The shocking exit of the hugely popular Loyiso Gijana this week, in that astonishing total vote of just under 9 million, proved that Idols SA Season 11 is literally anybodyโs game at this stage.
The tension is really ratcheting up now, with just three weeks to the Idols SA Season 11 finalรฉ;ย but at least this week the Top 4 get a little break from the tension with a trip to London for a surprise musical experience, courtesy of Virgin Atlantic!
The musical theme for the Top 4 Spectacular this week was โMy Idolโ, with the contestants each performing two songs from the musical idols whoย have inspired them.
The Top 4 guest star this week is herself the idol of many a young South African: none other than the โKalawa Chikitaโ: performance poet and singer Busiswa, with her smash hit โLahlaโ.
The first contestant to be safe this week and get that coveted boarding pass to London was Mmatema Moremi (23) from Limpopo, who chose the showstopping Cรฉline Dion power ballad โBecause You Loved Meโ for the first round. โThey love you,โ Gareth Cliff told Mmatema. Somizi Mhlongo was not a fan of the song โbut it was saved by your amazing voice,โ he said. Unathi Msengana was impressed with how much Mmatema keeps tweaking and refining her craft. โYou are confident, you are godly, you are anointed,โ she raved. Randall Abrahams was afraid that the constant praise for Mmatema would โbegin to sound like treacle after a whileโ. But there areย still three weeks to go, he cautioned her, โkeep your eyesย on the prizeโ.
For her second round, Mmatemaโs song was Fantasiaโs โLose To Winโ. โWeโre getting everything out of you guys tonight!โ remarked an impressed Gareth. But Somizi said he couldnโt lie because lies giveย him a rash โ he did not enjoy theย performance. Unathi agreed that Mmatemaโs performance was too gospel-y. โDonโt go there as your safety net,โ she cautioned. Randall admitted that even he hasย no idea who is going to win this competition, โso please take the judgesโ advice to heart,โ he cautioned.
Fans can vote for Mmatema via USSD by dialing *120*33033# (Calls are charged at R1,50 per minute, limited to 200 votes per cellphone number); by SMSing her voting number 10 to 37400 (SMS's are charged at R1.50/SMS, limited to 100 votes per cellphone number); or for free via WeChat (100 times per cellphone number); or for free on the official mobile site or Idols SA website or at www.mnet.co.za/idolsSA, 100 times per cellphone number for each valid voting period.
Twenty-four-year-old Siphelele Ngcobo from Inanda stuck to his beloved South African classics again this week โ Liraโs โFeel Goodโ for the first round, which Gareth noted was all about feeling good, โand throughout the competition so far you give people a good feeling,โ he said. โYou have no idea how proud I am of you. Your timing to peak is so impeccable,โ said an impressed Somizi, and Unathi thought โit was absolutely incredible.โ Randall didnโt want to talk about the singing itself, but noted that Siphelele must be the most unaffected performer heโd ever seen in eleven seasons of Idols SA. โYouโre still the same guy whoโs working hard and wants to win,โ he said.
His second song was Ringo Madlingoziโs โKum naKumโ. โPerfect song choice,โ said Gareth. โThat. Was. Amazing!โ said Somizi. โItโs performances like this that keep the people of the Kingdom of the Zulu, the Kingdom of Heaven, so proud of you,โ Unathi told Siphelele. Randall noted that at this stage of the competition many singers tend to over-perform, because they have something to prove, โbut you have nothing to prove,โ he praised Siphelele.
Fans can vote for Siphelele via USSD by dialing *120*33033# (Calls are charged at R1,50 per minute, limited to 200 votes per cellphone number); by SMSing his voting number 04 to 37400 (SMS's are charged at R1.50/SMS, limited to 100 votes per cellphone number); or for free via WeChat (100 times per cellphone number); or for free on the official mobile site or Idols SA website or at www.mnet.co.za/idolsSA, 100 times per cellphone number for each valid voting period.
