It continued to rain gold on day two of Idols SA season 17 auditions, with 31 entrants securing that all-important Golden Ticket to Theatre Week. Unfortunately, for the many others selected to appear before the judges, the dream ended far too soon and they will be watching the show on TV like the rest of Mzansi.
This week, Randall Abrahams, Somizi Mhlongo-Motaung and Unathi Nkayi were joined by a new guest judge, award-winning gospel artist Ntokozo Mbambo, as they weeded out the good from the bad and downright scary.
The first golden ticket winner was 16 year-old Zukisa from Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal, who felt he had something unique to put out there, which was not yet out there. After his rendition of Ami Faku’s Ubuhle Bakho, Unathi said his audition was beautiful. “Your voice is rich, your range is wide, your delivery is sincere, what else should I want?” An overwhelmed Zukisa garnered enough votes to get a golden ticket with a hope of following in the footsteps of other teenage idols like Paxton, Yanga and Zama.
Another unique audition of the day that left the judges smiling was that of Mamare, 21, from Polokwane. Her distinctive voice and looks delighted the judges enough to set her off with a golden ticket to what is set to be an interesting journey, while Lindokuhle ‘Chosi’’s love for indigenous instruments and song bowled over Unathi and Somizi.
They will be joined by Phelokazi, 24, from East London, Mihlali, 24, from Gqeberha, Keletso, 18, from Polokwane and Nwabisa, 22, Gqeberha, whose rendition of Thandiswa Mazwai’s song Nizalwa Ngobani earned her a spot in theatre week.
“As judges, we were pleasantly surprised at the unique voices that came through on day two. There has always been the belief that we are looking for a certain look and sound for Idols SA, but the voices that shone today prove that the Idols factor is something deeper than that – it is someone who can stand out in the crowd,” says Unathi.
Unfortunately, for some, their auditions did not earn them enough votes to advance to Theatre Week. The first unsuccessful audition of the day was that of Wandile Jacobs, a 17 year-old social activist from Upington in the Northern Cape. Wandile, whose movement #DoYourPart mobilises young artists against gender-based violence, found out after trying to impress the judges that his audition was missing the “Idols factor”.
Despite Somizi loving his personality enough to give him a “whoooo shem”, his dream of Idols SA stardom died a very quick death at the hands of the judges and he walked away feeling somewhat less confident. His parting shot: “There is always a next time, but it is not assured.”
Like Wandile, Damon, 21, from Cape Town, who was not lucky with his audition, but at least he was given a very early taste of how his chosen song should have been performed, with Ntokozo sharing her rendition of his audition song, ‘Jehovah is your name.’
Season 17 of Idols SA broadcasts on Sundays at 17:30 on Mzansi Magic Channel 161, and at 17:00 from the live shows. Get exclusive updates and a behind the scenes look at all the action right here on our site. Don't forget to join the conversation by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #IdolsSA.