‘Idols’ ladies take the lead

'Idols' contestant Melissa Allison.

'Idols' contestant Melissa Allison.

Published Aug 20, 2012

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GOING on last night’s performance at ‘Idols’, I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the girls bagged the title this year.

Mentored by J-Something from SAMA award-winning house group, MiCasa , the Top 8 had to choose a song in keeping with “The Year I Was Born” Theme. And viewers got the full range of amazing, mediocre and disappointing.

Twenty eight year old Tshidi Tenyane kicked things off with the 1983 hit, ‘It’s Raining Men’ by the Weather Girls. The crowd went insane and the judges comments only fuelled their excitement.

Randall Abrahams, renowned for being hardcore, especially at this stage of the competition, exclaimed: “It’s raining votes!”

Dominic Neill, 19, went with Mr Big’s ‘To Be With You’ – but failed to impress everyone. Gareth Cliff felt it was a “clever” song choice but was unconvinced that he did it justice.

Michael Jackson’s ‘Man In The Mirror’ was the song choice of Simphiwe Gwegwe, 23, also known as the pride of Port Nolloth. Choosing such a big song – as many former contestants will attest to – can be a rather risky gambit. Unathi Msengana gave him some constructive criticism while Abrahams said: “If you are singing that song, you better start singing from the moment you start singing.”

Personally, I think MJ purists would have cringed through his rendition.

Cape Town’s Chloe Kiley, 23, looked stunning and was compelling through her version of ‘Never Tear Us’ Apart by INXS. And Msengana praised: “You literally become the song!”

Monde Msutwana, 30, opted for Toto’s ‘Rosanna’, His hunger to stay in the competition was palpable and Abrahams commended him for it.

A favourite from his first audition in Durban, Khaya Mthethwa, 25, chose Earth Wind and Fire’s ‘September’. Although he made some bad song choices in recent weeks, he redeemed himself by proving he can relinquish the gospel-flavour and do a straightforward R&B performance.

Cliff said: “Tonight you proved that you can do pretty much anything.”

But the hopeful that truly stood out last night was twenty-three-year old Melissa Allison’s cover version of ‘Eternal Flame’ by The Bangles. And she killed it. A blown-away Cliff said: “Sweetheart, that was outstanding. You were my favourite performer tonight”

Even Msengana concurred – although it was a bit premature as Durban’s Shekhinah “Sheki” Donnell, 17, was yet to perform.

Nonetheless Donnell, the youngest contestant in the competition, belted out TLC’s ‘Waterfall’ and reaped the praises for her effort.

Abrahams stated she had nothing to worry about come tomorrow night’s results show.

Tune in to find out who’s singing sees them out of the running – and if the judges decide to save that person.

‘Idols’ Results Show is on M-Net at 7.30pm. And the next ‘Idols’ show is on Sunday at 5.30pm on M-Net (DStv Channel 101) and Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 107).

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