Pietermaritzburg -
Durban’s Kyle Deutschmann and Vincent Bones, of Pietermaritzburg, kept KwaZulu-Natal’s flame of Idols glory burning when they advanced to the top six of the hit TV show on Sunday night.
Both dodged the dreaded “bottom three” bullet and performed their hearts out at the State Theatre in Pretoria in a “showstopper”-themed night of song and dance.
Audiences bade an emotional farewell to Durbanville’s Demi-Lee who received the fewest votes in what has been Idols’ highest grossing season.
The night got off to a rocking start with Idols’ 2010 runner-up – KZN’s own Lloyd Cele – treating the enthusiastic audience to a single from his new album, Grey Matter.
With the crowd revved up, it was time for the contestants to take to the stage in what proved to be an entertaining and challenging night for them.
Bones, 29, demonstrated once again that he is a force to be reckoned with, showing off his vocal skills with Pluto, a song by South African artists DJ Clock and Beatenberg. Bones also pulled out some impressive dance moves, earning him rave reviews from judge Gareth Cliff.
“You came out here and you kept it tidy. You focused on your singing and you definitely brought the dancing, so well done,” Cliff told Bones.
Bones’s story has elicited massive support and admiration from all corners of the country. He lived on the streets of Pretoria from the age of 12 after leaving Eldorado Park in Gauteng when his mother died. Bones attributes the change in his life to a stint in Boys Town in Pietermaritzburg.
He works as a worship leader and music director at the Eagle Christian Centre in KZN’s capital city where he lives with his wife and two sons.
Deutschmann, a 29-year old chiropractor, closed the show with his rendition of John Newman’s massive hit, Love Me Again.
However, his choice of a contemporary song and his attempt at some fancy footwork did little to impress the judges who found his performance “flat”.
“I give you the prize for a tightly choreographed piece, but I have to take the prize away again for your weak vocals,” Cliff said.
Despite the mixed reviews, both Bones and Deutschmann are through to the top six of the contest that offers the winner a recording contract, R700 000 cash, a car and other prizes, including musical instruments and clothing.
The other finalists are Nelspruit’s Bongi Silinda who was the judges’ top performance of the night with her take on Mafikizolo’s Happiness, Lize Mynhardt of Stellenbosch, London Louw of Cape Town and Musa Mashiane of Witbank.