Idols SA kicks off live shows and voting

The six hopefuls who competed at Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria at the weekend were Zee, Thapelo, Hope, Mpilwenhle, Kabelo and Tesmin-Robyn, while Ceejay, Lerato, Nandi, Noxolo, Nozi and Ty will face off at the same venue on 4 September.

For Season 18’s first live show, the initial group of six contestants teamed up with some of music’s biggest names.

“It feels good to be back,” host ProVerb said as he introduced the first live show of Idols SA Season 18, which featured electrifying performances that saw the six participants taking to the stage.

Zee, the youngest singer this season at 18 years, began her performance with a duet with Kelly Khumalo with ‘Empini’. For her solo act, Zee sang the sexy ‘Surprise’ by Chlöe. All three judges praised the performance, with Thembi Seete describing her delivery as “beautiful”.

JR Bogopa and Somizi Mhlongo applauded Zee as well. However, Somizi felt she was intimidated by singing with Khumalo. “Don’t be afraid to unleash the beast in you,” he told her.

Thapelo was next, collaborating with Mduduzi Ncube on the emotional track ‘Langa Linye’. His solo performance was Sam Smith’s ‘Love Me More’.

“You know where the danger is?” Seete asked Thapelo about his second performance. “You are lovable. You have the energy, you have the power, but you need to feel more.”

JR echoed this: “A voice is a very powerful tool, but it can also be your worst enemy.” Somizi praised both of Thapelo’s performances: “I think that performance was worthy of taking you to the next round.”

The next collaboration featured Hope and Langa Mavuso, who performed the soulful ‘Pretend’. For her solo track, Hope took on Muni Long’s ‘Hrs & Hrs’.

“There’s a lot of pressure on you tonight,” JR said about Hope taking on the work of two powerful songwriters. “But you really delivered. You owned that performance.” 

Somizi said: “If they say first impressions last, then this one is going to last,” with Seete not only praising Hope’s vocal chops but also her confidence and stage presence.

Hitting the stage with Presss was Mpilwenhle. The two took on the romantic ‘Phatha Kahle’, before Mpilwenhle went solo with Ariana Grande’s ‘Positions’.

Somizi praised her versatility, saying she was good at “delivering according to the genre and style” of what she was performing. Seete said Mpilwenhle’s performances proved she deserved to be in the top 12. “You killed it,” she said. JR’s feedback was summed up in four words: “You are a star.”

Next was Kabelo, who sang the joyful ‘Ngam’khetha’ with newly minted SAMA winner Nomfundo Moh, before going at it alone with ‘For Tonight’ by Giveon. Seete said Kabelo earned his spot in the top 12, but he needed to relax a bit more. “You’re in your head too much, you’re too nervous. Stop worrying because you are gifted.”

“For your own good, find your voice now and forget the nerves,” JR said, with Somizi echoing: “There’s nothing wrong with being an introvert, but express your feelings onstage.”

Closing out the show was Tesmin-Robyn, who collaborated with Boohle on the energetic ‘Pillow Talk’, before singing Ari Lennox ‘Pressure’ for her solo showing.

“You are a firecracker waiting to explode,” JR said. “Get out of that shell, girl. Vocal-wise you delivered, well done.” Somizi said Tesmin-Robyn’s fans could give her the second chance she deserved because she was overthinking her performance.

“It’s a new show, it’s a new season, it’s 2022,” Seete told the contestant, who had been on Idols SA before. “Can you give us the 2022 Tesmin? You have everything but I do not want to see what I saw last year.”

While the judges’ input is valuable to contestants, ultimately – as ProVerb reminded viewers and the audience in attendance – it’s up to their votes to decide who will make it into the top 10.

Audience tickets for the Idols SA live shows can be purchased here. Idols SA can be viewed on DStv channel 161 on Sundays from 5.30pm CAT. For more information, visit the Idols SA official website.