James Smith, a fifteen-year-old from Upminster, greeted everyone with a charming, genuine charisma. He pretended to be your average British adolescent, celebrating his birthday only two days ago with a night in and some cake with his grandmother, whose dad was a market trader, and whose biggest perk was getting some free soap. He raved about pie and mash when questioned about his go-to dish. His vocal skill was even more shocking because of his modest and approachable personality, which established low expectations for the performance.
James decided to perform Michael Bublé’s interpretation of Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good,” a timeless jazz and soul standard. This bold move demanded a great deal of vocal maturity and self-control. His childlike charisma disappeared the second he started singing, giving way to a voice that was silky, deep, and remarkably soulful. He brought the song to life with his charismatic delivery, expressive vocal dynamics, and profound grasp of its emotional depth. As soon as they heard the entrance of a unique talent, the crowd sprang to its feet.
The judged were in complete agreement that the adolescent had an unexpected skill and was a natural performer. Alesha Dixon praised his “incredible charisma” and said he could “hold an audience in your hand like that,” while David Walliams referred to him as a “pop star in the making.” Although Simon Cowell was anxious about the song selection, he ended up praising James for adding a “totally new twist” and describing the audition as one of his favorites thus far. The combination of James’s modest upbringing and his exceptional, soulful singing voice resulted in four enthusiastic “yeses,” marking the beginning of an incredibly bright career.
