adminTHIS season of Idols South Africa has barely warmed up – it is only at the Top 16 stage, but some viewers are already stoking the fires and age is the spark.
Most attention has been focused on three contestants – Bongi Silinda, 23, of Nelspruit, Vincent Bones, the oldest at 29, and Olivia Cloud, of Johannesburg who, at just 16, is the youngest.
Gareth Cliff, an Idols judge, last month voiced concern about Cloud’s age, wondering if she could handle the pressure.
Last season, popular Durban twins Neliswa and Anele Mxhakaza, 17, were sent packing in the belief that they were too young for stardom.
But what is “too young”? Two American Idols winners, Scotty McCreery (season 10) and Jordin Sparks (season 6), won in their respective seasons at just 17.
What of British multi-platinum-selling soul singer Joss Stone, whose debut album, The Soul Sessions, was released when she was 16 – before she could drink or drive legally.
Sipho Sithole, the music producer and founder of record label Native Rhythms, said he understood why the judges would be wary of promoting teenaged singers or performers.
“I tend to agree (with the judges). Show business can take years out of a young person’s life and by the time they realise it, they are completely out of touch and lack life skills.
“Some become misfits and end up in total seclusion, unable to integrate into normal society. Michael Jackson was a case in point; Justin Bieber will be the same.”
The average age of this year’s Idols SA Top 16 is 23; last year it was just over 22. On American Idols, last season’s Top 13 averaged just under 21.
Idols SA season 10 airs on M-Net and Mzansi Magic at 1730hrs on Sundays. – TimesLive
Online Reporter