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Welcome to Stuff I Learned Yesterday. My name is Darrell Darnell, somedays the hardest part of this podcast is coming up with the opening tidbit about myself, and I believe that if you aren’t learning, you aren’t living. In today’s episode of Stuff I Learned Yesterday I share insight I learned from a YouTube video (and,no, it doesn’t involve a cat.)
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What I Learned Yesterday:
Really? An internet video? Yesterday’s episode tackled big topics like racism, homosexuality, religion, and politics, and today I’m offering wisdom from a YouTube video? Yep. That’s how I roll.
I have come to the conclusion that I am a sucker for those inspiration audition videos from The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent and the like. I don’t watch those shows. I don’t really care for reality TV. You may not watch them either, but you probably know the videos I’m talking about. I’m talking about the video of Susan Boyle, who walked out on the stage of Britain’s Got Talent a disheveled mess and walked off an internationally recognized name.
I see these videos show up in my Facebook timeline from time to time with a comment from one of my friends that says something to the effect of, “Wow, this blew me away!” I usually scoff and tell myself that I don’t have time to watch a silly audition video from a reality show…and then I click on it. By the time the video is over my mouth is open in shock and eyes are welled up because of the moving story, dramatic music, and amazing performance. Yep, I’m a sucker.
A few days ago another one of these videos showed up in my Facebook feed and I clicked on it. The video was an audition of Alice Fredenham from Britain’s Got Talent in 2013. She walked on stage and approached the mic. As she walked, she kept her arms close to her body with one arm clutching the rubbing the other. It’s the type of thing we do when we’re scared or uncomfortable. She approached the mic and you could hear the quiver in her voice. The judges asked her how she was doing and she said she was scared. Clearly she was.
She said that she had come to the audition alone and told no one that she was doing it. Her reason? If she failed, she wouldn’t have to admit it to anyone. As she spoke she stood there nervously wriggling her hands. The music started and the first few words were a bit shaky, altered by her nerves.
But very soon into the song something happened. Here body loosened, her voice smoothed out, and the quivering in her voice was replaced by power and passion. It was an audition so good, the entire theater and all 4 judges rose to their feet in thunderous applause. Alice broke down into tears.
My favorite part of the video hasn’t even happened yet. Before I tell you what happened next, let me give you some backstory on her. Prior to her audition on Britain’s Got Talent, Alice auditioned for the British version of The Voice. In that audition she dressed in a costume that complimented the song she sang, and she approached the stage with more confidence. She also brought along her family. It was the first time they’d seen her perform live since she had done a school performance.
Her audition for The Voice was really good, but no judges turned around. The reasons they gave her were things like, “she was singing just to sing” and “she didn’t know how to use her instrument.” Those words devastated her after she left and severely wilted her confidence. She felt like she’d let her family down.
Honestly, I’m amazed that she had the courage to even audition for Britain’s Got Talent. I don’t think I would have. Her nerves are understandable and so too is her decision to not tell her family. She didn’t want to bear the pain of letting them down again.
Now for my favorite part of the Britain’s Got Talent Audition. You remember Simon Cowell, the mean judge from the early days of American Idol? In case you aren’t aware, he’s doing Britain’s Got Talent now. After the judges and the audience sat back down, Simon’s first words to her were, “This is what I have been waiting for. Your voice is like liquid gold. You have such an authentically beautiful voice.” His words were powerful. Alice was now sobbing. Tears and snot are flowing freely.
One of the other judges asked her why she was crying. She said that she didn’t expect that type of response. It was her dream, and now it had just happened. He told her that when she sings, she’s like a goddess. She’s world class.
The time came for each judge to cast their vote. Unlike The Voice where none of the 4 judges selected her, this time was different. The first three judges all voted “yes” and the final judge to cast a vote was Simon. He asked Alice how to pronounce her last name and she told him. He said that he wanted to make sure he got it right. He always wanted to remember the day he met Alice Fredenham because she was that special. He said it was the easiest “yes” he’d given throughout the entire competition. The audience erupted in applause and the sobbing Alice left the stage, shoulders back, walking with confidence, smiling from ear to ear.
Here’s what I learned. Words matter. They can be used to tear down, humiliate, weaken, whither, deflate, and crumble a person. They can also be used to make a person soar, give them a new level of confidence, enable them to accomplish their dream and achieve the unimaginable.
I am so happy for Alice and grateful that she did not let her experience on The Voice keep her from trying again. Maybe you’re like her. Maybe you’ve been crushed by words and you don’t believe in yourself. Let me encourage you today. Don’t let those words defeat you. Keep your chin up, keep going, aim high, and never give up.
I want you to know just how much your words mean to me. This podcast has been a courageous step for me. It’s so different than any other podcast I’ve done and I didn’t know if it would find an audience. I’ve been overwhelmed by the words of encouragement and affirmation that I have received from you.
This week I received iTunes reviews from Coop, JoSpiv, Unstuckable, and Albert. Thank you all for your kinds words.
This review from Tristan blew me away. He said, “I’ve followed Golden Spiral Media for years ever since the Fringe Podcast. I am obsessed with pop culture and technology, so when I heard Darrell was going to start a life guidance podcast, I was sure it would be the first GSM podcast that I would fall out of listening to. But I was SO wrong. This podcast is only a month old, but it has already given me a new perspective. Many of my issues with depression and loneliness have been helped through this podcast. From inspiring me to think positively, to convincing me to reach out to others and search for my dreams. I’ve even gotten insight on sneaking to eat Halloween candy!”
To Tristan and others who may be like him, I am humbled that I have been able to help you through this podcast. When I set out with this podcast that was what I aspired to do. I hope that I am able to continue to do that. I hope you know, that you have helped me too.
I’m Darrell Darnell and this has been stuff I learned yesterday.
Here’s Alice’s audition for The Voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO2hYWinOrU
Here’s Alice’s audition for Britain’s Got Talent.
If you’ve enjoyed this episode of Stuff I Learned Yesterday, I would be grateful if you’d leave a review in iTunes or Stitcher.
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