Levine thing going on in that performance, but “be very, very wary of being flat on some of your notes,” he warned. In a very technical comment, singer-to-singer, Unathi advised Kyle to choose the “pentatonic scale” for his high notes.
Randall predicted that two other contestants would have two really good performances this week and Kyle would be in trouble.
To vote for Kyle fans can text his voting number for the duration of the competition,
06, to 37400, or dial *120*33033# Fans can also vote for free on WeChat or on the Idols mobi site or on the Idols X website at
www.mnet.co.za/idolssa.
Professional performer
London Louw (24) from Cape Town shook things up in the first round with the Cindy Lauper anthem, “Girls Just Want To Have Fun”.
“I think the Bottom 3 has seen the last of you,” Gareth said happily. “You’re a formidable entertainer,” Unathi told him. “Really great performance,” Randall praised. His only note to London was that his elocution was a bit “proper” for the song.
For his second round performance London went with No Doubt’s “It’s My Life”.
“What you get is when Gwen Stefani sings this song she’s a little bit pissed off,” Gareth recognised. “Your imperfections are perfect,” said Unathi. “Perfect song choices for you today,” she noted.
“You’re probably going to win #BestSongChoiceEver,” said Randall.
To vote for London fans can text his voting number for the duration of the competition,
02, to 37400, or dial *120*33033# Fans can also vote for free on WeChat or on the Idols mobi site or on the Idols X website at
www.mnet.co.za/idolssa.
Lize Mynhardt (21) from Stellenbosch kept it old school in the first round with the Simon & Garfunkel classic “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”.
“This is you at your very best,” Gareth responded. “This is you reminding us and reminding everybody else why you were so impressive in that first audition.” “That sustained note was just definitive of your greatness,” said an emotional Unathi.
“I expected something a little bit modern, and all those histrionics as you know is not for me,” Randall complained. But he admitted that it would probably get Lize votes.
Lize’s second song was “Somebody That I Used To Know” by Gotye, featuring Kimbra.
Gareth wanted to now if Randall thought that was contemporary enough for him and Randall said “certainly”. And Unathi thought it was sexy, so Gareth thought there was no further need for discussion.
To vote for Lize fans can text her voting number for the duration of the competition,
08, to 37400, or dial *120*33033# Fans can also vote for free on WeChat or on the Idols mobi site or on the Idols X website at
www.mnet.co.za/idolssa.
For his first round performance the worship leader from Pietermaritzburg,
Vincent Bones (29) chose guitar hero Santana’s “Smooth”.
Gareth had some praise for the Idols guitarist, but Vincent, he said, did as well as he could’ve with this song. “It’s not your strongest song choice,” he said. Unathi agreed that this song might cost Vincent some votes.
Randall thought it was a bit “Dad rock”- not for someone Vincent’s age. And he also thought Vincent should have smiled a bit and looked like he was enjoying himself.
Vincent closed the show with his second-round song, “Apologise” by One Republic featuring Timberland.
“I expected nothing less from you - that’s your kind of song and you pulled it off perfectly,” said Gareth, but he hoped that Vincent wouldn’t become predictable. “For the next round, surprise us,” he advised.
Unathi was impressed with Vincent’s voice control and interpretation of the song. Randall admitted that it can be a delicate balancing act to please the judges and the crowd, and he thought that at least Vincent is getting
one of those right. But he wouldn’t let on which one.
To vote for Vincent B fans can text his voting number for the duration of the competition,
09, to 37400, or dial *120*33033# Fans can also vote for free on WeChat or on the Idols mobi site or on the Idols X website at
www.mnet.co.za/idolssa.
After the first round Randall and Unathi both thought that London was in the lead, but Gareth thought that Kyle had dominated. And after the second round Gareth singled out Kyle, London and Lize. Unathi had two favourites: London and Lize. And Randall picked Lize as his favourite.
Voting for the Top 5 performances opened at the start of tonight’s show and closes at 22:00 on Tuesday, 28 October.
The results will be announced in next Sunday’s Spectacular (2 November), when one of the Top 5 contestants will be sent home.