And now there are three, as Idols Season 18 almost reaches the final stretch.
After months of a tough season, the road to crowning number one is almost close.
On Sunday the top three were announced at Heartfield Arena in Centurion Tshwane.
Ty Loner said his goodbyes after getting eliminated just at the beginning of the show.
In the first round of three, the contestants sang the songs they auditioned with.
Nozi was the first to perform and she sang Best part by Daniel Caesar.
Somizi said she sounded like she was at her own concert.
Thembi said it was refreshing watching her.
“You are a powerhouse,” she said.
JR said she brings personality to the vocal performance.
Mpilwenhle sang Maleh’s song and the judges were impressed.
Thembi said her voice is like an instrument.
“In your voice, there is a guitar and a piano. Beautiful performance,” she said
JR said she is a vocal gymnast.
“I think you are musically intelligent,” he said.
Somizi said she gave them Sunday soul sessions.
“You are really saying that you’ve given us everything and you just want to relax and enjoy,” he said.
Thapelo sang Kelly Khumalo’s Esphambanweni and made the crowd go crazy.
JR said that is his genre.
“This is a powerful performance, you are a star,”
Somizi said it wasn’t a performance but a service.
“You were not even here. You must follow your calling and this is it,” he said.
Thembi said gospel is his.
“Run and walk with it, you are gifted and congratulations on making it this far,” she said.
The second round they performed classic deva and divo hits.
Nozi sang Aretha Franklin’s Try a Little Tenderness.
Somizi said she is a giant.
“Nozi you are enormous. You are a powerhouse and what you did with this song is exactly how you should’ve,” he said.
Thembi said she uses every inch of her body.
“You left us, you were not here. That was a performance, you killed it,” she said.
JR said she embodies a spirit of a lot of things.
“This is the top three idols. It has officially begun,” he said.
Mpilwenhle followed with Angel of mine from Monica.
Thembi Seete said what makes her voice better is how content she is.
JR said she isn’t an easily consumable product.
Somizi said the performance for him was just normal.
Thapelo sang When a Man Loves a Woman
song by Michael Bolton.
Somizi said he sang the song good but it was theatrical.
Thembi enjoyed the performance.
In the last round, they sang songs chosen by the judges.
Nozi sang a song chosen by Somizi.
Somizi said she has done enough and everything is left in the hands of South Africans.
Thembi said: "You’ve been proving yourself every day. Well done you deserve to be here,”
Mpilwenhle sang Thembi’s selection of Jill Scott.
Thembi said she knew she was going to enjoy it.
JR said it was a great choice.
“This was just a match made in heaven,” he said.
Somizi said he enjoyed the performance.
Thapelo closed off the show with JR’s selection of Luther Vandross So Amazing.
JR said it wasn’t the most powerful.
Somizi said he must learn mike techniques.
“It was so beautiful and you are well dressed,” he said.
Thembi said it was calm and relaxed and she enjoyed it.
