But unfortunately Idols’ 'comeback kid', 22-year-old Amanda Antony from Port Elizabeth, received the fewest of this massive number of votes, making her the fourth top 10 finalist to go home.

“First I didn’t even make it to the top 16, and then I made it all the way to top seven,” Antony joked after she had left the stage. “I’m just so grateful to have been part of this incredible show. It was an extraordiary experience that I will hold close to my heart for years to come.” Before entering Idols SA this year for the second time, Antony completed her music studies at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and her long-term musical goals include one day opening her own recording studios.

With the top 10 now whittled down to top six, each contestant tonight got to perform two numbers under the musical theme of '90’s vs Today' – one song each in the first round from the decade in which they were all born, the 90s, and then for the second round, a hit song from the current charts.

The first person to receive enough votes to survive to the top six was 24-year-old Karabo Mogane. Born in 1991, Mongane went back to April 1995 for Boys II Men classic Water Runs Dry for his first performance. And from today’s tracklists he selected Hozier’s Someone New.

“You were heart-and-soul, knee-deep in that song,” Gareth Cliff said happily. An impressed Somizi Mhlongo said that Mongane was a songwriter’s dream, a producer’s dream and an arranger’s dream. Unathi Msengana agreed with both of her colleagues and also commended Karabo on his professional breath control. “Your singing has improved tremendously during this competition,” Randall Abrahams noted approvingly.

Next up was Dineo Moseki (22) from Vryburg, a 1993 baby who chose Lauryn Hill’s Ex-Factor from December 1998 as her 90s song. And her current hit choice was local outfit Beatenberg’s Rafael.

Cliff noted how much better Moseki sounds when she tackles something upbeat like that second song. “Last week your spaceship crashed and you were the only survivor found,” Mlongo joked. “You survived,” he said encouragingly. Msengana commented that she loved Moseki’s interpretation of the Lauryn Hill song, but it didn’t sound like Abrahms was impressed – “I have a funny feeling the boys are going to take the second round as well,” he commented.

21-year-old Rhema Varrie from Alberton was born in 1994 and his 90s hit from February 1995 was Radiohead’s High And Dry. His selection from the 2015 charts was One Republic’s Counting Stars.

Cliff noted that Varrie has a unique sound and advised him to make that his distinctive standout quality. “When Jesus says ‘yes’, no Randall can say ‘no’," Mlongo cracked. “Hallelujah,” Msengana concurred. And Abrahams was happy not only about Varrie's improvement as a singer, but also with the talent that he displayed on multiple instruments tonight. He just expressed a wish that Varrie would also increase in confidence, like Karabo and Loyiso had done.

Siphelele Ngcobo (24) from Inanda, who was born in 1991, selected the classic All 4 One hit I Can Love You Like That from June 1995. And for his second round song Ngcobo stuck with a vernac choice as always, Nathi’s Nomvula, which earned him a standing ovation from Msengana and Mlongo.

“I was blown away,” Cliff admitted. “Your voice is anointed,” Mlongo raved. “Even if you don’t speak English or sing English, stick to where your heart and soul is, you will never be hungry,” he advised. Msengana thought Ngcobo “destroyed” with the second performance, and Abrahams seemed dumbstruck. “Just a few weeks ago it looked like you were going home,” he spluttered. “In my time on Idols I’ve never seen such a comeback."

23-year-old Mmatema Moremi from Limpopo was born in 1992 but her 90s hit was from September 1998: Deborah Cox’s Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here. And from the current world charts Moremi chose Jess Glynne’s hit, Hold My Hand.

”It’s almost as if you’ve been performing all your life. You just don’t put a foot wrong,”Cliff marveled. But he requested that she tackle something “risky” next week. Mlongo admitted that he didn’t know the song, “but you made me love it”, he raved. Msengana was not thrilled with Moremi's first song, “but then you came back and said ‘this is I, this is how it will be done’,” she noted happily. And Abranhams thought he couldn’t add anything to that feedback. “I’m just going to say it was great to hear you do a pop song,” he smiled.

16-year-old Loyiso Gijana from Uitenhage was born in 1999 his 90s song, from August 1991, was the Boyz II Men hit: It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday. Halfway through the show  Cliff, Mhlongo and Msengana thought that Gijana had delivered the best performances of the first round, and Abrahams agreed that all four of the guys had given sterling performances. And for his 2015 hit at the end of the second round Gijana chose Hold Back The River, by James Bay. “You see, you’re not afraid at all to take risky songs and make them work,” Cliff said happily. “I don’t know how to fault you,” said Mlongo. He noted that Gijana could give Usher and Chris Brown a run for their money. 

Msengana commented on the passion in Gijana's performance, “and the passion you will feel in the voting”, she smiled. “We so easily forget how young you are,” said Abrahams. But he warned that from next week it’s anybody’s competition to win or to lose.

Voting for the top six opened during the course of Sunday's live broadcast and will close at 22:00 on Tuesday, 20 October.

The result of this week’s vote will be announced during the live broadcast of the top six spectacular on Sunday, 18 October, on M-Net, channel 101 on DStv, and Mzansi Magic, channel 161 on DStv.

Tickets to the Idols SA season 11 Live Spectaculars are available via Computicket.

For the latest information, visit the Idols SA website. Alternatively, connect with the show via Facebook or on Twitter.