Perth teenager Jesse was reduced to tears after some typically blunt criticism from Australian Idol judge Kyle Sandilands on Wednesday night’s episode.
The young busker was discovered when Amy Shark headed across to WA to find raw talent for the show’s auditions.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Emotions run high on Australian Idol as Kyle Sandilands criticism hits hard.
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Ahead of Wednesday’s performance, Jesse explained he had chosen Say Something by A Great Big World because it had special meaning for his dad and grandpa, who were both in the audience.
He was clearly nervous at the beginning and took a while to warm up into the song, but eventually mastered his nerves and let his voice soar.
But had he left it too late in the song to really impress the judges?
When Jesse finished the song, he shed tears, explaining to Marcia Hines that the tune was beloved by his family and he had wanted to perform it well in front of them.
“It’s just a really special song to me,” he said, wiping away tears.
“It means a lot that I get to sing it in front of a crowd and for them as well.”
Hines told Jesse not to apologise for crying.
“You need to know there’s nothing wrong with a boy crying,” Hines said, to audience applause.
“Jesse that was so beautiful.
“There’s something very honest about you.”
But Sandilands wasn’t impressed.
“Well, you know what? You want honesty?” he began.
“I’ve cried many times to an actual song on the radio because it’s breathtakingly beautiful.
“But you started off weak.
“You didn’t grab us from the start.
“You got your mojo through the middle and towards the end.
“Maybe your emotions derailed you a little bit, and that’s something you are going to have to learn how to hold together.”
At this point, Jesse was nodding in agreement, understanding that his performance had not been great at the beginning.
Shark said she had a “soft spot” for Jesse but agreed that while he’d “kicked in” halfway through, the judges needed to see a strong performance from the very beginning.
“We need to see it straight away, from the get-go,” she said.
“And we’ve seen some people (already) do that tonight.”
On notice
After a brief discussion, Jesse was told that he was being “put on notice”, meaning he could be one of three people going home at the end of the night.
Sandilands broke the news, to disappointed sighs and calls of “no!” from the crowd.
“Three people are going home at the end of the day, hopefully you’re not one of them,” he told Jesse.
As the performer walked off the stage, Sandilands continued with his critique.
“I just want to be entertained, I wanna feel like I’m gonna get up and dance, not go to sleep listening to love song dedications,” he said.
Backstage, Jesse said he was a “bit disappointed” before letting the tears flow.
“Because, um, I was singing it for someone in the crowd,” he added, overcome with emotion.
Will he make it through to Australian Idol’s final 21?
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