On the X Factor stage last night, Sam Lavery blasted out her rendition of the Girls Aloud hit I’ll Stand by You. She had chosen the tune for the show’s Girl Group vs Boy Band Week, but she only decided to sing it at the last minute after speaking to former X Factor finalist Rebecca Ferguson.
Sam didn’t feel the song she had originally chosen would match her voice, and Becs persuaded Sam to do what felt right for her, saying “always trust your gut instinct.”
Sam said, “I don’t feel it and I know that’s not right. I want to sing I’ll Stand by You for my dad. I wouldn’t be able to do this without him.”
Sam’s rendition generally went down well with the judges. Louis Walsh said,
“This song so suited you. I think this was one of your best performances.”
Sharon Osbourne commented,
“I love your voice and the natural break you have. I think it is sexy and smoky. I love it. You did great.”
Sam’s mentor Simon Cowell said, “I thought it was the perfect song for you. I think it is important to care and connect with a song rather than just singing a song that doesn’t actually mean anything. This actually meant something – it’s called emotion.”
Only Nicole Scherzinger seemed less than impressed. The ex-Pussycat Dolls singer got some boos when she said, “I personally don’t know if that was was the right song choice. You are only 17-years-old and I’m forgetting that. This slower, more ballady type stuff is dating and aging you. I would have liked you to make it more edgy and raw.”
But Nicole added, “I appreciate the heart that you put into it.”
Nothing compares to this feeling! LOVED EVERY SECOND❤️ pic.twitter.com/9S60LQfY3a
— Sam Lavery (@SamLavery_) November 5, 2016
Sam is from Coxhoe, near Durham, and the whole village has got behind her. Banners have gone up on the side of Sam’s local pub and the village’s chemists shop, and many other shops and houses have put up posters urging people to vote for Sam.
Last week, Sam made a visit home, surprising her mam Tracey when she was at work in Tescos. Tracey made an announcement on the shop’s Tannoy system telling people to vote for her daughter and one of Tracey’s colleagues asked Sam to get Simon Cowell’s autograph for her.
Tracey said, “I’m so proud of you. I’m lucky that I’ve got you pursuing your dreams and doing everything you’ve ever dreamed of.”
In another boost for Sam, the winner of 2012’s X Factor James Arthur has backed her to triumph in this series.
You can vote for Sam Lavery by calling 090 20505102 from your landline or 6505102 from your mobile or by downloading the X Factor app and using your five free votes.