America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League – Singer Loren Allred stuns the judges with a powerful rendition of “Over the Rainbow”
America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League continues with its two-week semi-final round beginning Monday (Jan 29). NBC has dropped a preview of singer Loren Allred performing a showstopping rendition of the classic song “Over The Rainbow.”
The competition is fiercer than ever. Ten acts will compete for only THREE spots in the finale. Each week, two more Golden Buzzers and ONE act voted through by the audience will join the four Golden Buzzer acts that have already advanced to the final. In all a Top 10 will compete on the finale for the win.
Loren is competing on Team Simon Cowell. Anybody who has followed Simon’s shows knows that he loves the Wizard of Oz classic “Over the Rainbow.” Back in 2006, he created a moment for American Idol season 5 contestant, Katharine McPhee when he chose the song for her. The performance became viral and she ultimately finished the season in second place.
Simon has a soft spot for Loren, who recorded “Never Enough” for The Greatest Showman movie soundtrack. An actress lip-synced to her track in the film. While the song became popular, Loren remained unknown. After competing on Britain’s Got Talent, Simon hoped to introduce the singer to a wider American audience on AGT.
The performance highlights Loren’s incredible range and ability to phrase a song. After bringing the house down, the judges were on their feet, giving the singer a standing ovation.
Did Loren do enough to earn the AGT audience vote?
“That is what I call a masterclass,” Simon gushed. “That’s how you do it.” Heidi Klum added, “I think I can speak for everyone in this room, but you were giving us all the feels. You just sounded so beautiful.” Mel B. chimed in, “You just have a voice that is just to die for, literally. You could sing absolutely anything, which is actually my point.”
However, Mel offered pointed criticism of Simon. “If I was your mentor, I would have chosen a different song because you could have had everybody in this audience crying.” Mel is wrong about that. Certain songs like “Hallelujah” and “Over the Rainbow” are such classics, that when a skilled competitor tackles these oft-covered songs, it’s like money in the bank. Simon doesn’t miss a beat, “Like ‘Wanna Be’?” he snarked, referring to a Spice Girls ditty. Mel laughs it off. “There’s not much left in this,” referring to her water cup.
“It’s up to the audience,” says Howie Mandel. “They can only pick one, but I loved it. America is going to love it. Your amazing.”
Will the audience use their ONE vote to advance Loren into the finale? Find out when AGT: Fantasy League airs on NBC Monday Jan 29 at 8 pm ET/PT.
Watch Loren Allred sing “Over The Rainbow” below