VIDEO: Idols SA Season 15 – It was a spectacular showcase of gifts and talents at the Top 6 Showstopper!

The 15^th  edition of SA Idols is heating up as the contestants fight to survive another week in the competition.

Tonight, we bid goodbye to Mangaliso Gumbi, who failed to get enough votes to make it to the Top 6. And with just a few weeks to go to the finale, the pressure is on for the remaining contestants to prove that they have what it takes to be the next South African Idol. And there’s no better week to show the goods than on Showstopper Night – arguably the most anticipated evening of the competition.

Our Top 6 contestants certainly did their best to set the stage on fire. With the evening already amped up by the judges, who took to the stage to show off their outfits, and the Top 7 group performance of Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus’s Old Town Road – it was all set for the contestants to bring it.

Luyolo Yiba was the first contestant of the evening with Dance Till You Drop by Naakmusiq.  While Randall Abrahams and Unathi Nkayi were pleased with his performance, Somizi Mhlongo said he expected more from the easy-going Yiba.

Virginia Qwabe too, divided the judges with her performance of Mafikizolo and Uhuru’s Khona, as did Nolo Seodisha with his rendition of Da Capo’s  Speed of Sound.

Nkayi said Virginia gave an all-round good performance, but Abrahams wished she had enjoyed the performance a bit more, while Mhlongo said it was nothing spectacular.

Seodisha could have done more to be front and centre of the performance, said Abrahams, though Nkayi felt he killed it. Again, Mhlongo did not warm up to the performance, saying it was a “no”.

Micayla Oelofse’s performance of Fifth Harmony’s Worth It was also met with some reservations by the judges, who all felt she could have done better. Nkayi pleaded with her to enjoy herself more.

It’s safe to say the evening belonged to Viggy Qwabe and Sneziey Msomi. Mhlongo said Viggy’s performance of Hamba by Zanda Zakusa  was the first showstopper of the evening. “Finally, the show begins!” he exclaimed.

Msomi’s Proud Mary was met with ululation by Nkayi and a “Whoo Shem” from Mhlongo. Abrahams had no words, so impressed was he by the performance of one of Tina Turner’s greatest hits. 

The last say, of course, belongs to the viewers, who now get to decide who will take to the stage again next week as part of the Top  5.

Tonight’s performances

• Luyolo Yiba: Dance Till You Drop – Naakmusiq
• Virginia Qwabe: Khona – Mafikizolo, featuring Uhuru
• Viggy Qwabe: Hamba – Zanda Zakusa
• Sneziey Msomi: Proud Mary – Tina Turner
• Nolo Seodisha:  Speed of Sound – Da Capo
• Micayla Oelofse: Worth It – Fifth Harmony

Idols SA season 15 is on Mzansi Magic, DStv Channel 161 on Sundays at 17h00.