Idols SA announces top 3

Mpilo, Nozi and Thapelo performed the track they first auditioned with before performing classic diva hits in the next round. The final songs were chosen by the judges.

Nozi kicked things off with Daniel Caesar and H.E.R.’s ‘Best Part’. “It was like we were at your concert, and you sang it like Nozi would sing it,” said judge Somizi Mhlongo.

Her next song was Aretha Franklin’s ‘Try a Little Tenderness’, a performance judge JR Bogopa called “spectacular”. Nozi’s final song was Andra Day’s ‘Rise Up’, with judge Thembi Seete praising her: “You’ve proven yourself week after week. You understand that this is a competition.”

For her first performance, Mpilo sang Maleh’s ‘Ke Mo Afrika’, with JR saying: “You are unmatched and are one of the best [vocalists] in the country.”

Next, she took on ‘Angel of Mine’ by Monica, a performance Thembi called “amazing”. Mpilo’s final showing of the night was Jill Scott’s ‘A Long Walk’. “There’s one thing you have that a lot of people do not have: stage presence and charisma,” said Somizi.

For his first song, Thapelo revisited Kelly Khumalo’s ‘Esphambanweni’, which saw Thembi calling him “gifted”.  

His next song was Michael Bolton’s rendition of ‘When a Man Loves a Woman’, which Somizi wasn’t too impressed with: “Just because you’ve got a great voice doesn’t mean your vocals fit in every genre.”

Thapelo closed the show with Luther Vandross’s ‘So Amazing’, a performance JR called “spot on”, saying: “You spoke to a lot of people’s souls, but it wasn’t the most punchy or powerful. It got the job done.”

With just two weeks to go before the Idols SA season 18 winner is crowned, the top three will be recording their solo singles produced by Kalawa Jazmee from Monday.

Tickets to the Idols SA live shows are on sale at Computicket. Interested attendees can purchase tickets for the live shows 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.