Tag: IdolsSA

Idols SA – Meet your Top 10

Look long and hard, SA because these are the ten contestants all vying for your votes in this season of #IdolsSA. They were the chosen few, who beat out thousands of others, survived hell week, group rounds and all, and then faced you, the nation in the top 16 rounds. Now we’re down to just ten, and one of these talented youngsters will be your new SA Idol.

Karabo Mogane (24) from Nelspruit in Mpumalanga
Loyiso Gijana (16) from Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape.

Rhema Varrie (21) from Alberton on the East Rand.

Siphelele Ngcobo (24) from Inanda near Durban.

Dineo Moseki (21) from Vryburg.

Amanda Antony (22) from Port Elizabeth.

Elwira Standili (22) from Worcester.

Mmatema Moremi (23) from Limpopo.

Nadia Herbst (22) from Paarl.

Lungisa Xhamela (24) from Langa in the Cape

Question is, who do you think it’ll be? Watch all the Top 10 drama and action unfold every Sunday between 17:00 and 19:00, only on M-Net and Mzansi Magic.

#IdolsSA – Meet this year’s Top 16

Lungisa Sun City

It’s the worst show of every season of Idols because it’s so drawn out, but the drama brings the viewers and the ratings. So it must be done. If you don’t have the patience to sit around and wait to see who of the 29 make the Top 16, let me make it a little easier for you. Here are the season 11 #IdolsSA contestants:

  • Amanda Antony (22) for whom Idols SA has been a true rollercoaster ride. In 2013 she famously made it to Sun City when Unathi gave her a Golden Ticket in PE after Algoa FM had spotted her great singing talent, but then she bombed out during Hell Week. She has recently completed her Music Studies at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
  • Spunky Bridgitt Leahy (18) who blew the judges away with her original song at the Durban auditions. She hails from Creighton in the Southern Drakensberg and currently lives with her mom in Pietermaritzburg, where she is being home-schooled.
  •  Dineo Moseki (21) who lives in Vryburg with her sisters and nieces and nephews, where she works as a full-time professional singer. The pint-sized Dineo has been singing for all of her life, in school choirs and church choirs, and turned professional in 2012.
  • Elwira Standili (22) from Worcester gave up her Management Assistance studies once she won that coveted Golden Ticket at the Idols SA auditions in Cape Town this February.
  • 24-year-old Karabo Mogane from Nelspruit who studied Geoinformatics at the University of Stellenbosch before getting into the Idols SA Season 11 Top 16.
  • Loyiso Gijana from Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape is 16, the youngest singer in the competition. Up until now he was a learner at Muir College in Uitenhage.
  • Lungisa Xhamela (24) from Langa in the Cape gave up his studies in medical bioscience at the University of the Western Cape to pursue his musical dreams full-time, for the sake of his two-year-old daughter.
  • Mmatema Moreni (23) from Limpopo qualified as a professional linguist who speaks four languages. Before she entered Idols she also worked as a part-time marketing assistant and worked for her church on the side.
  •  20-year-old Business Management student Nadia Herbst from Paarl has already won the title of Miss Teen Cape Town and Miss Teen Western Cape, and now she has a third title in her sights: South Africa’s new Idol!
  • 17-year-old Nina Terblanche hails from Nelspruit, where she is a Grade 10 scholar who has Music as a school subject, and she also sings in the school choir and competes in Eisteddfods.
  • Jozi native Phila Madlingozi’s name may sound familiar, because  at age 25 he has starred in drama series like “Intersexions” and “Mutual Friends”, and has posted many of his own music videos on YouTube.
  •  21-year-old Rhema Varrie was encouraged to go into music by his father, a Pastor, who spotted his potential at an early age. Rhema is currently a financial advisor who supports his extended family.
  • Ruan Grobbelaar (24) from Somerset West was studying software development at the University of Stellenbosch when he got his Golden Ticket at the Cape Town auditions in February.
  • Shenay O’Brien(25) is making history as the competition’s first drag queen in the voting rounds. Prior to Idols, Shenay shared a home in Roodepoort with her creator, former Tshwane University of Technology drama student and performer Thiart Li.
  •  Siphelele Ngcobo (24) from Durban has been making his living as a singer since 2012. He studied classical singing in school and since matriculating he’s been focusing on gospel and jazz in his hometown of Inanda, near Durban, where he lives with his mother and siblings.
  • Thami Shobede (27) hails from Mthubathuba but is currently based in Johannesburg, where he worked for Transnet before making it into the Top 16 of Idols SA 11. He also plays the bagpipes – a skill he learned while being in the Defence Force.

