New Idols, New Blog!

Hello, my fellow Idols fans! It sure has been a while. While I was far too busy to follow season IV of Idols, life seems to have settled down for me just in time for Season 5. I hope to be blogging through this season, bringing you my straightforward views on the show, the contestants, and the inevitable drama. The new blog will be located at http://www.idolfascination.com - hope to see you there!

New website!

It's a been a while! I said that I'd announce new projects through here, and so I am: I'm happy to announce that I've launched a new website at http://www.peekzine.co.za covering all things entertainment. Not only will it be the new home of Idol Fascination, but it will cover several other events, such as Big Brother Nigeria, the new season of Lost, and Binnelanders. Look for behind-the-scenes information, show synopses, interviews, pictures, and much, much more! And make sure to register so that you can take advantage of the forums, and chat about your favorite shows with fellow fans.

The site is still brand new, so there isn't a lot of content up yet, but rest assured I am busily working on a lot of new material, including an article detailing my set visit to Binnelanders, and an interview with James Alexander, who plays Rico on this hit drama! If there's anything in particular you'd like to see covered, let me know, and I'll see what I can do.

Thanks for all of your support, I look forward to bringing you all the entertainment news.

Finally - Photos!

Here are the long awaited Top 4 round photos. Thanks for your patience, guys!

All Good Things...

From the moment I wrote my first blog entry back in August, Idols has become a significant part of my life - especially after I started going to the shows. It all seems so long ago, and yet, it seems to have gone by so quickly. This blog has been, for the most part, strictly Idols-oriented, but I hope you'll forgive me as I reflect a little bit more personally.

First, though, a heartfelt congratulations to Karin. I'll be perfectly honest: I was secretly hoping Gift would win, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that there was one major reason: the drama. After months of it growing steadily more clear that Karin was going to win this thing, I found myself hoping for a surprise finale. However, Karin does indeed deserve the title, and she has worked long and hard at making her dream a reality. So long as she lives up to the Idols name, and doesn't fade back into relative obscurity, I have no complaints. Throughout the competition, she has grown stronger, more confident and more beautiful, but at the core, she has remained the same person she was when I first met her.

At last night's press conference, Gift was asked the perennial question: "What next?" Characteristically charming and witty, he asked whether anyone had any shades, because "the future is looking so bright." Indeed it is. It will take some dedication and hard work on his part, but if there's one thing Gift has proven in this competition, it's that he is no stranger to rising to the challenge. Even Randall, who continually predicted that the boys would get a sound beating from the girls, had to acknowledge Gift's perserverance and hard work.

One quick note before I get into the rest of this entry: What on Earth was the deal with Anke? From what I hear, she was sick, but wow, she was... astonishingly dismal last night. I wasn't here for the first two seasons of Idols, but I have to tell you, when I watched Anke perform, I couldn't help thinking "If she won, how bad was everyone else?" In a word: shocking. Heinz did a far sight better, but his little jumpy moves remind me of CrissCross, the kiddie duo from the 80s. (Please tell me I'm not the only one who remembers CrissCross!) However, the star quality was a lot more apparent in him, and it was easy to see how he won the very first SA Idols crown.

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Music is one of my strongest passions. A day without music is a dark day for me, and if my mood ever begins to falter, the surest remedy is turning on some great tunes and losing myself in the rhythm. This love of music was what first made me look at Idols - I wanted to watch a star unfold before my eyes, and witness the birth of a fresh, new artist. The only thing more important to me than music is my writing. And so, when this season began, I saw the perfect opportunity to combine my two great loves together, and so the blog was born.

But even above those two things, the best part of this experience has been the people. Having only moved to SA in May, before Idols began I knew about 4 people in this country. Through Idols, I've met countless people, many of whom I really hope to remain friends with even now that it's all over. So many people have helped me, moved me, and inspired me that I will always have a very special place in my heart for this particular season of Idols. While I am grateful to absolutely everyone I've worked with throughout the season, here's a list of special thank yous:

Greg: For opening the doors to this amazing opportunity, and turning it from an idle (Idol?) hobby into the beginning of entirely new direction for my future.

The MNet PR Team: For never treating me like I was "just a blogger" and giving me the same respect and opportunities as all the regular members of the press.

The Vissers: For being exactly who you are, and giving me the chance to share your family's joys and sorrows throughout this experience, and treating me like a friend instead of just another member of the media.

The Lalouettes: For welcoming me with open arms, despite my often negative comments each week.

David: Nhlanhla's not the only one who will miss "5, 4, 3... YAAAAAAY!" each week. Jy's die beste!

