06 June 2007

Your chance to be an Idol


The world’s biggest music talent search show is coming back on the telly. Yippee.

Excuse my enthusiasm, which is hidden behind that sarcastic last remark. We know the show is hilarious, often unearthing more standup comedians than it does talented singers. Yet, how many of us can name three past Idols winners? Sure Heinz Winckler is the easy one; he was the first one and dare I say, deservedly so as well. Some people had said Ayanda Nhlangothi should have won that year, but I don’t believe she had the complete Idols package which is yes, a package complete with pay-as-you-hug fans. You can see from the type of music she currently does. She would be best suited for “Mbaqanga Idols”. Perhaps Bianca Le Grange should have won. Now THERE was a package if I ever saw one myself! Loyiso Bala certainly would have agreed.

After Heinz it was just downhill. Anke Pietrangeli (2003), Karin Kortje (2005) and Dewald Louw (2006). Goodness, who are these folks? Karin for one, got more (in)famous for her much-publicised personal life than her CD (which is claimed to have sold over 20 000 copies to date). Anke was just Anke and Dewald fell victim to the show being moved from M-Net to Kyknet, making it an all-Afrikaans affair.

Before I go on, let’s just get the name right first. It is Idols. Not Pop Idols or Idols Stars. Just Idols. There. So Idols auditions kick off in Jozi on the 23rd June at the Standard Bank Arena. You have to be between the ages of 18 and 30 to enter. If you turn 31 on June 22, sorry for you. And please bring your best singing voice because the judges are the same as two years ago, that is, Randall Abrahams (walking music encyclopedia and BIG Elvis fan), Mara Louw (whose tenure on SABC 2’s Muvhango has just ended), Gareth Cliff (5fm shock jock) and Dave Thompson, the marketing suit from Sony BMG who are the people actually awarding the recording contract to the eventual winner. The show will broadcast on M-Net from 19 August at 17:30.

I have a grand dream. They should do a World Idols for all the country/ region winners and finalists, and the judges must be Randall, Simon Cowell (American Idol) and Dede (from Idols West Africa). How’s about it?
Here's to a few weeks of bad tunes, wrong pitch, funny insults, tears and laughs!

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