The battle to win Idols 15 started in earnest on Sunday night (15 September) when the Top 10 sang to secure their shot in the spotlight.
The theme for the night was inspirational, defined by the show as "those songs that make you want to stand up and take a stand."
Here's a rundown of the episode by the show...with vids of each performance:
The theme comes at a very delicate time in South Africa, following the recent xenophobic attacks in SA and outpouring of anger against gender-based violence (#WeStandWithWomen).
It also comes at a fitting time for the Idols family, which is mourning the death of Season 12 runner-up Thami Shobede, who died last week.
His untimely death has robbed the country of a talent who still had so much to offer to the music industry. But, as host and executive producer Proverb said, we will all continue to be inspired by his music.
His death gave this week’s show a sense of mortality, with the judges’ overall message to the contestants being that they should make the most of their singing talent.
The contestants started the show by accompanying guest performer Dr Tumi, who sang his spiritually uplifting hit, Nothing Without You
.
Dinky Kunene
Dinky sang Jordin Spark’s One Wing and was praised for a calculated performance that set a high standard for the evening. Somizi Mhlongo said she was proof that dynamite does come in “small dinkies”.
Viggy Qwabe
Viggy
was praised for her performance of MissPru’s Phumelela, but Somizi advised her to add dimension and variety to her performance.
Luyolo Yiba
Luyolo’s rendition of Adele’s Fire to the Rain was well-received by the judges, despite the odd off-pitch moment. Randall Abrahams praised him for being able to make the song his own.
Nqobile Gumede
Come-back kid Nqobile drove Unathi uWeepy -
Ed! - to tears as she encouraged her to remember she deserved to be on the stage and should embrace her talent. Her performance of Mary Mary’s Can’t Give Up No
w was a reminder that she had not given up on her dream.
Sneziey Msomi
Sneziey
once again impressed the judges with a Tshwane Gospel Choir song, Heal my Soul. Unathi said the performance was phenomenal and Randall praised her for her restraint. He went on to give her a subtle “Whoo Shem”. Somizi said it she had given an amazing performance and it was an amazing ministry.
Virginia Qwabe
Virginia's performance of Benjamin Dube’s Yebo Linamandla was called special by Randall, while Somizi called her the full package.
Nolo Seodisha
Nolo brought back some fun and dancing to a very emotionally charged evening as he sang Joyous Celebration’s Modimo Ke Lerato.
The judges were excited by his performance, with Somizi saying he brought the variety he was looking for, and Randall saying he was certain he would still be on the stage in two weeks’ time.
Innocentia Sibi
Innocentia received kudos from Unathi for attempting Beyoncé’s complex Ave Maria. Somizi loved the high notes, but Randall felt she needed to be more commanding.
Mangaliso Gumbi
Mangaliso lived up to her name with Benjamin Dube’s Ngangingazi. Unathi said she was a marvel (a loose translation of the name Mangaliso), while Somizi called her the underdog who could upset the competition.
Micayla Oelofse
The performance of the evening was the last performance of the evening. Micayla sang Andra Day’s Rise, which was dedicated to her mother who died recently.
Somizi said hers was the performance of the night, while Unathi uWeepy was moved to tears. She said Micayla’s parents would be proud of her performance.
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Do you agree with the judges' take? One must GO next week. Who?