Van-tastic show for Bobby
IN SUNDAY night’s episode of The Voice SA, coach Bobby van Jaarsveld hit a hat-trick for the season as one more gifted vocalist picked him over all three of his fellow coaches in an audition that was worthy of four turns of the coaches’ iconic red chairs.
Josh Ansley, 31, from Johannesburg, took to the stage as the final talent of the night, determined to wow the coaches with a blistering rendition of the AC/DC head-banging classic Shook Me All Night Long.
Ansley, who started performing as a regular on the Barnyard Theatre circuit a few years ago, brought the house down with his performance, having the coaches in stitches with his witty banter, and also receiving high praise in the process.
Karen Zoid told Ansley that he really gave it his all and was welcome in #TeamKaren, but it was Van Jaarsveld who turned for him first, and with that, Ansley picked a visibly elated Van Jaarsveld as his coach.
The Afrikaans pop star also gained two more unique singers on the night, bringing his team total up to 10 vocalists.
The first voice that resonated with Van Jaarsveld was that of 25-year-old rock ’n roller Meggan Moore from Langebaan.
Her rendition of K T Tunstall’s Black Horse and a Cherry Tree connected with Van Jaarsveld as he told her that he’s never had a female rock artist in his team before, and that Moore’s “smoky, earthy tone” was exactly what he was looking for.
Another talent that made Van Jaarsveld sit up and listen, was 23-year-old electrical engineering student Jean Citto from Cape Town, who performed the Corinne Bailey Rae classic Put Your Records On.
“I heard a great tone in your voice and I can’t wait to work with you because there are in fact so many different songs that I want you to sing,” Van Jaarsveld praised Citto.
Another highlight of the evening came when 33-yearold Capetonian vocal coach Monique Hellenberg stepped on to the stage.
Hellenberg is no stranger to the music industry, as she is the voice behind South African band Goldfish’s 2008 smash hit This Is How It Goes.
Her rendition of Christina Aguilera’s Turn to You earned her very high praise from coach Lira who complimented her on her impressive range, but ultimately Hellenberg landed a spot on #TeamKahn as he turned for her just before her audition song ended.
Hellenberg, however, wasn’t the only talent who made it onto the Parlotones frontman’s team on Sunday night.
Sonia Mörsner, 24, from Vereeniging’s sincere and haunting rendition of Nianell’s Who Painted the Moon? was enough to get three of the four coaches to turn for her.
Despite much flattery from both Zoid and Lira – and Morbee even pushing their chair
Ibuzzers to make them turn back away from Mörsner – she inevitably picked her spot on #TeamKahn, as he turned first.
Coach Lira, who was leading the team tally last week, was clearly playing a strategic game on Sunday as she added no new singers to her team.
Zoid, however, garnered one special singer for her team in an unforgettable audition.
Emma Ellis, 21, from Port Elizabeth confessed before her audition that her Voice SA dream was for Coach Karen to turn for her, and while she was performing The Plain White T’s song Hey There Delilah, Zoid did just that.
Ellis got such a shock that it literally took her breath – and her lyrics – away.
Lost for words midway through her song, Zoid joined Ellis on stage to assist her in finishing the audition together, and with that, the three other coaches all pressed their buzzers to enjoy the rest of the performance.
Despite the fact that Ellis forgot her lyrics, she received four legitimate turns from the coaches with Lira explaining that once Ellis picked up from where she left off in the song, she absolutely deserved all of their turns and her spot in the competition.
It seemed fated from the start, however, that Ellis should be on #TeamKaren so it was no surprise when she picked the rocker to be her coach.
After Sunday night’s show, the current team tally has Van Jaarsveld leading the pack with 10 singers; Zoid’s team total stands at eight, along with #TeamLira’s, while Morbee has seven vocalists in his stable.
Tune in to The Voice South Africa season 2 every Sunday night at 5.30pm on M-Net Channel 101, or catch the repeat on M-Net City Channel 115 on Monday at 6pm to see all the buzz-worthy singing sports.