The tension was thick in the air in the final Battleย episode ofย The Voice SA's first season. Coaches Karen Zoid, Bobby van Jaarsveld, Kahn Morbee and Lira had to fill the last spots on their respective teams - and everyone knew very well that coach Kahn still had the opportunity to use his one and only "Steal". ย
The first vocal gladiators to step into the ring to either win their coachโs favour or persuade Kahn to press his buzzer for a "Steal" were dynamic session singers Nadine Sisam (28) from Cape Town and 35-year-old Tracey-Lee Olivier from Johannesburg. The coaches raved about their powerful performance of Mango Grooveโs Hellfireย and Karen wanted to kick herself for pairing up such strong singers.ย After consulting all the co-coaches โ Zolani, Toya Delazy, Nianell and Vicky Sampson โ Karen declared Nadine the winner, but Kahn unfortunately didnโt make a move to get Tracey-Lee into his team. ย ย
Kahnโs "Steal" buzzer remained silent after #TeamBobbyโs Jessica Martins (18) from Ballito and Xanilee Hammond (21) from Alberton, had given their all with the Beatles classic Let It Be. Even though Jessica had been sick and didnโt have a voice for most of the rehearsal period, Bobby commended her courage. Despite Jessicaโs determination, he still felt that Xanilee would be the one he'd be able to take furthest in the competition.ย
Kahn finally stepped in when El Clay (25) from Vredendal in the Western Cape took on Cape Townโs Robin Pieters (26) in One Directionโs pop hit Drag Me Down. Both contenders turned all four of the coachesโ chairs during theirย Blind auditions, and when coach Lira chose Robin, Kahn immediately nabbed his charismatic opponent with his one and only "Steal". โI fought hard for El Clay in the Blind Auditions,โ he noted. โYour voice ...โ he told his newest team member, โno matter where people are in the world, theyโre going to turn that dial up.โ
As for his original team, Kahn paired up eclectic singer-songwriter Eden Myrrh (24) from Cape Town with the 27-year-old vocal coach and jazzย singer Chloe Clark from Durban on the Elton John classic Rocket Man, which Chloe admitted she had never even heard before! Kahn predicted that this would be his most difficult Battle, and he was right. In the end, Eden was the one receivingย good news, making it into the live rounds of the series.ย
#TeamLiraโs final Battle was an epic showdown between divasย Kimberleigh van der Ventel (19) and Busisiwe Mutlaka (23), singing Adeleโs Chasing Pavements. โIโm going to go purely on the performance tonight,โ Lira told her singers after their rousing performance, โbecause you are equally so amazing. So the winner is Busisiwe.โ
A very proud Bobby was also in awe of the performers in his last Battle. Former boyband member Abel Knobel (24) from Pretoria performed One Republicโs Counting Starsย with 22-year-old Vernon Barnard from Strand, who made headlines around the country when he reduced Bobby to helpless tears with his Blind Audition. โTjo, this is going to be my most difficult one,โ Coach Bobby admitted, but he had to render a verdict, and Vernon it was.ย
The Battle rounds of The Voice SAโs first season came to a stirring conclusion with #TeamKahnโs titanic Battle between James Freedom (26) from Ballito and Cape Townโs Richard Stirton (22), performing James Bayโs Hold Back The River. ย In the end, Kahn gave Richard the go-ahead.ย
From next week Sunday, viewers will also have a say in the outcome of the competition. In the first live show, four team members from each coach will perform live from Sasani Studios in Johannesburg, and while each coach will be able to save one singer from their team, it will be up to the voting public to decide which of the remaining four singers will remain in the game.ย
Voting details will be available during Sunday nightโs show on The Voice SAโs official websiteย www.mnet.tv/thevoice.ย
Herewith a full breakdown of the singers who survived the brutal Battles: ย
#TEAMKAHN
Richard Stirton (22) from Cape Town
Eden Myrrh (24) from Cape Town
El Clay (25) from Vredendal [STEAL]
Johan Anker (23) from Johannesburg
Clement โClemourโ Ngobeni (24) from Midrand
Francis Bowers (23) from Melkbosstrand
Lara Gear (19) from Pretoria
Prime Zulu (27) from Durban
#TEAMLIRA
Busisiwe Mutlaka (23) from Johannesburg
Robin Pieters (26) from Cape Town
Jono Johansen (19) from Durban
Meyrand Roux (28) from Brits
Sibulele Miti (27) from Cape Town
โBlaque Harmonyโ [Karabo Makwela (24) and Botlhale Phora (20)] from Pretoria [STEAL]
Zoรซ Modiga from Pietermaritzburg
Jeremy Oliver (40) from Cape Town
#TEAMBOBBY
Vernon Barnard (22) from Strand
Zoe Mtila (23) from Port Elizabeth
Lana Crowster (28) from Cape Town
Noelene Olivier (25) from Johannesburg
Gavin Edwards (37) from Johannesburg
Kim Collins (37) from Cape Town
Austin Lurring (20) from Durban [STEAL]
Xanilee Hammond (21) from Alberton
#TEAMKAREN
Nadine Sisam (28) from Cape Town
Mbijana Sibisi (24) from Durban [STEAL]
Zaretha Duvenage (23) from Pretoria
Thapelo Lekoane (29) from Alexandra
Almur Marais (25) from Pretoria
Marcel De Almeida (22) from Pretoria
Thembeka Mnguni (33) from Durban
Jono Grayson (23) from Cape Town
Visit mnet.tv/thevoice for more information.
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The Voice South Africa is produced for M-Net by AMPN and is sponsored by Dialdirect.ย