Poignant moments are abundant on the 20th season of American Idol. The latest audition to tug at our heartstrings comes courtesy of Chicago native Sir Blayke.
With Sir Blayke’s audition comes an inspiring backstory. While trying to pursue his dreams of becoming a musician, he slept on the streets of Los Angeles.
While Blayke sang a rendition of Ed Sheeran’s “Dive,” it was not enough to convince the judges to advance him to the next round.
In order to convince the judges - Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan - Blayke sang an original track.
“I actually preferred your original song,” said Katy Perry. “You have a good voice, you just need to connect with the heart.”
While it was a “no” from Bryan, Blayke’s original song was enough to convince Perry and Bryan to move him to the next round.
In an ABC 7 Chicago interview, Blayke described his excitement at meeting the judges.
“I’m super, super, super excited! These are the types of things that I dreamed to do as a kid. I was so excited, ABC Chicago!,” Blayke said. “It’s huge, cameras all in your face, lights everywhere and then you turn to your right, there’s Katy, Luke and Lionel, yo this is a lot! Oh they’re real, Lionel’s skin is amazing!”
Blayke's also discussed his desire to showcase Black people in the pop genre.
“I wanna show that Black people can do pop music,” Blayke said. “We don’t always have to be stuck in the box of R&B, soul and gospel. We are more, we can do more, it doesn’t just always have to be that.”
Watch Sir Blayke’s audition below:
