Break-Down of Stellenbosch Sêr Competition 2009

The Kleinsêr competition in Stellenbosch this year, as always, was the most exciting event on the university's calendar. Most of the shows were sold out, and many unexpected groups did many unexpected things. So, business as usual.

First of all, the organisers and judges: were they any good? Gerhard Wiese, SRC member, seemed to leave a lot of the work to his committee, which means that it was well organised, at least. He knew what needed to be done and made sure it happened. The judges, as usual, were unknown people as well as a choir leader. I will question their decisive capabilities in a moment.

Now for the bad groups. In my opinion, the worst of all was Aurora's men, although I never got to see Simonsberg. Apparently, they were rather bad too. However, that's not all. The biggest disappointments this year were Nerina, who have seem to lost it, and Wilgenhof, who always used to be good, but I have never seen them this bad. Perhaps Wilgenhof can also be a candidate for worst group.

The best surprises were Aristea, Aurora ladies, Lydia, Dagbreek, and Metanoia men. Dagbreek was a suprise because they were actually good again, after years of going downhill, and Metanoia because they actually made it through to the finals. However, the stars of the entire competition were the ladies of Lydia. Their bone-shatteringly original and jaw-droppingly good performance in the first round made them the public favourites. The biggest surprise of all was when they did not make it through to the finals. Those who made it to Nationals said they would have won easily.

In the finals, though, there were a few disappointments. Helshoogte stayed where they were the previous year, and only had one good song. Aristea, although the campus favourites of the finalists, were ranked fourth by the judges. Metanoia ladies also couldn't seem to break out of the rut they've been in since winning nationals two years ago.

However, the competition was tight. Since listening to Black Eyed Peas again, I have come to realise how amazing Hippokrates managed to sound - probably better than the original. Who can actually do such electronic effects with only voices? Sonop was amazing, but it seems they stayed in the same place since the first round. However, as soon as I heard Huis Francie, I could see the difference between the first round and the final. Such an improvement! Who has ever heard Nirvana being sung like them? Just to attempt Feels Like Teen Spirit slowly is good, never mind doing it well!

To be a good sêr group, you need to grab the audience by the throat and shout "listen to me" by the way you sing. I could not breathe for the entire performance of Pieke due to the grip they had on me. Their music was amazing, and their moves - who can forget the white stripe on the side of their pants? I always say that a winning group will have one song that you will never forget, like Zombie or Starlight, but Pieke had two! Both Bohemian Rhapsody and Single Ladies had my attention.

A sêr group always needs to impress and blow away. Why did Helhoogte not manage it? More than that, however, is the question why Aristea, if voted as favourites by the students, only managed to be fourth? And why on earth were the judges not impressed by Lydia?

The best thing about Stellenbosch, however, is the tight competition. In Potchefstroom, the men's residences have given up attempting to beat Veritas. Yet, in Stellenbosch, all the men's residences can't wait to have a swing at Hippokrates. I was amazed by a few people this year. Majuba was good for the first time, Huis ten Bosch did not suck for the first time, and Hippo was beaten by a bunch of spoilt rich private students. Great competition.