The Top 8 Idols guys stepped out to have their say last night when they delivered their first live performances of the season.
They performed the same theme as the girls last week: Hits of the Decade and Thamsanqa kicked off the evening.
Here's a recap of the episode by the show:
Thamsanqa performed a local is lekker favourite, Akulalwa by DJ Shimza feat. Dr Malinga and brought the energy with a vibey performance that received mostly positive reviews from the judges.
Gareth simply said he has booked himself a spot in the Top 10. Somizi also applauded him on a great start to the show, but warned against “gospelising” songs going forward.
Randall concurred with his fellow judge, and complimented the rugby player on being able to energise the audience. “It looks good for the future,” he said. Unathi was energised, and thanked the singer for “respecting a House song”.
Sanele took on Charlie Puth’s hit, One Call Away. His rendition upped the excitement ante and the judges were generous with their praise.
“You nailed it! It was clean and effortless. In one word, it was superspendiflorous!” gushed Somizi. Unathi agreed, saying it felt like Sanele had taken everyone’s critique over the weeks and applied it.
Randall was also impressed, but cautioned the young singer to take care that he nails the song from start to finish. “You’ve proven that if you’ve got a good song, a great band and backing vocal, you don’t have to do much,” was Gareth’s take.
Bevin followed with Chris Brown’s sexy Back to Sleep, and the judges thought he delivered in spades.
While Unathi admitted to feeling nervous when contestants choose sexual songs that require them to be sensual, she was glad Bevin was able to deliver. Randall said his “street sound” was something no producer should ever take away and Bevin himself should never reign it in or water down.
Gareth threw the teen contestant’s name in with the likes of Justin Bieber and Usher, while Somizi conjured up another unique adjective to describe his happiness with the performance.
Capetonian
Lusanda slowed it down with local love jam of the moment, Thandiwe by Vusi Nova. If the crowd’s reaction was anything to go by, Lusanda’s crooning was on point.
But the judges had a different outlook. Randall said the song choice would get him by even though he struggled in some parts. Gareth said Lusanda was showing off a little bit and needed to remember that sometimes less is more.
Somizi felt he was self-indulgent and didn’t connect with his audience. Unathi agreed with her fellow judges, and asked that Lusanda connect more with the song on an emotional level in future.
Still keeping it on Mzansi shores was
Tebogo who performed Rainbow by Black Motion feat. Xoli M.
Gareth went out on a limb and guessed that people didn’t think it hit the spot. Somizi couldn’t fault him vocally, but said he needed to “find that thing!”
Unathi said she loved the vocal and the performance, as well as the different shade he had delivered it in. Randall predicted Tebogo will still be on stage in a few weeks to come.
Thami came on with a completely different take of Drake’s Hotline Bling. Slower, quieter, sexier…he gave it his all and was rewarded with a standing ovation from the crowd.
Somizi said Thami’s falsetto will make local R&B star Donald “speak Chinese”. Unathi called the performance flawless. “You’ve matured and grown into yourself as a performer and a singer,” was Randall’s praise.
Gareth agreed with Randall but confessed he was concerned about Thami turning the popular song on its head by completely changing the melody.
As predicted,
Terra didn’t have to dig deep for his inner neo soul crooner when he performed Maxwell’s Bad Habits, showing off shades of his voice that had the crowd on its feet chanting “We want more!”
Unathi couldn’t contain her excitement and said she wished someone could send Maxwell that performance. Randall called this week “real competition” and Terra the most technically gifted singer this season.
Gareth said it was sophisticated, while Somizi gave a deep satisfied sigh before declaring it the performance of the night.
Keegan closed the show off with Usher’s Climax, he was in it to win it and the judges thought he delivered.
Randall led the charge of praise with a shocking: “It ain’t over till the Keegan sings! Ladies, it is going to be a BIG season! Thamsanqa, Bevin, Terra and Keegan!”
Gareth followed with his own high octane comment. “This is not the guy we put through in auditions. It’s like he multiplied himself by 10. He’s going to the top!”
Somizi did a praise sing and couldn’t articulate more than that, while Unathi ululated and called it “not just my performance of the night but the performance of the last two weeks!”
Do you agree? Did Keegan own the night?