Angelina Greene, 13, took the stage to share her personal tale of how music had become her haven. She revealed that her commitment to singing, which she had taken seriously since her parents’ divorce, greatly lessened the hardship of the situation. Angelina, who described her mother as her best friend and closest confidante, walked nervously inside the enormous auditorium. She set the tone for an incredibly poignant audition by being willing to open her heart and utilize music as a kind of emotional therapy despite her youth and obvious trepidation.
Angelina decided to sing The Pretenders’ “I’ll Stand By You” during her performance. She performed the stirring ballad with a depth and maturity that belied her advanced age. Her unadulterated voice and the song’s emotional impact produced a captivating moment in the theater. The judges were clearly moved by the performance’s conclusion and realized that she had accomplished music’s ultimate purpose, which is to emotionally move her audience. Judge Mel B subsequently acknowledged the unexpected depth of the child singer’s musicianship when she said that she felt the presence of a “old soul inside of that little 13-year-old body.”
Angelina’s artistry and vulnerability were praised by all of the judges. Even the notoriously strict Simon Cowell was delighted, describing her as one of his favorite auditions and remarking that she gave him “goosebumps have goosebumps.” But Mel B was the one who reached forward and slammed the coveted Golden Buzzer, mesmerized by the intense emotional connection and the overwhelming brilliance on display. The panel felt that Angelina was a very unique find because of her ability to transform her personal suffering into a beautiful, evocative performance, and this dramatic move pushed her right through to the live concerts.
