Idols judges raise the benchmark

LeAnne Dlamini and YouTube singer Michael Matebe. Picture: Cobus Bodenstein

Fame-hungry contestants, a YouTube singer, guitars, vocal meltdowns, wannabe dancers and higher standards are some of the ingredients fans can expect in season nine of the M-Net reality TV show Idols this year.

The search is on to replace Durban-born singer Khaya Mthethwa who won the reality TV competition last October.

However, after the Cape Town auditions earlier this week at Grand West Casino, it seems the judges are setting the benchmark higher this year.

Idols judge Unathi Msengana joked that “guitars should be banned at the auditions”.

“From the talent we’ve seen so far, every person that sang their own song with a guitar didn’t make it there. We only saw a few good people who can actually play the guitar and I feel people use it as a safety net to hide their singing,” she said in between the auditions.

Never afraid to show their disapproval at the lack of talent, both Universal Music MD Randall Abrahams and 5FM DJ Gareth Cliff seemed disappointed by the talent Cape Town delivered on the day.

Seeing a double-jointed contestant aim to prove her vocal skills proved too painful for all three judges. A contestant who seemed too nervous to let go of his guitar sparked its fair share of banter among the panel members, with “this is insane in the membrane” among the responses.

Spotted at the Cape town auditions was SA singer LeAnne Dlamini, who encouraged YouTube singer Michael Matebe to audition. As for how he fared, you’ll have to wait till the show airs – from July 21 on M-Net and Mzansi Magic.

The next stop for auditions is Soweto on February 16.