Liam Payne’s X Factor audition goes viral once more after his shock loss of life
Liam Payne‘s ‘extraordinary’ X Factor audition is going viral again in wake of the singer’s shock death.
It was reported that the One Direction alum, 31, had died Wednesday after falling off a three-story balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It’s unknown whether the fall was intentional or accidental.
Fans flocked to YouTube to watch Payne’s first-ever audition on the UK talent competition show in 2008, when he was just 14-years-old.
He performed an impressive rendition of Frank Sinatra’s hit Fly Me To The Moon for judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and his future ex-girlfriend Cheryl Cole.
Although he made it through to the Judges’ Houses round, Payne was ultimately sent home.
Cowell encouraged Payne to try out again in ‘two years,’ which is when he’d finally achieve global superstardom as part of the boy band One Direction.
Liam Payne ‘s ‘extraordinary’ X Factor audition is going viral again in wake of the singer’s shock death
Fans flocked to YouTube to watch Payne’s first-ever audition on the UK talent competition show in 2008, when he was just 14-years-old
‘When I’m at school, in general, I think about singing all the time,’ Payne gushed to the show’s producers.
‘I should really be concentrating on my school work but I just think about singing too much.’
As he stood before Cole, Cowell and Walsh, Payne explained: ‘A lot of people say I’m a good singer and I’ve got The X Factor but I don’t really know what The X Factor is and I believe you guys do.’
The judges were left totally impressed by the teenager, who successfully showed off his voice singing Fly Me To The Moon.
However, Cowell said Payne’s performance was ‘missing a bit of grit, a bit of emotion and actually a bit of fun, funnily enough.’
Cole — who started Payne in 2015 and welcomed seven-year-old son Bear with him two years later — quickly leapt to his defense.
‘I liked it. I think you’re really cute. I think you’ve got charisma.. you gave us that cheeky little wink,’ the Girls Aloud hitmaker gushed.
Walsh added: ‘I think this kid could do fantastic in the show.’
Despite Walsh and Cole’s high praise, Cowell still felt there was ’20 per cent missing’ for him.
‘When I’m at school, in general, I think about singing all the time,’ Payne gushed to the show’s producers. ‘I should really be concentrating on my school work but I just think about singing too much’
As he stood before Cole, Cowell and Walsh, Payne explained: ‘A lot of people say I’m a good singer and I’ve got The X Factor but I don’t really know what The X Factor is and I believe you guys do’
The judges were left totally impressed by the teenager, who successfully showed off his voice singing Fly Me To The Moon
However, Cowell said Payne’s performance was ‘missing a bit of grit, a bit of emotion and actually a bit of fun, funnily enough’
Cole — who started Payne in 2015 and welcomed seven-year-old son Bear with him two years later — quickly leapt to his defense
‘Well give me another audition and I’ll show you I’ve got that 20 per cent,’ Payne fired back.
Taken by the young man’s confidence, Cowell agreed to send him through to the next round, where he was eventually eliminated due to Cowell thinking he was ‘too young’ for the competition.
A 16-year-old Payne returned to the X Factor stage in 2010, where he performed a cover of Julie London’s 1955 hit Cry Me A River. He was sent through.
During the competition, he was joined with fellow solo singers Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan to form One Direction.
Although One Direction didn’t end up winning their X Factor season, they became one of the biggest boy bands in the world.
They’ve sold over 70million record worldwide.
They released five successful studio albums, achieved four no.1 hits in the UK and embarked on four world tours before splitting up in 2016.
Liam started a solo career in 2017.
