It's back to school for 16-year-old Loyiso Gijana who was eliminated from Idols on Sunday before reaching the Top 4.
Besides losing out on the title, Loyiso also missed out on a trip to London which the final four are making this week before the build-up to the finale on 22 November.
Who will leave next? Here's what the judges had to say about each of their performances ...
Mmatema
Mmatema chose the Céline Dion power ballad Because You Loved Me for the first round. "They love you," Gareth told Mmatema. Somizi was not a fan of the song “but it was saved by your amazing voice,” he said.
Unathi was impressed with how much Mmatema keeps tweaking and refining her craft. “You are confident, you are Godly, you are anointed,” she raved.
Randall was afraid that the constant praise for Mmatema would “begin to sound like treacle after a while”. But there is still three weeks to go, he cautioned her, “keep your eyes on the prize”.
And for her second time around Mmatema’s song was Fantasia’s “Lose To Win”. “We’re getting everything out of you guys tonight!” remarked an impressed Gareth. But Somizi said he couldn’t lie because lies gives him a rash - he did not enjoy that performance.
Unathi agreed that Mmatema’s performance was too gospel-y. “Don’t go there as your safety net,” she cautioned. Randall admitted that even he has no idea who is going to win this competition, “so please take the judges’ advice to heart,” he cautioned.
You can vote for Mmatema:
- - by SMSing her voting number
10 to 37400 (SMS's are charged at R1.50/SMS, limited to 100 votes per cellphone number).
- via USSD by dialing *120*33033# (Calls are charged at R1,50 per minute, limited to 200 votes per cellphone number).
- via WeChat (for free) (100 times per cellphone number).
- the official mobile site or
Idols SA website (also free and 100 times per cellphone number for each valid voting period).
Siphelele
Siphelele
stuck to his beloved South African classics again this week - Lira’s Feel Good for the first round, which Gareth noted was all about feeling good, “and throughout the competition so far you give people a good feeling,” he said.
“You have no idea how proud I am of you. Your timing to peak is so impeccable,” said an impressed Somizi, and Unathi thought “it was absolutely incredible.” Randall didn’t want to talk about the singing itself, but he noted that Siphelele must be the most unaffected performer he’d ever seen in 11 seasons of Idols SA. “You’re still the same guy who’s working hard and wants to win,” he said.
And his second song was Ringo Madlingozi’s “Kum naKum”. “Perfect song choice,” said Gareth. “That. Was. Amazing!” said Somizi.
“It’s performances like this that keep the people of the Kingdom of the Zulu, the Kingdom of heaven, so proud of you,” Unathi told Siphelele. And Randall noted that at this stage of the competition many singers tend to over-perform because they have something to prove, “but you have nothing to prove,” he praised Siphelele.
You can vote for Siphelele:
- by SMSing his voting number
04 to 37400 or via the other options previously listed.
Karabo
Karabo's first round choice was the Luther Vandross classic So Amazing. “I love Luther Vandross, I love that song, and I think you did it beautifully,” said Gareth. Somizi said if Karabo’s voice was a car he would “hijack it, steal it, and run!”
Unathi told Karabo even if he doesn’t win the competition, “you will still be one of the most successful male vocalists that this country has ever borne.” But unfortunately Randall thought that, despite how good Karabo’s voice is, that performance was bland.
And his second round choice was the James Brown anthem It’s a Man’s World. “It’s a man’s world,” said Gareth, “except for Mmatema, watch out!” Somizi said Karabo can fill up the Dome now, “whooo, shem”.
Unathi noted that the contestants have to make sure they are top-of-mind for the voters at the end of the show, and that Karabo certainly achieved that with this performance. And Randall noted that it was definitely better than the first round. “Thanks,” he said simply.
You can vote for Karabo:
- by SMSing his voting number
02 to 37400 or via the other options previously listed.
Rhema
Rhema won himself a standing ovation with his emotional performance of the Etta James standard, I’d Rather Go Blind. Gareth said that Rhema had added a special dimension to this whole competition, and that “that performance was stellar”.
“Rhema, you break my heart,” said Somizi, and he implored Rhema to always perform at that level of intensity. “This performance is going to change the course of your life, and rightfully so,” Unathi told Rhema. Randall reminded Rhema of his advice to the contestants last week to give memorable performances at this stage of the competition, “and that’s what you did,” he said.
And Rhema closed the show with some of that Marvin Gaye “Sexual Healing”. Gareth pointed out that this song has to be delivered really sexually, and Rhema didn’t manage that. Or, as Somizi put it more succinctly: “Some songs you need to
experience the lyrics before you sing it. One day ...” he consoled.
“You are too young for this song,” Unathi agreed. “You sang it beautifully but you were never ready!” And Randall just noted cryptically that “there’s a big gulf between emoting and emotion.”
You can vote for Rhema:
- by SMSing his voting number
06 to 37400 or via the other options previously listed.
Voting for the Top 4 opened during the course of the live show and will close at 22h00 on Tuesday, 3 November.