As Alice stepped onto the stage, the judges asked how she was feeling. Her response was simple yet honest: “Scared.” It was clear she was nervous, and in a backstage interview, she admitted that stage fright had always been a struggle for her.
Much of Alice’s anxiety stemmed from her fear of rejection—worrying that if the judges didn’t approve, it would mean she wasn’t good enough. As the music started, the audience fell into a hushed silence, waiting for her to begin.
Alice Fredenham
For her audition, Alice chose to perform My Funny Valentine, a timeless jazz standard famously associated with Chet Baker. The opening notes played, and the atmosphere in the room felt tense.
Then, she sang the first line: “My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine…” Her voice carried a slight tremble, and Simon Cowell kept his head down, possibly to avoid making her even more nervous.
Simon Cowell
But when Alice reached the lyric “You make me smile with my heart,” her voice grew stronger, delivering unexpected depth and power. Simon lifted his head, a smile spreading across his face as he listened.
With expressive hand movements reminiscent of Nina Simone’s performances, Alice captivated the judges. Her sultry, heartfelt rendition of My Funny Valentine earned her a standing ovation from both the audience and all four judges, securing her place in the next round.