The Burg: For inspiring me without meaning to, and for never pulling your punches, even when the whole world (including me) thought you should. (Love the mullet!)

The rest of the media: Because you're all great, and you all treated me like an equal.

The contestants: (No, Burg, I didn't steal this idea from you, I was going to do it anyway ;) )

Jamie Lee: Spunky, talented, and true to yourself, you're the perfect example of how it should be done. I think that tattoo will be more prophetic than you realize.

Bonolo: Your grace and confidence are inspiring, and your personality earned you a special place in my book.

Pume: My first ever one-on-one interview, your charm and eloquence made it easier than I could have imagined. As Randall said, sublime.

Kesha: I'm sure we'll be seeing much more of you in the future - you've definitely got that star quality!

Martelize: Talented, sweet and a heart the size of South Africa, I look forward to hearing more out of you (and to you making our shared last name famous!)

Deidre: You won my heart from the moment you auditioned, and no matter what, you'll always be a star to me. Thanks for everything!

Ayanda: That laugh, that smile, that amazing personality. You were a natural at presenting last night (despite those pesky mic problems) and I just know we'll be seeing (and hopefully hearing!) a lot out of you in the future.

Nhlanhla: You definitely have talent, and your stage presence is second to none. And an extra thank you for reminding me of how much fun it can be when you learn to stop worrying and love the journey.

Nicky: Of all the contestants, you turned out to be the biggest surprise of all. Week after week, you showed me exactly how talented you are, and went from one of my biggest doubts to one of my favorite contestants.

V: From criticizing the band (and your dad!) to panning much of what you did, you're probably the one contestant I was most critical of. For never letting that get in the way of our new friendship, and for actually turning one of my visions into reality on national television, and for your extraordinary grace in all circumstances, I thank you. I'll see you at that braai!

Gift: The most down-to-earth, hardworking and most likeable guy around, thanks for always taking an extra second to make sure to greet me, for always putting up with my incessant picture taking even when you were mid-chew, and for just being you. I'm telling you, I'm gonna make that thing we discussed happen! Just you wait and see.

Karin: Your journey has been nothing short of inspiring, but even in the face of growing adulation, you've remained remarkably true to yourself. Thanks for always having a smile for me, and acting as if we've known each other forever. But most of all, thanks for proving that no matter where you come from, no matter what the obstacles, and no matter what anyone says, dreams do come true. You've done your parents, your family, and most importantly, yourself, proud.

And finally, thanks to all of you. I've said it before, but I'll say it one last time: without you guys, this blog would be collecting dust. Your faithful support week after week, whether you've agreed with me or not, has meant the world to me. If it wasn't for you, none of this would be possible.

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I'll be updating the blog with Idols news - so make sure to stay subscribed (or if you haven't subscribed yet, what are you waiting for?), and tracking the contestants as they make their way into the industry. Now that Idols is over, the Binnelanders blog will get much-needed attention, and I'm also working on a general project to fill the space left by Idols. I'll announce new projects through here, so if you're subscribed, you'll find out about them as they happen. In the meantime, pictures will go up soon (thanks for your patience on this, I know I'm way behind on those). And I'd love to hear from you guys - thoughts on the season, the outcome, the future - whatever you want to share.

Thanks for everything!

An Impromptu Guestbook

OK, guys... Many of you have been reading for months, some are brand new, and some probably got here by mistake. My stats tell me that there's plenty of you who come back each week (or day) to check what's new on the blog.

I mentioned in another post that I would not mistake a quiet fanbase for a small one again, and so it is here as well. While there's only a handful of people leaving comments, I'd love to hear from the rest of you - even if just once - before it all comes to a close.

Let me know what you've thought of this year's Idols so far, the contestants, and of course, the blog. Even if it's anonymous, or under a pseudonymm, I'd love to hear from you just once before it's all over and done with :)

With just a few days left, all I can say is, thank you all so much for everything. You guys are the best!

An Impromptu Guestbook

OK, guys... Many of you have been reading for months, some are brand new, and some probably got here by mistake. My stats tell me that there's plenty of you who come back each week (or day) to check what's new on the blog.

I mentioned in another post that I would not mistake a quiet fanbase for a small one again, and so it is here as well. While there's only a handful of people leaving comments, I'd love to hear from the rest of you - even if just once - before it all comes to a close.

Let me know what you've thought of this year's Idols so far, the contestants, and of course, the blog. Even if it's anonymous, or under a pseudonymm, I'd love to hear from you just once before it's all over and done with :)

With just a few days left, all I can say is, thank you all so much for everything. You guys are the best!