Karabo Mogane'sย (24), from Mbombela, first round choice was the Luther Vandross classic โSo Amazingโ. โI love Luther Vandross, I love that song, and I think you did it beautifully,โ said Gareth. Somizi said if Karaboโs voice was a car he would โhijack it, steal it, and run!โ Unathi told Karabo even if he doesnโt win the competition, โyou will still be one of the most successful male vocalists that this country has ever borne.โ Unfortunately Randall thought that, despite how good Karaboโs voice is, theย performance was bland.
His second round choice was the James Brown anthem โItโs a Manโs Worldโ. โItโs a manโs world,โ said Gareth, โexcept for Mmatema, watch out!โ Somizi said Karabo can fill up the Dome now, โwhooo, shemโ. Unathi noted that the contestants have to make sure they are top-of-mind for the voters at the end of the show, andย Karabo certainly achieved that with this performance. Randall noted that it was definitely better than the first round. โThanks,โ he said simply.
Fans can vote for Karabo via USSD by dialing *120*33033# (Calls are charged at R1,50 per minute, limited to 200 votes per cellphone number); by SMSing his voting number 02 to 37400 (SMS's are charged at R1.50/SMS, limited to 100 votes per cellphone number); or for free via WeChat (100 times per cellphone number); or for free on the official mobile site or Idols SA website or at www.mnet.co.za/idolsSA, 100 times per cellphone number for each valid voting period.
Moments after learning the shocking news of Loyisoโs eviction from the competition, Rhema Varrie (21) from Alberton won himself a standing ovation with his emotional performance of the Etta James standard, โIโd Rather Go Blindโ. Gareth said that Rhema had added a special dimension to this whole competition, and that โthat performance was stellarโ. โRhema, you break my heart,โ said Somizi, and he implored Rhema to always perform at that level of intensity. โThis performance is going to change the course of your life, and rightfully so,โ Unathi told Rhema. Randall reminded Rhema of his advice to the contestants last week to give memorable performances at this stage of the competition, โand thatโs what you did,โ he said.
Rhema closed the show with some of that Marvin Gaye โSexual Healingโ.ย Gareth pointed out that this song has to be delivered really sexually, and Rhema didnโt manage that. Or, as Somizi put it more succinctly: โSome songs you need to experience the lyrics before you sing it. One day ...โ heย consoled. โYou are too young for this song,โ Unathi agreed. โYou sang it beautifully but you were never ready!โย Randall just noted cryptically that โthereโs a big gulf between emoting and emotion.โ
Fans can vote for Rhema via USSD by dialing *120*33033# (Calls are charged at R1,50 per minute, limited to 200 votes per cellphone number); by SMSing his voting number 06 to 37400 (SMS's are charged at R1.50/SMS, limited to 100 votes per cellphone number); or for free via WeChat (100 times per cellphone number); or for free on the official mobile site or Idols SA website or at www.mnet.co.za/idolsSA, 100 times per cellphone number for each valid voting period.
Voting for the Top 4 opened during the course of theย live broadcast and will close at 22:00 on Tuesday, 3 November.
All the terms and conditions for Idols SA Season 11 voting are explained on the Idols SA website at
The result of this weekโs vote will be announced during the live broadcast of the Top 3 Spectacular next Sunday, 8 November, on M-Net, channel 101 on DStv, and Mzansi Magic, channel 161 on DStv.
Tickets to the Idols SA Season 11 Live Spectaculars are available from Computicket.
ย
For the latest information on Idols SA visit the official website at www.idolssa.tv, follow @IdolsSA on Twitter, ID IdolsSA on WeChat, or like the official Idols SA Facebook page at โIdols South Africaโ.
For even more magic, like us onย Facebookย and follow us onย Twitterย using the hashtag #MNet. Youโll also find us on WeChat on the ID mnettv!.
Donโt forget you can download the M-Net app for Appleย andย Android. Planning your M-Net viewing has never been soย easy.