Catch Idols every Sunday on M-Net and Mzansi Magic at 17:00.

#IdolsSA top 4 song choices

The Top 4 will take to the stage this week, performing songs based on the “Old School/ New School” theme. What will they sing? Here’s a look at what the remaining five have chosen, but what only four will perform:

 

Old School:

Bongi Silinda (24) – Brenda Fassie hit “Too Late For Mama”.

JVB says: A very good song choice for Bongi. It has been an emotional week for South Africa and I feel like the emotion in this song will resonate with the viewers.

 

Kyle Deutschmann (27) – Zahara’s “Loliwe”

JVB says: Old school? Already? It’s more new school for me, but after what Kyle did with the Oasis track last week, I look forward to seeing what he has in store for us with this one.

 

Lize Mynhardt (21) – Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel”,

JVB says: Nice track… Hopefully she will loosen up and have fun with this one.

 

London Louw (24) – Tina Turner’s “It”,

JVb says: I love me some Tina and with London peaking at this stage of the competition, I’m sure he’s going to bring it.

 

Vincent Bones (29) – “Sondela” by Ringo Madlingozi.

JVB says: Another winning song choice… I have no doubt in my mind that this will be a crowd favourite.

New School:

Bongi – Keri Hilson’s “Knock You Down”

JVB says: One of my all time favourites and I had the opportunity to meet both Keri and Ne-Yo. We chatted about the success of this song and how epic it is. How will Bongi fare? I think she’ll do well here.

 

Kyle – Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream”,

JVB says – Katy Perry is the bomb and this is arguably one of her best songs. Again, another interesting song choice from Kyle.

 

Lize – Michael Bublé hit “Feeling Good”

JVB says – I’m expecting an epic performance here. The song is bold, sexy, strong and hopefully the stage and Liza’s stylist will rise to the occasion too.

 

London- Duffy’s “Mercy”

JVB says: London will shine here. It’s a fun track and I’m sure we can expect him to dance again. He’s showing off now really 😉

 

Vincent – Usher’s “Climax”.

JVB says: Good song. This is a sexy song and I’m sure we’ll see that emotive facial expression we’ve come to expect from Vincent to make its appearance once again.

 

Catch the show on M-Net and Mzansi Magic at 17:00 on Sunday or visit the official site at http://www.mnet.co.za/idolssa

Idols 10 – Top 8 song choices

Idols SA X episode 11 - The Top 11 show (70)

On Sunday evening, we’ll be down to a top eight in this season of Idols. Who wasn’t good enough to stay on? Well that will be established just after 17:00 and then we get to the musical part of the evening. Wondering what your top 8 are singing this week? Here are their song choices:

Nelspruit’s Bongi Silinda (24) chose the Toni Braxton hit “Breathe Again”.

Durbanvile singer Demi Lee (24) plans to perform the Bryan Adams anthem, “Please Forgive Me”.

Kyle Deutschmann (27), the chiropractor from Durban, has prepared The Counting Crows’ “Mr Jones”.

Lize Mynhardt (21) from Stellenbosch is going vintage R’nB with the Boyz II Men classic,  “I’ll Make Love To You”.

London Louw (24) from Cape Town’s song is the Cranberries hit “Zombie”.

eMalahleni’s Musa Mashiane (27) keeps it African with the hit “7 Seconds”, by Youssou N’Dour, featuring Neneh Cherry

Cape Town music student Roxy McVean (19) has selected M-People’s “Moving On Up”.

Tumi Morobane (21) from Johannesburg will be performing Gloria Estefan’s “Turn The Beat Around”.

And the worship leader from Pietermaritzburg, Vincent Bones (29), is going with Tevin Campbell’s “Can We Talk”.

Meet your #IdolsSA top 11

The #IdolsSA top 11 has been announced. The eleven hopefuls were announced during Sunday night’s live show on M-Net and Mzansi Magic. They will be vying for the Idols season ten title in the next couple of weeks. I must admit I’m a bit shocked by one of the top 11 (I won’t reveal who the person is) but it’s what the fans wanted, so who am I to question. Here are the eleven Idols finalists:

Vincent Verhoog (25)
Ivan Roux (24)
Bongi Silinda (23)
London Louw (24)
Vincent Bones (29)
Kyle Deutschmann (27)
Lize Mynhardt (21)
Musa Mashiane (24)
Tumi Morobane (21)
Demi Lee (24)
Roxy McVean (20)

Who stands out for you at this stage?