Talk Back: Song Selections, Final Predictions

Not only will it be a short list, it will be a sad one. After more than 3 months, 90 posts, and countless fond memories, here's the very last Song Selection column of the season. Apologies for the fact that pictures aren't up, the last couple of days were a bit hectic but I promise that (barring interference from Hellkom - my phone went out of service three times in the last week) I will put them up today.

Here are the song selections:

Gift
Gift’s Choice: ''Senorita'', Justin Timberlake
Judges’ Choice: ''End of The Road'', Boyz II Men
Winner’s Single: ''Sometimes A Dream'', Original

Karin
Karin’s Choice: ''Natural Woman'', Aretha Franklin
Judges’ Choice: ''If I Can’t Have You'', Yvonne Elliman
Winner’s Single: ''I’m So Ready'', Original

Since I obviously haven't heard the unreleased "Winner's Singles" yet, I can only speak to the other four songs:

Gift - I certainly won't complain about hearing "End of the Road" again, but I'm not too sure that I think Senorita was one of his strongest numbers. I'd have loved to have seen him pick "Love Is All Around" or "Gimme the Night" instead. However, he did do well with Senorita - and his CD version of the song is spectacular, so I'm sure I'll still be pleased with the result, especially if he can incorporate the audience into a more complete take on the "Call And Answer" verses at the end.

Karin - I'm just glad I didn't have to choose her best performances. Judging her on her own standards, they were all rather equally strong, but I do wish that her take on Norah Jones' "Don't Know Why" had made the list. However I'm generally pleased with both songs and the selection gives a nice little contrast between sheer vocal power (Natural Woman) and more up-tempo fun (If I Can't Have You).

All in all, it's going to be quite the showdown, and I'm honestly struggling with a prediction. Since the Top 12 began, Karin has looked like the safe bet for the ultimate winner, but if the last few weeks have taught me anything, it's that there ain't no such thing as a safe bet. I'll reiterate what I said in a previous post: I think Gift has a very good chance at inheriting all the loose votes, as well as at least 50% support from the judging panel. Whether left purely to the public, or with a little influence from the judges, I am seriously starting to believe that Gift will win, and prove himself to be more than just the dark horse of the competition, and ultimately end up being crowned South Africa's next Idol.

As always, though, I want to hear what you think. In one of the biggest Battles of the Sexes since Harry Met Sally, who will reign supreme?

One-on-One withFinalist Karin

Encouraged by friends to audition for Idols, Karin Kortje's journey has possibly been one of the most inspiring and amazing transformations of all. From a timid, unremarkable girl to a increasingly beautiful and self-confident woman, Karin has changed before the country's eyes into a performer of Divaesque stature.

She knew she wanted to be a singer when she realized that she really liked the way she sounded when she sang. Now that she's achieved the enviable position of being an Idols finalist, her next goal is to make it all the way to the top. But once Idols is over, she admits that she'll miss the luxurious lifestyle she's enjoyed over the past few months, but even moreso, she'll miss all the wonderful people she's worked with.

With so much fame and public adulation, it would be easy to get an inflated ego, but Karin remains remarkable grounded and self-centered. How does she stay so down-to-earth? She reminds herself of the lessons she learned from her parents, and credits them for the person she is today. Acknowledging the emphasis on the "rags-to-riches" aspect of her story, she says that tales of her background tend to be exaggerated, and that she had two wonderful parents, a good and loving household, and emphasizes that while their lifestyle may not have been a luxurious one, they never struggled and always had what they needed. If she wins Idols (and possibly even if she doesn't) she plans on moving to Johannesburg to further pursue her career and build a good life for both her and her son. If she does win, the first thing she'll do is ask for the keys to her new car.

Karin also wishes to thank her fans, and says she is both surprised and overwhelmed by their support. She promises to do her very best to keep entertaining them in the future.

I don't think she'll have any problem keeping that promise.

One-on-One with Finalist Gift

He's smooth, he's hep, he's one cool cat, and he took a few minutes to sit down with me, one and one, after last night's results show.

It all started back in June, when Gift and some friends were working on starting their own decorating/events company. When Gift got the call that he was to audition on June 16th, he had a dilemma: there was also a major appointment scheduled with a potential client for the same day. Should he take a gamble and go for the Idols audition, or stick with the safe bet and choose the fledgling business instead? With the support of his friends, he made the right choice, and went in for his audition. The rest, as they say, is history: 5 months later, and Gift is an Idols finalist.

