Local singer Natalie Ong was so powerful that the judges flung their shoes on stage
Photo: X Factor Australia / YouTube
Hot on the heels of homeboy Nathan Hartono, another Singaporean has emerged from the fray with a powerful voice – to much acclaim and applause.
Singaporean singer Natalie Ong, who is only 15 years old, auditioned for Season 8 of “The X Factor Australia” this year with Christina Aguilera’s “The Voice Within”. Her charged performance was greeted with applause and praise, with judge and Australian rapper Iggy Azalea proclaiming, “This girl [is] going to be ginormous. I think that you could win this competition.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szyfrDgseII
Another judge, pop singer and “American Idol” runner-up Adam Lambert, said, “You really nailed 99.9 per cent of [that song]. It’s really impressive.”
Ong, who is based in Melbourne, Australia, then went on to slay her Three-Seat Challenge, which aired on Sunday night (16 Oct). On this stage, Ong was competing against 11 other singers in the “Under-22” group, out of which Lambert had to pick three to advance.
This time, she wowed the panel and audience with Etta James’ “I’d Rather Go Blind”, and needless to say, secured her place in top three for her category.
Her performance ended with a standing ovation, with the judges flinging articles of clothing on stage. Lambert tossed his shoe – a way that he and his friends express appreciation for each others’ performances, he later explained. Fellow judge and the first winner of Australian Idol, Guy Sebastian, joined in the gesture and tossed his own shoe.
https://youtu.be/AYwGeUOpHZw
Azalea said, “If I wasn’t a diva myself wearing a pair of thigh high boots I would have thrown my shoe right at you.”
Lambert couldn’t hold in his approval of Ong’s talent, admitting to her, “This is hard, because I’m really happy with these three [contestants]… But I think you can tell I was moved by your performance, because I’m missing a boot.”
Ong is a Year 10 student at Waverley Christian College in Victoria, and has been a student at the David Jaanz School of Singing since she was 12 years old. In May, she performed as a soloist at the Christian Schools National Policy Forum Celebration Dinner, held in the Great Hall of Parliament House Canberra.
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