Josh Daniel was the last contestant to audition for the X Factor that day. It’s been a long day for everyone and yet this 21-year-old car mechanic was determined to give his best shot.
When asked about what song he’ll sing, he said he picked “Jealous” by Labirinth. Simon Cowell, one of the judges, pressed him for details and asked why he chose the song. Josh then proceeded to explain that he lost his best friend two years ago and that he interprets the lyrics differently than the way the original composers meant it. For Josh, he’s just jealous that his best friend is already in a better place and is already happy without him.
Watch his moving rendition here:
His emotional take on the song had everyone crying during the performance – even Simon Cowell himself was seen wiping his tears away.
Currently, the video already has been viewed over 13 million times on YouTube since it was uploaded last August 30, 2015 by The X Factor UK.
In a media interview, Simon admitted that Josh’s song reminded him of his mother who recently passed away. “It was very raw and it did take me back to the moment, but I think in quite a healthy way. Being upset is a human thing,” he told The Sun.
All About Simon Cowell
Born Simon Philip Cowell on October 7, 1959, Simon Cowell is best recognized as a talent judge for shows such as American Idol, Britain’s Got Talent, Pop Idol, and the X Factor. He is also a talent scout, a music producer, and the other of Syco, a television production and music publishing house. He is most commonly known for his knack for making brutally honest and sometimes offensive remarks when judging contestants.
Time magazine has named him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2004 and 2010. On the other hand, he has earned the #10th spot in TV Guide’s The 60 Nastiest Villains of All Time in 2013.