Following last week’s surprise twist where no choirs were eliminated, the competition got real on Clash of the Choirs SA (COTCSA) this week.
North West’s Team Stoan were the first to be sent home packing while Free State’s Team Zaza became the first to win a challenge on the Mzansi Magic musical competition.
Rounding off the top three were KwaZulu-Natal’s Team Ntencane and Limpopo’s Team HLE in second and third place, respectively.
This week’s challenge from musical director Zadok was a fun. Each choirmaster was tasked with reimagining their own music and changing their hits into choral gold.
First to take the COTCSA stage was Team Ntencane who performed his hit Bayangi Sabaweli and Phuzekhemisi’s Imbizo.
Their performance left the judges impressed, with Buhlebendalo Mda saying: “That made me want to be umZulu [Zulu-speaking person]. It felt like the final performance.”
Team Zaza performed their own rendition of her track Imbewu, inviting praise from Zwai Bala and other judges.
“That is power on its own. Well done, you guys,” said Bala.
After Team Stoan took to the stage to perform Mo Tshware, they received mixed response from the judges.
Dr Tumi said about their performance: “I don’t think the leads were the right voices for this type of song.”
Western Cape’s Team Vusi Nova performed Ndikuthandile and the judges enjoyed the performance, with Buhlebendalo saying: “Thank you so much for presenting it the way you presented it, thank you for utilising the stage.”
Team Khanyisa (Mpumalanga) sang Bheka Mina Ngedwa to mostly positive comments from the competition’s judges.
Bala remarked after their performance: “You guys need to perfect your performances a little more. No more new ideas, just tighten what you already have.”
Also getting a mixed response from the judges was Team Lady Du (Eastern Cape), who performed Umsebenzi Wethu and Woza.
Dr Tumi remarked: “I’m not sure it’s the best you could have done – you could have done so much better.”
Northern Cape’s Team Langa performed his hit Sunday Blues, impressing the judges and the crowd.
“Thank you for redeeming yourselves to me. It sounded like a choir. I wanted to go to church and praise the Lord,” commented Buhlebendalo.
The judges also enjoyed Team HLE’s take on her track Dwala, with Bala commenting: “It needs to be tight, otherwise you’re running a risk of it being messy. But well done, and keep up the energy.”
Closing off the show was Gauteng’s Team Prince Kaybee with his hits Gugulethu and Charlotte.
The judges felt their performance lacked creativity, and Dr Tumi said: “The hard thing about these type of songs is that the lyrics are meant to be presented a certain way.
“So, changing them can become a messy exercise.”