Idols Top 16 announced

Idols SA X episode 6 - Top 31 (04)

Season 10 of #IdolsSA has come down to this…  A top 16 and man oh man, is it looking good. Here are the 16 names you’ll be voting for and one of them will be your winner. Question is, who will that person be?

Bongi Silinda
Celine Homan
Chante Geary
Demi Lee Moore
Ivan Roux
Kyle Deutschmann
Lize Mynhardt
London Louw
Mirandi Smith
Musa Mashiane
Olivia Cloud
Rowan de Villiers
Roxy Mc Vean
Tumi Morobane
Vincent Verhoog
Vincent Bones

Catch the top 16 every Sunday on M-Net and Mzansi Magic.

 

Idols X – 18 contestants from GP get a golden ticket

Idols SA X episode 1 - JHB auditions (29)

The new season of South African Idols kicked off on M-Net and Mzansi Magic on Sunday. This is the tenth season of the hit show, that has seen the likes of Heinz Winkler, Zoe Zana, Khaya Mthethwa, Lloyd Cele and Elvis Blue all become household names in Mzansi. The show continues to hit the high notes with audiences and so it’s no surprises Gareth Cliff, Unathi Msengana, Randall Abrahams and host Proverb are all back to find the next best unsigned singer in the land.

I missed the first episode last night but I’m told there were keepers and then there were the shockers. Did you watch? If so, who caught your attention? While I wait to hear from you, here are the 18 names who grabbed the attention of the judges in Johannesburg:

 

Andries Nkhomola (27) from Thembisa, who is a choir director in his local church

Brandon Brits (23), a neurophysiologist from Springs

Busi Ngwenya (23) from Vosloorus, who works as a service consultant in a bank.

Felix Menoe (21) from Potchefstroom

Dineo Moseki (20), who is on a gap year after school and came all the way from Tlhakgameng near Mafikeng in North West Province

Dineo Ramailane (30), a full-time musician from Kimberley

Mfakadolo “Alfred” Tsatsi (27) from Sasolburg

Freddie Wessels (26), a worship leader from Krugersdorp

John Letlojane (29), a professional musician from Carltonville

Lebo Mzimba (19) from Randburg, a newlywed firefighter who is studying mechanical engineering

Leon van Zyl (18) from Springs

Monique Erens, a 17-year-old Matric student from Johannesburg

Nofunda Mabaso (22) a B.Comm Finance Honours student from Crown Gardens

Professor Bhengu (25), who travelled all the way from Durban for the audition

Ricky Booysen (24) from Cresta, who works in a CD store at the moment

Roy Gluckman (26) from Illovo, who gave up Law to pursue music

Sgherdeed Ross (28) from Reiger Park, Boksburg

Sipho Hlatshwayo (26) from Soweto, who is a Debt review consultant.

 

Who knows, one these hopefuls could be the new South African Idol…

#IdolsSA, MasterChef SA return

M-Net continues to bring you more reality TV in 2014. The channel announced yesterday that it will once again be bringing viewers new seasons of the hit shows, Idols and MasterChef. Do you think you have what it takes to be a singing sensation or the food world’s biggest legend just waiting to be discovered? Well then, best you take note of the following audition dates:

MASTERCHEF SA AUDITIONS:
·         Saturday, 15 February in Durban at Suncoast Casino, or
·         Saturday, 22 February in Cape Town at Southern Sun The Cullinan, or
·         Saturday, 1 March in Johannesburg at The Pivot Conference Centre (at Southern Sun Montecasino).

Click on the link for details on how to prepare for your audition www.mnet.co.za/masterchefsa and search for the MasterChef SA FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions). Note you must be over 18 and someone who has not cooked professionally.
IDOLS AUDITIONS:

·         Saturday, 15 February – Johannesburg – Carnival City
·         Saturday, 22 February – Durban – Playhouse Theatre
·         Sunday, 9 March – Cape Town – GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World
·         Saturday, 22 March – Pretoria – State Theatre

For more info on #IdolSA go to www.mnet.co.za/idolssa.

