Sometimes a “Got Talent” audition is so surprisingly good that you can watch it repeatedly and get chills every time. This is a performance that will stick in your memory.
On Britain’s Got Talent, five young guys proudly announced their group name, Collabro, as they took the stage. Simon Cowell wrinkled his eyes, evidently thinking, “Here we go again, another boy band tryout,” when the judges learned that the group had barely been together for a month. “What makes you think you can win Britain’s Got Talent after just a month together?” judge Alesha Dixon questioned. The head of the group quickly responded, “I believe it’s natural chemistry.” Judge Amanda Holden bowed her head to conceal her smile in reaction to this response.
Alesha responded, “That’s lovely, then take it away.” And that is exactly what Collabro did. They opened with “Stars,” a powerful and exquisite solo introduction from Les Misérables. The crowd was instantly quieted. The chorus left everyone in awe after a second member gave another strong solo as the concert went on. Expressions of amazement replaced sardonic smiles. The performance that followed was heart-stopping, with a standing ovation before they had finished their song and unplanned applause.
No judges have ever eaten so much humble pie after a single performance. The best description of the performance came from Amanda Holden, who at first laughed at the group: “That was bloody brilliant.” The one-month-old group’s “natural chemistry” carried them straight to the finals, where they won Britain’s Got Talent 2014, like a fairy tale.
Collabro’s performance of the song “Stars” became viral and has over 51 million views on YouTube. Their narrative demonstrates that sometimes the most unexpected moments are the most magical and is a tribute to the strength of talent, hard effort, and natural connection.
