“Terrible Performance”: ‘Simon Cowell’ Judges Afrikaner’s Singing on TikTok Idol
- Last month, an Afrikaner man took to his TikTok account to use a filter that judged his singing
- The man sang a popular Afrikaans folk song and received feedback from British media personality 'Simon Cowell'
- His rendition of the song entertained local online community members, who were reminded of the good old days
Source: UGC
An Afrikaner man showed off his vocals in front of an esteemed panel of international judges, which included the likes of 'Simon Cowell.' His rendition of a popular Afrikaans folk song had local internet users laughing.
Using the TikTok handle @geduldauction, the man uploaded a video to his account on 28 June 2025 showing how he sang Jan Pierewiet while using one of the app's filters, TikTok Idol.
Apart from an animated Simon Cowell judging his singing, there were singer Paula Abdul and record executive and musician Randy Jackson. The three served as the original judges for the reality competition series American Idol.
The show, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, sees several hopeful participants across the United States showcasing their singing talents to secure the title and a record label deal.
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When the Afrikaner ran out of time to sing his classic song, 'Simon' said:
"I'm going to be honest: that was a terrible performance."
Brief history of Jan Pierewiet
According to the website Musiekerfenis, one of the most popular Afrikaans folk songs, Jan Pierewiet, was written by South African poet Cornelius Jacobus 'CJ' Langenhoven. The author also wrote Die Stem, a part that has been featured in our national anthem.
While most people are familiar with the first verse, there are, in fact, four verses. The song had also been translated into English by Josef Marais. However, the lyrics are slightly different.
Afrikaner's singing humours SA
The comical video, which is well on its way to surpassing a million views since its publication, has had many South Africans in stitches. The song also had many TikTok users reminiscing about their youth.
@scar_widow shared with the online community:
"My Afrikaans teacher taught this to the class in the 6th grade and made us all sing it at assembly."
@itsss_jdene corrected the man's lyrics, writing:
"It's actually, 'Goeie môre my vrou, hiers 'n soentjie vir jou,' first, King. Maybe that's why they said no."
@lesegoellen2 stated with a laugh:
"I love this song. I sing this song to my son to this day. But auditioning with it plus the voice is no more."
The performance entertained @leila.bruijns, who wrote:
"It's a yes from me."
@followerofchristoverever humorously commented:
"Your confidence at the beginning... don't let them break you."
@stay.humble_1070 laughed and said:
"Only South Africans will understand."
Take a look at the man's 'audition' in the TikTok video below:
Simon Cowell left American Idol at the end of its ninth season in May 2010, aiming to focus on launching the American version of The X Factor.
The current judging panel (as of 2025) on Idol includes three superstar artists: Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood, with Ryan Seacrest serving as host.
Simon was one of the most iconic figures on American Idol thanks to his brutally honest critiques, sharp wit, and no-nonsense attitude. He quickly became known for telling contestants exactly what he thought, which made him both feared and loved by viewers. His unapologetic style brought drama and authenticity to the show, making him a fan favourite and a pop culture staple. Cowell’s background as a successful music executive also gave weight to his opinions.
For South African audiences eager to watch the show, American Idol streams via Hulu in the US, and episodes can also be accessed through ABC.com, which is available internationally where streaming rights apply.
3 Other stories about Afrikaans songs
- In a previous report, Briefly News shared that internet personality Desmond Koolen, the boy who went viral for singing James Brown's I Feel Good, entertained many with his rendition of an Afrikaans jam.
- A local comedian had South Africans laughing when he wrote a comical song in broken Afrikaans about his Afrikaans teacher, whom he had a crush on.
- A group of young men on their way to WITS danced and sang an Afrikaans track, which featured Afrikaans rapper Jack Parow.
Hilary Sekgota, Human Interest HOD at Briefly News, contributed to this article.
Proofreading by Roxanne Dos Ramos, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
