Tonight, Mzuki and Aaliyah Dechesne were eliminated from Australian Idol after the nation voted for their Top 10 contestants.
Before Australia’s votes were revealed, the Top 12 lit up the stage with a spectacular group performance of their single, Listen To The Music. Their rousing rendition of the Doobie Brothers classic is officially #1 on iTunes and available to downloadhere.
Hosts Ricki-Lee and Scott Tweedie revealed that only a handful of votes separated those who progressed through the competition and those who faced potential elimination.
Landing in the bottom four were rapper Mzuki, 28, from VIC; auto-tune artist Bony Onyango, 25, from QLD; disco queen Hannah Waddell, 25, from WA; and 27-year-old powerhouse performer Aaliyah Dechesne, from NSW.
Rock chick Iilysh Retallick, 17, from NSW and uber-talented Marshall Hamburger, 19, from QLD, were safe from the public vote after the judges sent them straight to the Top 10 after the performance shows.
Australian Idol judges Marcia Hines, Kyle Sandilands, and Amy Shark reacted to the verdict: “I have fallen in love with all of them, it doesn’t matter who goes, it sucks,” Amy said.
The bottom four artists took to the stage again to prove they deserved a spot in the Top 10.
Bony’s stage presence enthralled the crowd on Jay Sean’s Down, while Mzuki once again shone the spotlight on rap during her powerful performance of Players by Coi Leray.
Aaliyah’s spectacular performance of Who’s Loving You by The Jackson 5 earned a standing ovation from the judges, while Hannah proved her disco prowess on Blondie’s Heart of Glass.
On leaving the competition, Mzuki said: “Thank you, Australia. Thank you for having me, and to everyone who voted for me. I am going to keep going.”
Kyle called Mzuki’s elimination a “disappointment,” declaring he hoped a rapper would get all the way through Australian Idol.
“It’s a shame. Keep in touch. When you put a record out, I would love to have the chance to play it for you,” Kyle added.
After her departure, a grateful Aaliyah thanked the judges for “seeing something in me when I didn’t even see it in myself.”
“I will continue on my musical journey.” She added
Marcia said: “Thank you for your grace, your talent, and your humility.”
