I arrived just in time to see these ladies arrive and as they pulled up and entered the building to prepare for their performances they supplied me with a short photo op which lasted about five minutes (a bit disappointing if you asked me, so I unfortunately couldn't get such great pictures of them).
Shortly after that, I headed to my seat where the supporting band, whose name I didn't catch, were performing some old school jazz/blues classics which got the crowd in the mood. I must add that the venue, His People Centre N1 City in Cape Town is pretty huge, and to no surprise was packed.
After the band performed, it was time for the real show to start. The MC of the night was no other that Julian Naidoo of Heart 104.9fm who was helped by surprise guests who welcomed each Diva on stage.
First up was the vibrant and energetic Salome, who performed hits from international Divas such as Mary J. Blige and Tina Turner. She knows just how to take control of the stage and get the audience up on their feet. She finished her performance with her hit single "I don't want to know" and got the crowd singing along enthusiastically.
Next up was S.A Idols Season 3 winner, Karen Kortje, who stole the hearts of many viewers in the 2005 run of the show. After being in the media for the wrong reasons, this Diva hasn't lost her vocal and entertainment abilities, but she definitely caters to a more mature crowd who enjoys the ballads and slow love songs.
As they say: dynamite comes in small packages, Jody Williams is an example of this. Being the youngest contestant to win S.A Idols, she appears to be cute and fragile backstage, but on stage she transforms into a powerful explosion of sound. Her stage presence was unbelievable as she performed the songs that got her crowned as the winner in 2007 as well as hits "Kiss of Life" and "Wind it".
Not only have I seen this Diva perform before but SAMA winner Claire Phillips gives me shivers every time I hear her sing. Her vocal range complements a repertoire which spans jazz, funk, and soul. Claire performed songs from her debut album, as well as unreleased songs from her forthcoming album. Not only does she sing but she also writes her own songs and plays guitar.
Newcomer, and joint winner of S.A Idols Season 5, Sasha Lee Davids sent out a positive message to all, live your dreams and don't let anybody tell you otherwise, no matter how young or old you are. She performed songs from the season, such as "Bleeding Love", "Mamma Mia" and her single "True Believer". The Idol who may be new in the industry has an amazing vocal ability, not once did she need to take a sip of water while performing, and was on key with almost every note that came out her tiny frame.
Like any other show, there is nothing like a great finale. But this was like no other finale I had seen before. In true diva-style, Sasha Lee, Jody, Karen, Claire and Salome all gathered on stage to perform "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" by the "The Queen of Soul", Aretha Franklin. For me, that was the highlight of the evening.