Gift knew he wanted to be singer since he was tiny - he lifts his foot off the ground to indicate how small he was. And music is in the blood, from his grandparents, down through all of his relatives, music is everything. So it's only natural that he followed in their footsteps and pursued a dream shared by his entire family: making it big. Once Idols is over, his next dream is to make a splash internationally, and follow in the impressive footsteps of his biggest Idol, Will Smith. Smith's ability to remain grounded, and true to himself, and his devotion to wife Jada Pinkett Smith are inspiring to Gift, and Gift hopes to achieve the same sort of positive lifestyle as his role model.

Speaking of life after Idols, Gift says the thing he'll miss the most about Idols is perfoming for the people and the excitement of being onstage in the Hippodrome. But hardest for him is facing the criticism of fans and judges, especially when he feels it's undeserved. But he's learned to be patient, and has seen his self-confidence increase greatly during the course of his Idols journey.

And if he wins? He'll give praise to God, who he credits for all that he is. That night he forgot the words to "Gimme the Night" during the results show? The first (and last) time he didn't pray before going onstage.

Gift thanks his fans for their support, knowing that without their passion and support, he never would have made it this far, and he will do his best to make everyone proud.

On that last count, I think it's safe to say: mission accomplished.

Press Conference Report

The post-show press conference was, unsurprisingly, an interesting one, as we got to speak to not just the eliminated contestants, but the finalists as well. First up were Karin and Gift, still trying to absorb the fact that they were through to the finals. Both were thrilled, and very surprised, to find out that they would be the final two contestants. When asked what the impact on her and her son would be if she ended up winning Idols, she reiterated that her son is her main reason for doing this, and that like any parent, she wants the best for him. If she wins, she'll likely leave her quiet life in Grabouw behind and move to Johannesburg to focus on her career.

Both were asked which judge's opinion they took most seriously, but both insisted that they take all the judges seriously. However, Gift was pleased with his performances Sunday night, and declared Randall's statement that the George Michael song was "too big" for Gift as... "crap". He explained that he listens to what the judges have to say, then goes back and watches his performances to determine whether he agrees with the feedback. Pointing out that Randall couldn't have been more wrong about the boys' chances in this competition, Gift feels he's proven himself and his abilities.

Next up were eliminated contestants V and Nicky. The big question of the night: what's next? Nicky says she'll finish her matric in February, then likely also make a move to Johannesburg. She had told her parents that if she were to make the Top 6, she was going to head off to Jo'burg to pursue her career. As for V, she's going to take full advantage of the opportunities that Idols has opened for her, and do her best to make her fans proud. And what's the first thing they'll do when they get home? "Sleep! And sleep, and sleep, and sleep." They're also really looking forward to some homecooked meals after months of eating restaurant food. When asked how much the support of friends and family meant to her, V got choked up and made it clear that it had meant very much to her indeed.

With the fun stuff out of the way, it was time to get down to business. Voting records were once again broken, with a staggering 1.7 million votes pouring in during the 24 hour voting period. And what about the judges' percentage? It was confirmed again that the judges do have up to 49% of the voting power - if all 4 agree. Each judge is asked to rank the contestants, and that information combined with voter statistics is processed to generate the final result. If all 4 don't agree, then the influence is significantly less, and as mentioned previously, if 2 vote for one and 2 for the other, the judges' votes are effectively canceled out, leaving the decision to the public.

So what can we expect for the Final? Each contestant will sing three songs: the song they think was their best performance, the song the judges believed was their best performance, and one unreleased song which will serve as the winning Idol's first single. The unreleased song will be different for Karin and Gift, as there was a "boy's" song and a "girl's" song. The single for the winner will likely be released during the week after the elimination, while decisions remain to be made as to whether a single will be released for the runner up. Additionally, both former SA Idols, Heinz and Anke, will be performing during the Live Spectacular.

Voting lines will close at approximate 6:30 (an exact time has not yet been established) leaving enough time to calculate the results, and announce the winner. The after party promises to be an energetic and fun event, with performances by Heinz, Arno Carstens, Anke and the winner, Skwatta Kamp, Denim, and Prime Circle. The performances are set to rock until 23:00, and there's sure to be a whole lot of partying going on well beyond. As always, I'll take as many pictures as I can, but don't expect an update until late Monday... or Tuesday, depending on how late I sleep ;)

Still coming today: one-on-one interviews with Karin and Gift, and more!

Wow.

