Things are heating up on So You Think You Can Dance

The fourth week of SABC1's dance reality show So You Think You Can Dance was sizzling hot. The competition is getting tougher and the contentants becoming more and more aggresive in their performances. This past weekend's show was filled with fireworks as they all fought to stay in the competition for yet another week.

The highlight for me for this week was Darren and Megan, who did a riveting pantsula routine. Megan is known for her outstanding dancing skills and could have easily pulled off the pantsula dance. Darren on the other hand, was a complete surprise. Maybe not really a surprise, but more of a shock as everybody was bowled over by the display of brilliance in the execution of the township dance genre. My second favourite couple were Ashly and Kim. Their chemistry is wonderful and their fluidity when dancing together shines through.

For a noteworthy mention, I have to praise Bathembu and Marisa for their awesome performance. The fact that they did so well, only dancing together for the first time (after Marisa's partner, Blaze, was booted off last week after his stint at the hospital from an undisclosed sickness) proved that they are true professionals, very flexible and determined to see themselves amongst the top contenders at the end of the competition. My other favourite couple, Elizma and Katlego also did their thing. Despite the judges feeling that Katlego was outshined by Elizma, I thought they were both really good.

Overall, it was a very entertaining show. The dancers and their choreographers deserve all the accolades they get for their respective outstanding jobs. Tune into So You Think You Can Dance results show on SABC1 tomorrow evening at 19:00 to see who was placed in the bottom 3 for this past weekend, who danced for their lives and was saved and who is out of the competition. Otherwise, keep coming back here or visit YEAHBO.DOT.NET to see if we have tickets to give away to the live broadcast of So You Think You Can Cance for this coming weekend, 04th October 2008.

Metro FM takes us down memory lane as they celebrate 22 years On Air

What amazing memories Metro FM gave their listeners yesterday as they featured some of their former DJ's on air during shows co-hosted by Thami Ngubeni, Wilson B. Nkosi, Eddie Zondi and Nothemba Madumo. Apparently Wilson B. Nkosi suggested the idea to Programme Manager Segale Mokgotsi, initially proposing to host his show with both Segale and Bob Mabena. Segale Mokotsi then extended the idea and a wonderful experience was created, in celebration of Metro FM's 22 years of existence.

My personal favourite was Eddie Zondi, co-hosting the show with one of my yesteryear favourite Metro FM DJ's, Grant Shakoane. They combined Zondi's Romantic Repetoire with The GS Connection, a show Grant used to present back in the day. I have very fond memories of that era as I was always entralled by Grant's charisma, music knowledge and taste, as well as his shining personality. Coining phrases like Shubaba Shubabu Doo (I think that's how it went) and The Blacker The Berry, The Sweeter The Juice, amongst others, he was a forced to be reckoned with. It was this very same man who introduced me to the music of a very talented young lady called Taral Hicks, who gave us songs like Silly, a remake of Deniece Williams' song of the same title (I didn't even know it was a remake at the time) and I Wish You Were Here. This young lady did Silly more than justice as she shone on the ballad with her outstanding vocals (she is also an actor, most memorable for her role on the movie Belly). Anyway, another awesome song Grant Shakoane introduced me to was Luther Vandross' It's All About You, which is rarely played on radio. Actually, I think I have only heard it less than 5 times since Grant left Metro FM. His show yesterday just brought back those memories of a young boy in school and reminded me how good things were, including radio.

Metro FM continues their celebrations, including a cash prize giveaway of R900 000 this coming Friday, 03rd October, ending it with a huge Birthday celebration and Metro FM Music Awards nominee announcement party next week. Please tune into Metro FM to get more details on the giveaway and the awards launch event.

YEAHBO.DOT.NET makes a sneak peek on MTVBase

You may already know by now that YEAHBO.DOT.NET is planning to host a massive premiere for 50 Cent's new flick in October. Well, MTVbase will be giving away tickets to the premiere of Righteous Kill on the 10th October edition of their smash show Player. All the MTVbase viewers, don't miss out. If you are not, check out the website, you could also be a part of this exclusive event.

Please watch the show and witness YEAHBO.NOT.NET go mainstream. It's such an exciting time, for me especially. We have a few other surprises to unveil to the masses. Stay tuned. Oh, please go to the website and check out the latest music reviews, movie reviews and interviews with your favourite entertainers.

Jozi representing us at the MOBO's

Mzansi's premiere hip hop group, Jozi, have been nominated at the Music Of Black Origin (MOBO) awards in the Best African Act category. You may remember HHP represented us last year, and the year before that it was the magnificent late Lebo Mathosa. This year it's the energetic and sizzling hip hop outfit that will carry the torch for us.

I immensely enjoyed Jozi's debut offering The Muthaland Crunk, which seems to have done very well. I've also become a big fan of their live performances as they put all their energy and soul into it. All the members, including Bongani, Ishmael, and Leslie, are extremely talented. Therefore it's no surprise that they'll be up there amongst the best in the world. These boys are depending on your support. Please go to www.mobo.com and vote for them so that they can bring the statuette home.

Arts Alive Festival to close with a bang.

The press conference for the closing weekend of the Arts Alive Festival for this year was held last night at Melrose Arch. All the artists that will be performing tonight and tomorrow night were present at the conference and they all promised amazing shows respectively.

I had an absolute pleasure of meeting Tamia, the Canadian songtress. She is so friendly, sweet and very sexy. During the one-on-one meeting, I told her how much I love the hilarious Hanky Panky skit on her Between Friends album that she does with husband Grant Hill and with laughter she responded, "Do you like it? I'll see if I can slot it in during the performance tomorrow." During the press conference I posed a question about the benefits of releasing Between Friends on her own that she didn't enjoy with a major label. She answered that when she began with Quincy Jones at 19, it was a way for her to get into the industry, but now that she is 33, it is important for her to control her own life.

In addition, she has more control now, creatively, whereas there is not much of that with a big label. Tamia went on to say that it allows her to do whatever she feels. She noted that even being able to come to South Africa, it wouldn't be easier if a major label was involved. She added, "I love being the CEO and at the same time being the artist. I control the budget and pretty much everything about the projects I do". Control seems an important issue, as she mentioned that's why she released her last album here in South Africa first, to test it out and get the direction she needed.

The guys from Gallo, the marketing and distribution company that represents Tamia from this side, stood up to welcome Tamia to the country and uttered that she has sold about 330 000 albums already here. Tamia was very moved by the gesture and relayed the news that she will continue to work with Gallo. In fact, she mentioned she has a Live album she recorded in Washington D.C. that she is putting out very soon.

The other bands at the conference, including the Cuban maestro Eliades; Australia's Katherine Lambert, who was very bubbly and jolly throughout the session; Tokyo's DJ Crush; the hip hop outfit from Brazil, MnR; Munich's Cajus; and Robert Bachner; all displayed the joy of being in the country and promised their fans a lot of entertainment, dancing and good old fun.

I'm certainly looking forward to the weekend. I'll be attending the Eliades show tonight, and maybe check out Robert Bachner and MnR. Then tomorrow night, I'm definitely going to see Tamia after the 4th live So You Think You Can Dance broadcast. I'll report on these after the weekend.