The following are snippets of what to expect in the upcoming season of Idols SA. While the show hasn’t yet come to your TV, we were privileged to take part in the Theatre Week which is under way in Sun City. Thanks to the non-disclosure agreements that we signed, we cannot reveal the nitty-gritties of the show, so instead we will talk about what to expect.
As usual, there are a few contestants returning to the show after having failed in the past. This is always a tricky one because no matter how much they try to impress, their past almost never seems to leave them. Although it is not said, it is felt that sometimes these return contestants do nothing but hog precious space in the competition. At a glance, it doesn’t look as if any of the recycled contestants will clinch a spot in the Top 10. Which is refreshing, because each year we need new people to showcase their talents.
Coming to the newbies, there are very interesting dynamics at play in this edition of Idols SA. It is a clear battle of the sexes and the women look the strongest – while there doesn’t appear to be a clear winner among the male contenders as yet. Still, there is a lot of potential among the fairer sex. It would be refreshing to have a woman win as that hasn’t happened for a long time.
Tshidi Tenyane was a powerful singer in the competition in 2012 and we haven’t heard anyone like her since then. Well, until now. Expect some big Whitney Houston-esque vocals that will send shivers down your spine.
Elvis Blue had a tendency to rearrange well-known songs and make them his own, without detracting from the original sound. If that impressed you, then you are going to love this season because a number of the youngsters also have that skill and they use it very well.
Then there are my favourite contestants, the ones who keep it simple. Think Bokkie (2010) or Melissa (2012) and how they approached their songs. There was no attempt to change the songs or sound like the original singers, yet it worked. It was their honesty that took them far. There are a few people in the class of 2015 who seem to favour that approach.
There is also new blood on the judging panel. Whoever thought there was a need to add another judge was on the money, but whoever suggested that the new judge be Somizi was a genius. If you thought Gareth and Randall were cruel, then you ain’t seen nothing yet. If you thought Unathi was playful and sensitive, wait till you see Somizi. He is clearly happy to be there and fitting in as if he has been with the team since day one. The other judges seem to feed off his energy and Somizi doesn’t mince his words when it comes to praising or criticising a performance. If any of the singers were to bore you in any way, do not worry, Somizi will make it worth your while to keep on watching. He is like those controversial online stories that you only read to check out the hilarious comments.