This is one of the most explosive and unforgettable X Factor Auditions of all time! 🤯 You are about to witness the moment a nervous, fresh-faced 16-year-old girl named Amelia Lily walked onto the stage and utterly blew the roof off the arena with a stunning rock performance! 🤘🎤
The song choice was a bold one: the iconic “Piece of My Heart,” a classic made famous by the legendary Janis Joplin. Amelia, who was reportedly shaking from her nerves due to the overwhelming crowd before she even stepped out, transformed the moment the music began. Her transformation from a shy teen to a powerful rock vocalist was immediate and mesmerizing.
Amelia’s rendition was a masterclass in taking a classic and making it her own. She started with a fierce, attention-grabbing opening, transitioning into a smooth, bluesy vamp that demonstrated remarkable control and confidence for someone so young. She didn’t try to replicate Joplin’s famous growl entirely, instead infusing the number with a slightly smoother R&B flavor, all while maintaining the full emotional punch and “biffo” required for the powerful chorus. This unique blend of control and raw power is what truly set her apart and quickly won the audience over. The crowd gave an enormous, well-deserved standing ovation the moment she hit the final note. ✨
The judges were, quite simply, floored by what they had just witnessed. They saw not just a great performance, but a true star in the making.
- Tulisa was the first to give a rave review, praising the incredible level of talent Amelia displayed at such a young age. “People work their whole lives and take forever to get to that level you’re at right now,” she exclaimed. She finished her praise with the unforgettable line: “That was amazing. You blew up the stage – your energy was off the chain.” 🔥
- Louis Walsh was equally emphatic, delivering the highest compliment a contestant can receive: “It was big, it was bold, it was beautiful. And I think a star is born.” 🌟
- Kelly Rowland struggled to process that Amelia was only 16, immediately praising her “natural gift” and telling the teenager she was “born to do this.” Kelly, seeing her immense potential, made a remarkably prescient prediction, stating that Amelia “had only scratched the surface” of her talent.
- Gary Barlow expressed exactly why he wanted to be a judge: “This is the reason I wanted to sit in this chair, to discover talent like this. You absolutely lifted the top off this arena,” he declared.
With four enthusiastic endorsements, Amelia Lily sailed through to the next round with a unanimous YES from all the judges! ✅✅✅✅
This monumental audition was just the beginning of a truly dramatic journey on the eighth series of The X Factor in 2011. Although she faced an early, surprising elimination during the first live show, fate (and the public) intervened! When another contestant was removed from the competition, the public was given the chance to reinstate one of the eliminated contestants. Amelia won the public vote with 48.8% and made a spectacular comeback!
Her resilience and powerful vocals shone through as she fought her way back into the competition, delivering stellar performances of songs like Katy Perry’s “E.T.,” Queen’s “The Show Must Go On,” and Aretha Franklin’s “Think”. Amelia ultimately proved her star quality by making it all the way to the Grand Final, finishing the competition in an impressive third place. Following the show, she became a television personality, signed a record deal with Sony Music, and went on to release multiple UK hit singles, validating Kelly Rowland’s early prediction.