The inaugural season of XFactor SA is only one week in but the SABC1 show's premiere has already provided some pointers about what to expect.
- We are not going to get many local songs, are we? This is something that has plagued Idols SA for many a year. Hopefuls tend to pick US top 40 hits to impress the judges. Although there was the rare contestant who sang something by Lira, Liquideep or Judith Sephuma, most chose the likes of Rihanna, Lorde and Nicki Minaj.
- Judge Zonke Dikana is a crier. But she's still a lot tougher than fellow judges Arno Carstens and Oskido. Oskido and Carstens even commented on her critiques being "harsh". "Zonke tells it like it is," said Oskido.When a pair called Barely Conscious took on Rihanna's Diamonds , she told them: "Your voices are barely there."
- No lisping. Carstens rejected one contestant for that very reason. Bad news for Anthony Kiedis, if he ever wanted to ditch the Red Hot Chili Peppers for X Factor SA.
- Don't expect to see many whites. And while Mzansi Magic has potential to draw in a large number of black viewers who have no access to M-Net, we don't quite yet know the buy-in from black youth.
- The judges don't quite know what they are looking for.
When a duo called Iziqhaza performed their own song, which had an Afro-soul feel to it, Carstens said he needed to "hear another side " to the band. Zonke, Oskido and, most important, the crowd disagreed.
Oskido even said late icons Brenda Fassie, Miriam Makeba and Lebo Mathosa would all be "dancing" to the duo's drum.
