Even the very young can display highly developed talent. That’s certainly true of Erin, a 13-year-old who appeared on the British edition “The Voice Kids.” Performing in front of an audience wasn’t entirely new for her: on weekends, she grabs her guitar and goes into town to busk. But the audience she faced now, live and on TV was nothing like what she’d faced before. Naturally enough, her stomach was tormented by swarms of butterflies beforehand.
For the season finale, Erin chose to sing “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” The song is quite possibly Elvis Presley’s masterpiece. Released in 1961, it’s based on an old French melody. It featured prominently in the movie “Blue Hawaii” and later in the ’60s and into the ’70s, was the standard finale for The King’s live shows. It’s a deep, slow-moving song that gives a singer the opportunity to really put their heart into the performance.
And that she certainly did. With the stage lit in a cool blue and her white outfit standing in dramatic contrast, Erin really gave it her all, earning applause from the audience and the judges. Elvis’ ballad really brought out the amazing power and range of her voice. It was such an emotional performance that she was literally shedding tears at the end.
Erin’s mentor, Danny Jones of the band McFly, was clearly impressed: “I thought only magicians made magic, that was absolutely magical.” He was also glad to have helped her overcome initial self-doubt: “We went through stages where you didn’t believe in yourself… You just came out here and you believe in yourself, you’re now becoming an artist. You’re one of the nicest kids I’ve ever met and I’m so proud of you right now.”
Did you fall in love with Erin’s interpretation of this Elvis classic? We would love to hear your opinion in the comments section below. Be sure to like and share, too!
