FROM SLIMY CHESTS TO WRECKING BALLS, CARNIVAL CITY BROUGHT OUT THE ABSURD ON IDOLS SA!

Johannesburg will go down as the city with the most ludicrous cast of characters coming to audition on Idols SA so far.

This week saw the audition tour parking at Carnival City where than 1600 people defied gloomy weather to come take a shot at musical fame. Somizi Mhlongo debuted a new hairstyle which came in handy during his faux sangoma impersonation, Gareth Cliff rediscovered a favourite toy and a twitchy finger, Randall Abrahams went “poof” and Unathi Msengana … well, Unathi cried.

But back to the contestants.

There was Amos, a repeat offender who was rejected in Pretoria when he auditioned with a confusing rendition of Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud. Obviously believing that the judges must have been suffering from hearing loss that time, Amos came back at Carnival City to “bless” the four with his remarkable voice. So sure was Amos of his massive talent that he didn’t bother to change a single thing from his previous audition.

So it should not have come as a surprise to him that the judges were also not going to change their minds. It remained a firm no, and a crushed Amos went from utter disbelief to sobs in the blink of an eye.

A sad ending to his fantasy indeed, but his was not the only “happily never after”. And with each rejection came the blame game. Some excuses were comical, others downright outlandish, and all of them defied logic.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom, however. Take 16 year-old Celine Nato  from Edenvale. She received the first Golden Ticket of the day when she serenaded the judges singing Confetti by Tori Amos. Siyakha Tshayela, 22, from Vosloorus also received four nods, with Somizi comparing her to the late Lulu Dikana and Randall calling her “refreshing”.

And there was Terra Cox, who reduced Unathi to tears when he belted out Gladys Knight’s Neither One of Us. The 28 year-old from Eden Park dedicated the song to his late mother.

Still, not everyone had it easy and bets were wagered for the release of the Golden Ticket. Sgherdeed Ross has Somizi to thank for hers after he cajoled Gareth into giving the last-chance 30 year-old a yes.   Now if Sgherdeed doesn’t make it past the second round of auditions during Theatre Week, Somizi will take Gareth on a shopping spree and give him a fashion overhaul all at his expense. No pressure Sgherdeed!

Idols SA season 12 is on Mzansi Magic, DStv channel 161 on Sundays at 17h30 CAT.

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