Two coaches of The Voice UK, Will.I.Am and Ricky Wilson, turned for FIlipina Irene Alano-Rhodes, at the third blind audition of the show.
Singing “The Wind Beneath My Wings” the 42-year-old Filipina impressed the coaches, nailing all the high notes and taking them an octave higher.
“I turned around because you have an amazing voice. You took it there, you peaked,” Will.I.Am began to tell her. “I thought if you continued the fight, she might not be able to fight, but you continued. I like a fighter. You controlled my hand and pushed my button. I would like you to be on my team to officially be a part of our family.”
Ricky Wilson meanwhile said, “That was simply wonderful and you got the sentiment of the song across. I loved it. It was one of those voices that reached over the chairs into our hearts. I guarantee you that happened not just to us, but it went down the lense to everyone’s sofas. There will have been a national standing ovation”.
Alano-Rhodes chose Will.I.Am as her coach.
The Filipina hails from Manila. She is a former West End actress, who performed in the West End production of Miss Saigon 20 years old. She dedicated her performance to her son. “I am doing this as everything I do in life for him,” Alano-Rhodes said in her video.
In 2009, she lost her father and then two weeks later, lost her husband. “It was the most painful year of my life. When Lee [her husband] died, passed away, the first thing I said is that I wouldn’t sing again, because when you sing you feel the song. It was a horrible time, but it has taught me a lot of things such as strength, faith, and courage, but also hope. There is always hope.”
