The Popstars auditions tuned into Cape Town this past weekend and buzzed with hopefuls pushing their luck and voices to make it through to the callbacks.
I went through for us on Saturday - the first day - to see what was going on and had a rip discovering new groups in the que. With all the news about the show I've been thinking - there really are too few rad groups in the world.
Solo musos and collaborations have flooded the music scene and lost the essence of group "cool". Even the cheesiest of pop groups somehow manage to capture cool in an unexplainable way.
With this in mind I grabbed us front row seats in the actual audition room and dashed up and down the que outside, chatting to auditionees who formed and named groups on the fly:
The auditions were at Ster Kinekor in Tyger Valley, which is impossible to get home from. You just keep driving round and round the centre for 30 minutes.
Host Martin Phike outside the audition room, waiting to snatch the tears of rejects.
Judges Zwai Bala, Azania Ndoro and PJ Powers in the actual auditions, deciding on who should get callbacks. As you can see things weren't going well.
Hopefuls audition in groups of five and get a quick yay or nay. If you're still going for them, a tip: sing the chorus of the song and not the build-up/beginning - the judges kept asking everyone to do this.
The Young Voices.
Inspiration: Westlife ... or Boyz II Men, I can't remember which. Lots of peeps said they like both.
Zwai and PJ escape from the audition room, pretending
they're surviving.
Pop groups discovered ...
(ala Simon Cowell, ha)
New Beginnings
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Leann
Age: 29
Occupation: Part-time worker/clark
Audition song: Hero by Mariah Carey.
Reason: "Because there is something in everyone. It's a chance for me to show what I have inside of me. I feel like God made me a hero, to do something for the world outside."
Fave pop group: Boyz II Men.
Biggest personal challenge if she were to win the show: "To learn new ways of doing things." |
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Christolene
Age: 19
Occupation: Nursing student (in her second year)
Audition song: Stand Up For Love by Destiny's Child.
Reason: "I had my first audition last year and I didn't make it - for Supersterre. I didn't make it so I thought I'd sing the same song, better myself and use what they told me to see if I can make it now."
Fave pop group: 101.
Biggest personal challenge if she were to win: "People are going to look up to you and expect a lot of things from you so I would like to live up to my abilities and what they expect from me. I want to be an example to others." |
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Aniqua
Age: 17
Occupation: In Grade 10
Audition song: When You Tell Me That You Love Me by Diana Ross.
Reason: "Since I was small me and my mommy liked singing the song so I wanted to sing it now."
Fave pop group: Westlife ... "Because they love singing love songs and have a lekker beat."
Biggest personal challenge if she were to win: "Leaving my school, starting over with something different and being an inspiration to everyone would be very difficult." |
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Five Digits
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Destiny
Age: 20
Occupation: Wants to be a musician
Audition song: Can't Give Up Now by Mary Mary.
Reason:"I've been on a long journey with my music - ups and downs - and I just think this is my chance. I can't give up now."
Fave pop group: Jamali ... "they're dedicated in what they do - they're serious about what they're doing and it shows - they're confident."
Biggest personal challenge if she were to win: "The crowds, the fans - I've got to please them."
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X-Man
Age: 18
Occupation: Studying food technology
Audition song: With You by Chris Brown
Reason: "I love the song, it expresses my vocality."
Fave pop group: Westlife.
Biggest personal challenge if he were to win: "Pleasing fans - to change the world positively. Nowadays it seems like music is all about selling, it's not about the message so finding a balance between the two."
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Sizwe
Occupation: Studying horticulture
Singing: Where I Wanna Be by Donell Jones.
Reason: "That song is class man - and it suits my voice."
Fave pop group: Also Westlife.
Biggest personal challenge if he were to win: "Balancing my studies and music."
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Marbelebno
Age: 27
Occupation: Hip-hop songwriter and producer.
Audition song: His own song called "I Come To Arrest You".
Fave pop group: "I listen to Jazz - my favourite is Jimmy Dludlu."
Biggest personal challenge if he were to win: "I don't think there's anything that'll be tough."
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Khanya
Occupation: Also a songwriter and producer.
Audition song: Give Me Another Chance.
Reason: "Chances are things we want to go for in life so it's about getting a second chance for something better. I haven't auidtioned before but if I don't make it I might get a second chance in the future."
Fave pop group: "Jamali ... They keep it together - I like the way they've stayed together for so long. They also don't only do pop - they do kwaito, hip hop - they have good diversity to their music."
Biggest personal challenge if he were to win: "Getting to the final stage of the competition - before knowing if I've won or not."
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Fusion
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Portia
Age: 23
Occupation: Wants to be a pop star.
Audition song: Ntyilo Ntyilo by Thandiswa Mazwai.
Reason: "I don't know ... because I enjoy it."
Fave pop group: Jamali ... "Because they're sophisticated ladies - they're still in the industry after Popstars - they've made it last."
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Mpho
Age: 22
Occupation: Wants to be a pop star.
Audition song: Spotlight by Jennifer Hudson.
Biggest personal challenge if she were to win: "Oh my word let me see ... my whole life would change - not waking up at 12 o'clock in the morning, in the afternoon I mean. I'd enjoy the whole process - I wouldn't find anything too difficult. You have to give 100% commitment at all times."
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Jameelan
Age: 19
Occupation: Works at Stuttafords in Tyger Valley
Audition song: Butterflyz by Alicia Keys.
Reason: "I think it's a very inspirational song - it helps me practice with my vocals, it brings out my voice."
Fave pop group: "I have an appreciation for all types of music so I can't say thatI have a favourite. A group ...I think it would be Boyz II Men."
Biggest personal challenge if she were to win: "Leaving family behind - I'm not someone who can say goodbyes, I'm not good at goodbyes - that would be most difficult."
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Lucinda
Occupation: Fusion's first groupie.
Audition song: Zilch.
Reason: "I'm just here to support Jameelan - I can't sing."
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PS: I have no clue whether any of the groups can actually sing but it doesn't matter - they can use that autotune thing X-Factor used.
Next on the audition route: Jozi, this weekend. For the audition news and venues, see:
Are You A Popstar? Audition Details