Pop goes Idols in Durban
In case you haven’t heard, everyone’s favourite televised singing contest is back! The South African version of Idols is returning for its 4th season, with the first round of auditions kicking off in Johannesburg on the 23 June.
Of course, my overall hope is that this time around we get an idol with staying power – I insist that last time Karin won simply for playing the “poor, overweight single mom” card. She was definitely more lounge singer than pop idol, and proved that by doing nothing post-Idols except gain notoriety for her boyfriend’s murderous activities. OK, maybe that is behaviour expected of pop idols.
Anyway, this year auditions have yet to get underway and controversy has already hit the show. You see, there are no auditions in Durban this year. Instead, auditions for the KwaZulu-Natal province will be taking place down in sleepy Summer holiday town Margate – a 2-and-a-half hour drive from Natal’s biggest city.
Needless to say, local wannabee idols are not impressed. The move in location has effectively crushed the dreams of plenty potential singing stars who cannot make the journey. I could understand having auditions for a KykNET singing show down in the largely Afrikaans Margate, but the nation’s number one reality show? Durbanites have been unfairly shut out of the competition, and some have been threatening a boycott.
I suggest a more “fun” retaliation. How about we rally together and do what shock jock Howard Stern promoted with American Idol – sabotaging the show by voting the worst contestant as far as possible into the competition?
Anyway, here’s the IOL article on the missing Durban auditions:
'My heart bleeds for aspiring Idols'
Calls to boycott the South African version of the Idols show have been made after the producers decided to move the auditions from Durban to Margate this year for the show's fourth season.
After the dismay over the decision by local singers, an outraged Durban voice coach said in a letter to the Daily News that besides boycotting the popular television show, a chain email petition should also be started.
Rosa Doran claimed that the many people she works with are calling for a chain email letter where the public can pledge to boycott the show.
Doran added that the decision to move the auditions to Margate was unfair to the many talented Idols hopefuls in the region.
As a teacher she said: "My heart bleeds for all those aspiring Idols that will never get to the auditions in Margate, simply because they did not have the means to get there.
"This is a great and unforgivable blow to the music industry in general and one that will be remembered by Durban for years to come."
However, despite the disappointment, the community of Margate is gearing up for an increased set of the tourists … but this time all would be singing.
Di Duncan, chairperson of Margate's sub-committee for tourism and the local organiser of the Idols auditions in Margate, said, "We are extremely excited that the Idols auditions are going to be held in our town, and we are also hoping for it to be held here in future, that's if everyone is pleased with the manner in which we handle it."
Duncan added that the auditions will "bring the show closer to the smaller communities" and that the participants will have the opportunity to be a part of the coastal town's many festivals, like the Sardine Festival.
Meanwhile, Peter Bendheim, spokesperson for Durban's tourism body, Durban Africa, said, "In my view I don't believe that the decision to move the Idols auditions to Margate will impact negatively on the city at all, as we have many other exciting events to look forward to."
Doran disagreed saying: "Durban has clearly been sent the message that we are not part of the rest of South Africa."
Idols auditions
Gauteng: 23 June, Standard Bank Arena, Johannesburg.
Western Cape: 29 June, River Club in Observatory, Cape Town.
KwaZulu-Natal: 5 July, Margate.
Western Cape (2): 10 July, Oakhill School, Knysna.
Gauteng (2): 18 July, Supersport Park, Centurion.
Of course, my overall hope is that this time around we get an idol with staying power – I insist that last time Karin won simply for playing the “poor, overweight single mom” card. She was definitely more lounge singer than pop idol, and proved that by doing nothing post-Idols except gain notoriety for her boyfriend’s murderous activities. OK, maybe that is behaviour expected of pop idols.
Anyway, this year auditions have yet to get underway and controversy has already hit the show. You see, there are no auditions in Durban this year. Instead, auditions for the KwaZulu-Natal province will be taking place down in sleepy Summer holiday town Margate – a 2-and-a-half hour drive from Natal’s biggest city.
Needless to say, local wannabee idols are not impressed. The move in location has effectively crushed the dreams of plenty potential singing stars who cannot make the journey. I could understand having auditions for a KykNET singing show down in the largely Afrikaans Margate, but the nation’s number one reality show? Durbanites have been unfairly shut out of the competition, and some have been threatening a boycott.
I suggest a more “fun” retaliation. How about we rally together and do what shock jock Howard Stern promoted with American Idol – sabotaging the show by voting the worst contestant as far as possible into the competition?
Anyway, here’s the IOL article on the missing Durban auditions:
'My heart bleeds for aspiring Idols'
Calls to boycott the South African version of the Idols show have been made after the producers decided to move the auditions from Durban to Margate this year for the show's fourth season.
After the dismay over the decision by local singers, an outraged Durban voice coach said in a letter to the Daily News that besides boycotting the popular television show, a chain email petition should also be started.
Rosa Doran claimed that the many people she works with are calling for a chain email letter where the public can pledge to boycott the show.
Doran added that the decision to move the auditions to Margate was unfair to the many talented Idols hopefuls in the region.
As a teacher she said: "My heart bleeds for all those aspiring Idols that will never get to the auditions in Margate, simply because they did not have the means to get there.
"This is a great and unforgivable blow to the music industry in general and one that will be remembered by Durban for years to come."
However, despite the disappointment, the community of Margate is gearing up for an increased set of the tourists … but this time all would be singing.
Di Duncan, chairperson of Margate's sub-committee for tourism and the local organiser of the Idols auditions in Margate, said, "We are extremely excited that the Idols auditions are going to be held in our town, and we are also hoping for it to be held here in future, that's if everyone is pleased with the manner in which we handle it."
Duncan added that the auditions will "bring the show closer to the smaller communities" and that the participants will have the opportunity to be a part of the coastal town's many festivals, like the Sardine Festival.
Meanwhile, Peter Bendheim, spokesperson for Durban's tourism body, Durban Africa, said, "In my view I don't believe that the decision to move the Idols auditions to Margate will impact negatively on the city at all, as we have many other exciting events to look forward to."
Doran disagreed saying: "Durban has clearly been sent the message that we are not part of the rest of South Africa."
Idols auditions
Gauteng: 23 June, Standard Bank Arena, Johannesburg.
Western Cape: 29 June, River Club in Observatory, Cape Town.
KwaZulu-Natal: 5 July, Margate.
Western Cape (2): 10 July, Oakhill School, Knysna.
Gauteng (2): 18 July, Supersport Park, Centurion.
Comments
They have crushed my dreams. Crushed my dreams I tell you!
;)