Well, folks, there we have it. I spent 10 minutes trying to think of a title for this post, and all I could come up with is "Wow." Of course my actual thoughts have some 4 letters words tossed in, but Wow is about as close as I can get and still keep this a family-friendly blog.

I said yesterday that I fully expected to be wrong about my Karin/V Final prediction, but you know, I was still shocked. I wasn't completely shocked that V didn't make it in, and of course I was not surprised at all that Karin did. What did shock me was the announcement that Nicky had lost out to Gift, and that one of my favorite contestants of the season made it through. Note to self: do not mistake a quiet fanbase for a small one ever again. With Gift up against Karin now, I really don't know what is going to happen next week. Ignoring judges' influence for a minute, I think Gift actually has a very good chance at winning the whole shebang. It seems to me that everyone who has any intention of voting for Karin already is, and that a vast majority of the fans whose favorite was eliminated will be turning their support to Mr. Smooth.

And Gift has some support on the judging panel. Gareth is a big fan, and Mara loves him (as long as he stays away from the jazz). Sticking myself into Dave shoes, I'd have to think that speaking strictly from a business point of view, I'd have to go for Gift myself. He's probably the single most marketable contestant of the year: he has the looks, the charm, the universal appeal, and he has a boatload of talent. If he gets that 75% backing from the judges (face it, Randall's going to stick his support behind Karin) I think he will win this thing handily.

It was a tough show, though. It's impossible to describe the difference between watching a results show on TV and being there in person. I couldn't keep myself from looking around and watching the faces of each contestant's group of supporters. Somewhat surprisingly, the mood was fairly light before the show began, and Gift's mother even joined warmup artist Keith J. for a few minutes to prove that dance talent definitely runs in the family. Just before the show began, Colin ran over and gave each of the contestants a quick hug - a very sweet and touching move by someone I've never really taken a liking to on the screen. Once the Outsurance sting began, though, the mood turned a little more somber as everyone waited to see who (and how many) were going to go out.

I knew there would be two going home - and would have been outraged if there had been only one contestant eliminated. The Idols final just would not have worked if there had been three contestants vying for the title. But Colin wasted no time in confirming that it would be a classic showdown on Sunday between the country's top two contestants. Getting the "obvious" choice out of the way, he announced Karin as the first finalist [Edited: possibly a Freudian slip, I originally said "winner" instead of "first finalist]. As soon as he said V's name, I knew the truth: V would not be in the final. Quite simply, there was too much time left in the show for the announcements to be over. She was understandably emotional, yet gracious, as she stood next to Colin, leaving everyone to ponder whether Nicky or Gift was going to be going home next.

And I have to say, regardless of the radio polls, seeing Nicky and Gift standing there, I really thought Nicky was going to win out over Gift. Watching Gift's face, I have to say I think he thought so too. After what felt like the longest pause in TV history, Colin made his surprise announcement: Gift was going through to the finals.

When Karin's name was announced, there was quite the triumphant cheer from the audience, but it paled in comparison to the explosion of happiness when Gift's name was announced. I don't think there was a single person in the room who was unhappy that Gift made it through, and I'd be willing to put money on the fact that if you asked any of the contestant's supporters who should be there if their favorite couldn't be, they would have named Gift.

Well done to Karin, Gift, Nicky and V. Stay tuned to the blog today, there are more posts coming: press conference report, one-on-one interviews with both Karin and Gift, pictures from yesterday, and more. Yesterday was a stellar day for the blog, and excluding days where there was a link or article for the blog on the front page of the official site, it was the highest-traffic day yet. Thanks so much for your support.

Here's a Burgesque style signoff for now:

Julie, off to try to pull of a very big surprise for one of the contestants.

[Side notes: Will be at Back O' The Moon on Wednesday, and will most definitely be at the finals on Sunday.]

Talk Back Early Edition: News left and right

It's a banner news day for the Idols camp today:

It's official: The judges have a 49% vote, including in the final. Because it is a collective 49% (as opposed to each judge having a certain weight to their votes) it is possible that the judges can cancel each other out. If two vote V, for instance, and two vote Karin, then their influence vanishes and it's back to the public for the outcome.

Also, it was officially announced that Mara will not be back for another season of Idols. Disenchanted by the recent hoopla over her comments to V last week, Mara has had enough, and while she'll finish out this season as her contract states, she will not be stepping up to the plate again. Now if we can squeeze Gareth out, we could have The Burg and Julie showdown...

What do you think? Is the Judges' 49% a travesty of justice, or a way to make sure the best gets through? Will Idols be better, worse, or indifferent for Mara's absence? Talk back, and let me know!