Latest news with #TheGreatestLoveofAll
The South African
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
National anthem pride: 'Whitney Houston' tribute singer wows crowd
Belinda Davids, the South African singer known for chanelling the late, great Whitney Houston in tribute concerts around the world – wowed Springbok fans after performing the national anthem at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Gqeberha. For the second time, South Africa faced off against Italy. Moments before kick-off between the Springboks and Italy, all eyes were on Belinda Davids, who passionately sang the South African national anthem. The Port Elizabeth-born performer wore an emerald green dress with a cape in the South African colours. It was undoubtedly a special occasion for Belinda, who sang Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika on home soil for the first time. Speaking ahead of the game, the singer told Daily Maverick: 'You have no idea how exciting this is for me. Because I get to do it at home, what an honour. And it's long overdue, to be honest. I can't wait!' It was also a memorable moment for Springbok Willie Le Roux, who made his 100th test match appearance in green and gold. Watch the proud moment below…. Belinda Davids is no stranger to the spotlight, having headlined the Whitey Houston tribute concert, The Greatest Love of All, around South Africa, and in the US, and UK. The Springboks national anthem singer belts out classics like I Will Always Love You, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and I'm Every Woman amongst others in the two-hour production. In 2020, Belinda moved Britain's Got Talent judge Simon Cowell to tears during her audition. In 2023, she returned for the All-Star season, where she earned a Golden Buzzer pass. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Springboks: Hometown talent to sing SA anthem
The Springboks got their Test season under way this past weekend against Italy, and Loftus once again helped deliver a rousing rendition of the SA anthem sung by Bernice West. It's now been confirmed by TheSouthAfrican that the anthem this Saturday will be sung by popular SA artist, Belinda Davids, who is best known for her tribute show, 'The Greatest Love of All,' which pays homage to Whitney Houston. She has a four-octave vocal range and has performed alongside artists like Keri Hilson, Keyshia Cole, and Monica. Born in Port Elizabeth, Davids' musical journey began in her childhood, surrounded by gospel music in her large family. Despite not having formal vocal training, she developed a remarkable vocal range and the ability to sing in various genres. She gained international recognition for her Whitney Houston tribute show, 'The Greatest Love of All,' which features her singing Houston's hits with a live band and backing vocalists. The show incorporates state-of-the-art sound, lighting, and theatrical effects. Belinda has toured extensively with this show in the US, Europe, UK, Ireland, Russia, Dubai, and South Africa. In addition to her tribute show, Belinda has also appeared on television shows like Fox TV's 'Showtime at the Apollo' and BBC1 TV's 'Even Better Than the Real Thing'. She has also charted on the RiSA charts in South Africa. Saturday's Test against Italy kicks off at 17:10 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport and SABC. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Daily Maverick
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Maverick
Bok Test — Gqeberha's Belinda Davids thrilled to sing national anthem at home for first time
After years of performing on global stages and singing the national anthem for the Springboks, Gqeberha-born powerhouse Belinda Davids will finally do it on home turf — when South Africa takes on Italy at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. For the singer, best known for her celebrated Whitney Houston tribute, it's more than a gig — it's a homecoming. This weekend, when the Boks take on Italy at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha-born singer Belinda Davids will be doing something she's never done before: perform Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika in the city where she grew up. While she has sung the anthem at other Test matches, this is the first time on home ground. 'You have no idea how exciting this is for me, because I get to do it at home, what an honour. And it's long overdue, to be honest. I can't wait!' Davids will not be the only Nelson Mandela Bay resident back home for the Saturday match. The Bay's connection to this team runs deep – captain Siya Kolisi is from Gqeberha and Rassie Erasmus, the coach who has been instrumental in shaping the team's recent dominance, is from Despatch. As the Boks prepare for kick-off, Davids is getting performance-ready in her own way. As with every performance, she's getting her voice ready in her tried-and-tested way — warming up her voice and sipping her signature tea blend. 'It's a mixture of ginger, lemon, cloves, all that good stuff,' she says. From Kudu Street, Gelvandale, in the Northern Areas of Gqeberha, Davids says she and her six siblings had a happy childhood. 'We really had a beautiful childhood, playing with parents in the streets and just being kids. I enjoyed it very much.' At 20, Davids moved to Dubai to expand her music career, later spending time in London and Hong Kong, performing in major hotels and clubs. 'We no longer have parents, but my siblings and I are still very close. I'm smack in the middle, chronologically, and I'm basically the 'mother' sibling.' Three of her siblings still live in Gqeberha and are excited about watching the game. 'More than seeing me singing, really, they don't care. To them, I'll always be their sister Linda or Lala.' Davids lives in Cape Town with her husband, Simone Romanato – an Italian musician, and let's just say, this weekend, they may not be all that aligned on who they want to win. 'Although rugby is not that big in Italy, he still hopes Italy will win. I know South Africa will win. We don't have any bets placed, but yeah, the mood is conflicted, haha!' And of course, with every iconic performance comes an extraordinary outfit. Davids is keeping those details under wraps — though she did drop a few hints. 'What I can say is that I'm wearing a local designer, but nothing custom-made. If I were to have something made, I'd choose Manila Von Teez as the designer.' Once the anthem has echoed through the stadium, Davids will turn her focus to centre stage — where she'll reprise her acclaimed Whitney Houston tribute, The Greatest Love of All, at the Joburg Civic Theatre from 22 to 24 August.
