Nobody was happy to see her go, but that's the way the competition unfolds.

It was a sad farewell to Nosipho on Tuesday night as votes poured in for the Top 9 Results show. The 22-year-old from Brakpan received the least number of votes and judges decided not to use their save for her.

As Nosipho responded to questions from her fans over Facebook and Twitter, she promised that this is only the start of her career in the music industry and she seemed upbeat. “My goal was to reach the top 10 and I got into the Top 9. I am very grateful for this wonderful opportunity! It has been a blessing and a half.”

And then there were 8.

The remaining contestants are now hard at work rehearsing for their Top 8 Spectacular, which will be recorded at the Home of Idols - the Mosaïek Teatro in Fairlands, Johannesburg - on Friday, 17 August.

This week’s theme is “The Year I Was Born” and
Monde, who was born in 1982, is going with that year’s big hit, Toto’s Rosanna.

For Chloe, the big hit from her birth year, 1988, was INXS’s Never Tear Us Apart.

Simphiwe is also a 1988 baby and he chose Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror.

For Dominic, 1992 was all about Mr Big’s To Be With You.

Melissa chose The Bangles’ Eternal Flame from her birth year, 1989.

Khaya was born in 1986 and fortunately for him that was also the year that Earth Wind And Fire re-released their classic hit, September!

Sheki chose TLC’s Waterfalls from 1994.

For Tshidi, 1983 was all about The Weather Girls’ hit, It’s Raining Men.

This week the Idols are being mentored by J-Something from this year’s big SAMA winners, MiCasa.

The Idols Season 8 Top 8 Spectacular airs on M-Net and M-Net HD and Mzansi Magic on Sunday, 19 August, at 17:30.