Luke Lovemore leaves television’s toughest competition
Following last week’s spectacular performances from the Top 7, South Africa voted feverishly to keep their favourite talent in The Voice SA season 2. Unfortunately, one singer has to say goodbye to the Voice stage each week and tonight (Sunday, 18 June) it was the end of the road for the last man standing in #TeamLira, 23-year-old Luke Lovemore.
Prior to The Voice SA, Luke honed his singing skills at Cape Town’s well-known Stardust restaurant, where he befriended The Voice SA Season 1 winner Richard Stirton. With Richard’s encouragement, Luke then decided to step into the television spotlight as well by entering season 2. The highly talented Luke quickly won himself a spot on #TeamLira with the Seal anthem “Crazy” and he very handily stole her heart again in the Battles round. He got enough votes for his Lady Gaga ballad “Million Reasons” in the first live show to make it to the Top 8, but his performance of the Phillip Phillips’s hit “Home” in the Top 8 show put him in the “Danger Zone”. And, sadly, his tender rendition of Rag’n’Bone Man’s chart-topper, “Human” last week did not get Luke the fans’ votes that he needed.
Tonight, Luke ended up in the danger zone again, this time alongside Caroline Brussow (32) from Bloemfontein and PJ Pretorius (26) from Secunda.
Now it’s time for South Africa to support the remaining singers with their votes again. Voting for the Top 6 opened at the end of the show and will close on Tuesday, 20 June at 22:00. This is how they wowed the coaches and their gaziilions of fans tonight:
Musical theatre veteran Josh Ansley (31) heeded the Coaches’ advice from last week and kicked it off with a current hit, “Something Just Like This”, by Coldplay and The Chainsmokers. Kahn Morbee called it a great start to the evening. “You didn’t come to play – you’ve never, ever had a bad performance,” said Karen Zoid, and Coach Bobby van Jaarsveld agreed. “There is no limit to your talent, you can basically do anything,” he said.
Josh’s voting number is 15.
Kimberly’s Samantha Leonard (24) represented #TeamKaren with an Afrikaans song this week, Jan Blohm’s powerful “Groen Trui”.
“You just sound so comfortable in this space,” said Coach Lira. “It’s so perfect when you just deliver, with no tricks,” Bobby said, and Karen thought everything about the performance was “pure poetry”.
Sam’s voting number is 08.
Craig Lucas (23) from Cape Town honoured the late Prince with a rendition of His Purple Highness’s signature “Purple Rain” that earned him a standing ovation. “I for one gave you advice but you stuck to your guns, and lit this room on fire!” Lira said. “Always believe in yourself!” she told him. Bobby thought this was one of the best arrangements, of that famous song that he has ever heard, and that Craig had nailed it. “What you did tonight felt like a keepsake, like a piece of art,” said Kahn.
Craig’s voting number is 01.
Coach Bobby van Jaarsveld’s Caroline Brussow (32) from Bloemfontein went eighties with Roxette’s pop hit “It Must Have Been Love”.
“This woman has the face of a cover girl and the personality of a cover girl, you’re a wonderful person,” Karen told her. Lira was impressed with how Caroline had stripped the pop standard down. “You were delicate, you were vulnerable – one of your best performances,” she commented. “You left your heart on that stage and I’m unbelievably proud of you. It’s one of your best song choices ever,” proud Coach Bobby told her.
Caroline Grace’s voting number is 13.
Worship leader PJ Pretorius from Secunda (26) time-traveled back to the early 1970s to perform John Lennon’s iconic peace anthem, “Imagine”. Lira said she just sat back and enjoyed it and Kahn said all the personality and tone in PJ’s voice was on display in that performance. “You really moved me with this performance,” said Karen. She noted that “Imagine” is one of the best songs of all time and quite daunting to perform because it’s an emotional song about hope and truth. “It encapsulates who you are,” she told PJ sincerely.
PJ’s voting number is 07.
#TeamKahn’s Fatman from Bela-Bela closed tonight’s show channeling another iconic singer with his performance of Joe Cocker’s “Unchain My Heart”. “I loved it, I absolutely loved it,” said Coach Karen. “I loved that it was a physical performance for the first time, it was something fresh and new.”
“When the Fatman dances you know he means business!” Lira agreed. Kahn related that singer Billy Joel once said that Joe Cocker was one of the best interpreters of songs that he had ever seen, “and I think you have a very similar quality,” Kahn told Fatman.
Fatman’s voting number is 02.
The Voice South Africa, sponsored by Dialdirect, is broadcast every Sunday night on M-Net channel 101 at 17:30 and every Monday night at 18:00 on M-Net City channel 115.
Viewers can also visit www.mnet.tv/thevoice for exclusive interviews with the coaches and talent, and follow all the breaking news and conversations around the show on Twitter @VoiceSA / #TheVoiceSA or on the official “Voice SA” Facebook page. You can also download The Voice SA app today for exclusive show-related games and special features.