Idols SA Top 5 spectacular

Episode 22 - after opening the show, the Top 5, image 02

Last night I only managed to see a few of the IdolsSA top five performing. Brenden was back on track and I was sadly unimpressed with Zoe and Sonke, but apparently their other performances were better. From what I can tell though, Bunny and Musa owned the night with their performances. Did you catch them? What did you think? If you missed IdolsSA last night and you wont be able to catch the repeat, here’s a look back at how the top five got on:

Only five contestants are left to battle it out for South Africa’s most coveted title in Idols SA Season 9 and the pressure just doubled this week at the Moreleta Park Church Auditorium in Pretoria when the Top 5 each performed two songs. With some expert advice from Pam De Menezes of the South African girl group The Arrows, they each prepared a hit from the Nineties and a hit from the Naughties for two rounds of performances. 

MUSA SUKWENE (26) from eMalahleni opened the first round of Nineties Hits with R. Kelly’s “Bump And Grind”, and for the second round, songs from the Naughties, the gentle giant chose Dave Hollister’s R&B hit “Can’t Stay”. In his comments Gareth Cliff said Musa’s delivery of the second song convinced him that R&B is his thing, and Unathi Msengana said she really enjoyed his interpretation of “Bump ‘n Grind” and she appreciated his vulnerability in the second performance. “R. Kelly? And Dave Hollister?” Randall Abrahams marveled jokingly. “Son – turn down the lights!”

To vote for Musa, SMS the number 09 to 37400. [R1.50 per text] or vote online via mobile or web at mnet.co.za/idolssa, for free. Fans can also vote on Mxit [25 moola]. Follow Musa on Twitter @musathevoice

For her song from the Nineties BUNNY MAJAJA (26) from Florida Glen in Johannesburg sang Robin S’s 1990 hit “Show Me Love” and to represent the 2000’s she went with a more recent local hit, “Ndiredi” from Simphiwe Dana. “I think tonight has completed what I would call a tour de force of versatility,” Gareth said. “I don’t think anyone else has chosen as well as you did. You executed both of them perfectly.” Unathi pointed out that psychologically the contestants have been in competition mode for a year already and she admired the way that Bunny keeps upping the ante. Randall agreed that the song choice was excellent, “but let’s not take away from your performance,” he pointed out. “Absolutely at the top of your game tonight.”

To vote for Bunny, SMS the number 08 to 37400. [R1.50 per text] or vote online via mobile or web at mnet.co.za/idolssa, for free. Fans can also vote on Mxit [25 moola]. Follow Bunny on Twitter @BunnyMajaja

BRENDEN LEDWABA (19) from Graskop in Mpumalanga picked Usher’s “Nice And Slow” for his Nineties hit and his Naughties hit was “Jailer”, from the French-Nigerian singer-songwriter Asa. “Something’s happened,” Gareth noted. “I feel like everybody on the stage tonight’s just bringing their A-Game.” He thought Brenden was playing to his strengths like never before and that the second song showed aspects of Brenden’s personality that he’d forgotten about. “Your confidence is back!” Unathi agreed. “I don’t think anybody in the history of South African Idols has ever had a jam session on air!” “This is a tight competition, son,” Randall said. “This is the tightest Idols has ever been.”

To vote for Brenden, SMS the number 01 to 37400. [R1.50 per text] or vote online via mobile or web at mnet.co.za/idolssa, for free. Fans can also vote on Mxit [25 moola]. Follow Brenden on Twitter @brenden_praise


19-year-old ZOË ZANA from Bishop Lavis in Cape Town channeled her inner Janet Jackson with the 1997 megahit “Together Again” and then she rocked the house with her Naughties choice, the Destiny’s Child hit “Survivor”. Gareth loved the beginning of the Janet Jackson song, and the end, but not the middle. “You need to have a chorus and a verse,” he cautioned Zoë. “I want some variation,” he said. Unathi thought that Zoë’s performance in the Janet Jackson song showed a delicacy that took the audience by surprise. But Randall thought that she missed the playfulness that Jackson displayed in the original song and “you were so sharp that I couldn’t listen anymore,” he complained. And with “Survivor” you still need to sing as well as dance, he pointed out. “I think you’re going to have it tough on Tuesday,” he predicted. 

