The X Factor returned for its new series tonight – and two auditions in particular were the big winners with viewers.
The first contestant to stop the judges in their tracks was 16-year-old Samantha Lavery who arrived at the auditions with her granddad. He was a wannabe singer and performer back in the day, but had to give it up in order to provide for his family.
— Sam Lavery ⚡️🌙 (@SamLavery_) August 23, 2016
Samantha paid tribute to him as she gave an electrifying rendition of Ellie Goulding’s ‘Explosions’.
The reaction was instantly positive.
Wow Samantha Lavery sings this better then Ellie! 👏🏻👏🏻 #XFactor
— Luke Hewett (@lukageee_hewett) August 27, 2016
Samantha an early contender #XFactor
— Wayne Power Poetry (@PowerWayne) August 27, 2016
what an awesome voice, loving Samantha Lavery! #XFactor 🎶🌟 x
— Pam K 🐱💗 (@KittyKatPK) August 27, 2016
Finally someone with a good voice..Yes Samantha #XFactor
— Benny James (@Beno_ldn) August 27, 2016
Samantha might only be a teenager but she’s a dab hand at this lark already: she has recorded and released a single called ‘A Mile Apart’, and is a regular performer at gigs and festivals.
In today's @whatsonne I chat to @SamanthaLavery_ about her headline gig at @o2academynewc https://t.co/ufH7AYxccV pic.twitter.com/4NA5uFlrGF
— Simon Duke (@simon_dukey) June 23, 2016
A little while later in the opening instalment of the show came 19-year-old Christian Burrows, whose audition started very unpromisingly by attempting a stripped-back acoustic version of John Denver’s ‘Country Roads’.
At that point, an unimpressed Simon Cowell stopped him, and after some chat, Christian revealed that he had one of his own songs that he could perform instead.
The track is called ‘Thunder Buddy’, and was written about his brother who died at two months old.
“It’s a song that means everything to me, and only my mum’s heard it,” he explained.
Watch the performance below:
Not a dry eye in the room! Christian’s stunning song has got us ALL in tears 😭 #XFactorhttps://t.co/SXvoVShFaI
— The X Factor (@TheXFactor) August 27, 2016
Sure enough, judges were wowed, as were the viewers.
If you don't cry a bit at this, you're probably a psychopath. #XFactor
— Matt Edmondson (@MattEdmondson) August 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/liammckenna1/status/769619783641948162
Christian reminded me both lyrically and vocally of Ed Sheeran. But those were just beautiful lyrics. Beautiful song. #XFactor
— Dale McDermott (@dalemcdermott) August 27, 2016
How are you feeling after Christian's song? #XFactor
— The X Factor (@TheXFactor) August 27, 2016
