It’s on to the finals for 10-year-old Filipino-American singer Angelica Hale.
The second half of finalists for America’s Got Talent’s 12th season were announced in today’s results show and Angelica made the cut, besting fellow child singer Celine Tam from our Coconuts’ sister city Hong Kong.
Angelica got a standing ovation from all four judges in her semi-finals performance yesterday in which she sang Without You by David Guetta.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfRGxN2zeWU
“Gosh, I think that you are a phenomenon, OK? And you, by the way, young lady, you are my personal favorite. And I hope America agrees with me,” judge Heidi Klum said.
Simon Cowell commended Angelica for taking a risk in her song choice.
“There’s nothing worse than sitting here and hearing what I’ve heard before on other shows or on our shows. You took a risk. Like I said last week, the only risk is mediocrity. That was not mediocre,” he said.
Howie Mandel also complimented Angelica’s performance and said that she made it even harder for viewers to choose who to vote for.
“You know, another wow moment for your years. And that range, and the control you have of your voice, I gotta say, you made tonight tougher than it ever could be,” Mandel said.
Nine-year-old Hongkonger Celine, who some have said was Angelica’s toughest competition in the show, did not make it to the finale, a result some of her fans did not take particularly well.
Celine sang How Far I’ll Go from the Disney animated film Moana.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwSxuB_cJJ8
Judges Klum, Mandel, and Cowell gave her performance positive reviews, with Cowell calling it a “massive step up from what you’ve done before. The song was perfect for you.”
However, judge Mel B was not too pleased with Celine’s song choice, saying it was “way too musical theater.” The former Spice Girl said that the song did not allow Celine to show a wider vocal range.
“I don’t think it showcased your voice. The range that you just presented was very locked in. I know you could go lower and higher, and take us on a magical journey. You didn’t give us that,” she said.
Other finalists joining Angelica in the top 10 include four other singers, two dance groups, a singing ventriloquist, a stand-up comedian, and a dog act. The America’s Got Talent finale will air next week.