To vote for Zoë, SMS the number 05 to 37400. [R1.50 per text] or vote online via mobile or web at mnet.co.za/idolssa, for free. Fans can also vote on Mxit [25 moola]. Follow Zoë on Twitter @zoe_zana


The final contestant in both rounds was Soweto’s SONKE MAZIBUKO (21) who interpreted the old Nina Simone classic “Killing Me Softly”, as it was covered by The Fugees in 1995, and he ended the show on an upbeat note with Michael Bublé’s “Haven’t Met You Yet”. Gareth pointed out that Idols has a strange relationship with that Fugees song in that it’s mostly been sung by bad singers, and he was happy to hear it sung well. But not being a Michael Bublé fan he said he “didn’t feel” the second song. He thought it was “too Broadway”, but that Sonke was popular enough to get away with it. Unathi thought it was good that Sonke showed his versatility, though. “The less said about ‘Killing Me Softly’ the better,” Randall grumbled. And as far as the second song was concerned, he pointed out that some singers have a “default position” and that Sonke’s is a cabaret style. “The song choice tonight in your case absolutely killed you,” he declared. 

To vote for Sonke, SMS the number 06 to 37400. [R1.50 per text] or vote online via mobile or web at mnet.co.za/idolssa, for free. Fans can also vote on Mxit [25 moola]. Follow Sonke on Twitter @sonke_mazibuko

Voting for the Top 5 opened at the start of tonight’s show and will close on Monday night, 4 November, at 22:00. And on Tuesday, 5 November, fans will have to bid farewell to yet another contestant as the show counts down to the big Finalé on Tuesday, 26 November.

To stay on top of the latest Idols SA news and to find out how the voting works, visit the Idols website at www.mnet.co.za/Idols or go to the official Facebook page at “Idols South Africa”, or follow Idols on Twitter @IdolsSA.

Idols SA is a co-production between M-Net and Mzansi Magic and comes your way twice a week: on Sundays at 17:30 and Tuesdays at 19:30.

Idols Top 8 song choices

Tonight’s Idols Top 8 spectacular should be absolutely awesome. The Idols stars will be singing songs from some of the biggest films in Hollywood. They will be mentored by South African-born film composer Trevor Jones, so you know this is going to be good. Here are the song’s you’ll be seeing later tonight on M-Net and Mzansi Magic:

 

BRENDEN LEDWABA  [@brenden_praise] – Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work”, from the 1988 John Hughes romantic comedy She’s Having A Baby, starring Kevin Bacon.

JVB: I’m not familiar with this song, so I don’t have any expectations really. I just know he’ll do it well 😉

BUNNY MAJAJA [@BunnyMajaja] – Seal hit “Kiss From a Rose” from the Batman Forever movie soundtrack in 1995.

JVB: She keeps choosing well and this is one of my favourite songs of all times! Cannot wait to see this one.

CHRISTINA WILLIAMS [@_c_williams] – Adele’s big Oscar-winning ballad from last year’s James Bond adventure, Skyfall.

JVB: Big, big song… Bold choice. Lets see how she handles this one.
CRYSTALENE NAIR (24) from Durban [@CrystaleneNair] – Whitney Houston hit “Waiting To Exhale”, from the groundbreaking romantic drama of the same name directed by Forest Whitaker.
JVB: Another big song by one of the biggest voices we’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying! I’ve always been nervous for people who choose Beyonce, Whitney and Mariah, but I’ll keep an open mind.
INNOCENT MABUSHE [@innocentmabushe] – Phil Collins hit “Two Hearts”, from the soundtrack of the 1988 British true life crime comedy Buster, starring Collins himself in the lead role.

JVB: Fun song choice. I expect a great performance, over and above the vocals.
MUSA SUKWENE[@musathevoice] – Brian McKnight ballad “Win” from the 2000 biographical flick “Men of Honor”, starring Cuba Gooding Jnr and Robert De Niro.

JVB: I’m becoming a fan of Musa. He has a great energy and his singing comes naturally, so I have high hopes for him with this song choice.
SONKE MAZIBUKO [@sonke_mazibuko] “Go The Distance” from the 1997 animated comedy “Hercules”, which was covered for the movie soundtrack by Michael Bolton and by Ricky Martin for the Spanish version.

JVB: Wasn’t the cheese done two weeks ago? Haha. This should be interesting…

ZOË ZANA [@zoe_zana] “Lady Marmalade” cover by Pink, Christina Aguilera, Mýa and Lil’Kim from the 2001 Baz Luhrmann movie Moulin Rouge!

JVB: Nice, playful song. I think it suits Zoe’s personality perfectly. I’m just a bit worried about all the different ranges she’s going to dealing with because this song was all about who had the bigger pipes, longer higher notes and the battle of the divas in my opinion. I look forward to seeing her interpretation.

I’ll be catching up on these performances after the Rihanna concert 😉