No matter how talented a person is, the audition process always finds ways to trip people up.
If you’re having a particularly bad day or you’re distracted going into it, it may not matter how talented you are. The audition is all about making a great first impression and showing your full range of talent, personality and ability.
Despite our best intentions and despite our talents, we can still make the wrong choices in these rounds and ruin our chances for success. Still, sometimes we are granted a second chance in these key moments.
This audition from The X Factor UK shows that situation all too clearly.
The performance we’re discussing happened on the show’s 2014 season.
The singer in question was Jake Quickenden, a singer who had done local performances at pubs and bars up to that point. From the outset, it was clear Quickenden had the look and the confidence to be a pop star.
After a brief introduction, he started singing “All of Me” by John Legend while strumming the guitar as well. At first, he performs the song in the sincere, heartfelt way that most people are probably used to hearing it. Still, a moment later he starts strumming more quickly and sings it in a bouncy, playful way.
After just a few seconds, the judges raise their hands to stop the audition.
Although it was clear from the very beginning that Quickenden had a great voice, his interpretation of the song wasn’t working.
Right away, judge Mel B asks the question that everybody is thinking: “What are you thinking about when you’re singing this song?” In other words, why did you think singing that heartfelt song in such a strange way was a good idea?
After that, the other judges agree that the tone of everything felt off. Finally, judge Simon Cowell suggests that Quickenden try it again with another song he has prepared.
This time, he’ll try singing “Say Something” by A Great Big World, this time without the guitar.
After steadying himself for a moment, Quickenden sets the guitar down, takes a breath and begins.
More to the point, the judges asks Quickenden to use his own pain and heartbreak to fuel the performance and to make it mean something. Sure enough, his voice comes out gently and sincerely the second time, ringing true to the song.
While the performance of the second song begins quietly, it doesn’t take long for it to build and to become more and more powerful. After tapping into his own pain and heartbreak, Quickenden turns the song into an audition that the judges definitely won’t forget.
By the end, all of the judges have huge smiles on their faces.
When it’s all over, all the judges say they loved it and that he gave it his all. While plenty of contestants don’t get a second chance, the judges believed enough in Quickenden’s talent to let him give it another shot—and they all admired how he came back from receiving the criticism as well.
When it’s all over, judge Mel B gets up to give him a hug as well! Needless to say, this audition shows once again just how important the song choice can be in these performances!
Congratulations to Jake Quickenden on recovering from criticism and giving a great performance! Watch the full thing in the clip below:
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