M-Netโs new singing contest The Voice SA upped the ante this week by entering its second phase โ the fierce Battle Rounds. During this stage of the competition coaches Karen Zoid, Bobby van Jaarsveld, Lira and Kahn Morbee pair up the talent in their teams for a dramatic sing-off. The winner of each clash proceeds to the live shows, which will give them the opportunity to vie for South Africaโs vote.ย
While the other three coaches are allowed to share their thoughts and comment on the performances, itโs all up to the coach who prepped and mentored the talent with the assistance of their esteemed co-coaches to determine the winner. However, there is a lifeline. During this phase of the competition, each coach is allowed to โstealโ one contender who didnโt make the cut from a fellow coach.ย
The first of the four Battle Round episodes featured two sing-offs from #TeamKaren, #TeamBobby and #TeamLira respectively as well as one from #TeamKahn. Time and time again, the coaches had to make a tough call at the end of exceptional performances.
The seven singers who finally triumphed after these intense, neck-and-neck battles are: opera singer Johan Anker (23); double world champion chorister Jono Johansen (19); the former tattoo artist with the gruff voice, Meyrand Roux (28); flamboyant funny-girl Lana Crowster (28); ย shy and sweet Industrial Psychology student Zaretha Duvenhage (23); back-up singer Thapeloย Lekoane (29); andย B.Com studentย Zoe Mtila (23) from Port Elizabeth.ย
A distressed coach Bobby, who wanted to continue working with both of them, eventually picked Zoeย over Mbijana Sibisi (24) from Durban after their powerful performance of Zaharaโs Phendula.ย Coaches Karen and Kahn agreed that Mbijana deserved to stay in the competition and decided to try to exercise their one and only steal. As Karen was also pitching to get him into her team at the Blind Auditions, Mbijana chose #TeamKaren, thus becoming the eighth singer this week to cinch a spot in the live shows.ย
Bobby faced another conundrum when having to choose between Lana Crowster and feisty performerย Chanel Davids (27) from Johannesburg who took each other on with theย Diana Ross classic Ainโt No Mountain. Kahn called their Battleย โthe performance of the eveningโ and Bobby had to consult with co-coach Toya Delazy to confirm that he had made the right decision.ย
Arguably the most difficult โ and emotional - decision was when Karen Zoid pitted two team members whom she knows very well against each other. Thirty-eight-year old Tulla Ekhart and Karen attended the same school, while Thapelo Lekoane used to be her back-up singer. In the coaching process leading up to their performance of Radioheadโs High and Dry, Karen and co-coach Zolani Mahola from Freshlyground equipped them both with a new set of skills to exploreย opposite sides of their personalities. It resulted in a soul-stirring vocal tour de force during which one could hear a pin drop in the audience.ย Karen admitted that she made her final choice with her heart. โYouโre not meant to be my backing vocalist, youโre meant to be my collaborator,โ she told Thapelo.ย
After the battle between Zaretha Duvenhage and Nontu X (25) from Empangeni who worked hard to perfectย Gangs Of Balletโs Donโt Let Me Go, Karen had to huddle in confidence with Zolani to make the call.ย โI spoke to my friend...She said this voice gave her goosebumps, gave her chills, she said itโs a no-brainer,โ Karen reported back. โShe said Zaretha.โ
In #TeamLira the enigmaticย LuniQue (27) from Pretoria turned out to be stiff competition for Jono Johansen from Durban, who had all four of the coaches in awe with his Blind Audition. Kahn praised LuniQueโs take on Celine Dionโs difficult-to-master song All By Myself, butย Karen preferred Jonoโs performance. โYouโre one of the best singers in the competition,โ she told him. โEven your second best is better than the other singers.โ Lira agreed. โJono is a little more clear on who he is,โ she commented, โand that clarity, for me, is what makes me take him to the next round.โ
When #TeamLiraโs Lendel Moonsamy (30) from Durban took on Meyrand from Brits with U2โs Beautiful Day, Bobby ย was relieved that this wasnโt his choice to make. In the end, Lira opted for Meyrand whose voice gave everyone goosebumps, especially after co-coach Nianell taught him how to connect with a crowd.ย
For this weekโs Battles Kahn and co-coach Vicky Sampson worked with two very different singers: Johan Anker (23) who has been classically trained and pop/jazz singer Jade McDonald (24). Kahn specifically gave them a song which allowed them both to shine: the Queen anthem Somebody to Love. Kahn was mightily impressed with their growth in a short space of time, but felt that Johan deserved to be the victor.ย
With the first seven Battles done and dusted, the coaches and co-coaches will be nurturing and developing the skills of seven more pairs for next week Sundayโs showdown at 17:00 on M-Net.ย
Visit www.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