The X-Factor, American Idol, and every other televised talent show have made it possible for people across the globe to try their luck at becoming stars. And they have helped many talents get the recognition that they deserve. In the case of the X-Factor, a lot of the fun comes from the audition process. Viewers get to laugh (mostly in horror) at some of the contestants that come to try their luck.
But we can't forget the contestants that blow us away with their singing abilities. And as the show goes on, viewers get to see these singers blossom. To give you an idea, here are ten X-Factor performances that just blow us away.
Cher Lloyd - "Everytime"
Cher Lloyd burst onto the scene in season 7 at the age of 16 with spunk, confidence, and more than a little attitude. With her uniquely raspy vocals and talent for rapping, Cher quickly cemented her place as a contender.
Her performance of Britney Spears's "Everytime" in the semi-finals revealed just how versatile a performer she is. Her performance was intensely emotional (she was near tears the entire time) and it was clear that she felt every word. Her riffs were also incredible.
Little Mix - "Cannonball"
Since winning the eighth season of the show (as the first group ever to win), Little Mix has been making headlines wherever they go. They are talented and irrevocably tight-knit. Having auditioned as individuals, they were put together and made their way to the finals.
Their most powerful performance, however, was their winner's performance of Damien Rice's "Cannonball." They were perfectly in harmony, displayed layers of emotion, and were amazingly in tune with each other. They made it very clear that their success in the show was well-deserved.
Jahmene Douglas - "Angels"
Jahmene auditioned for the show's ninth season and blew away the judges, including future mentor Nicole Scherzinger with his powerful and soulful rendition of Etta Jame's "At Last." Despite his demure personality, his expansive vocal range and R&B/gospel sound landed him in the finals.
But his final performance was absolutely a breakthrough. While performing his cover of Robbie William's "Angels," he was confident and strong. Backed by a choir, he continued to demonstrate his vocal range and he imbued every word with shiver-inducing emotion.
Louisa Johnson - "This Is A Man's World"
When Louisa Johnson walked onto the stage at her X-Factor audition, she was more than a little anxious, but everyone could see her passion for singing. Within seconds of starting, she had won the crowd over with her soulful voice.
Her finals performance of James Brown's "This Is A Man's World" gave Christina Aguilera a run for her money. She commanded the stage on which she stood, showing off her impressive vocals. Her smile told anyone watching just how in her element she was.
Rion Paige - "Blown Away"
This young contestant's song choice was aptly named. Rion Paige revealed that she has had an affinity for performance since childhood, and her performance on The X-Factor showed that she had the talent to match it.
She auditioned with Carrie Underwood's "Blown Away" and did just that. She threw her body into the performance and demonstrated her amazing country voice (comparable to Underwood herself, actually) that got her a standing ovation.
Beau Monga - "No Diggity"
The one asset every contestant on The X-Factor needs is the ability to stand out. Auditioning on X-Factor Australia, Beau stood out and stunned the judges with his amazing beatboxing skills during auditions. But his performance in the Boot Camp Round was what sealed the deal.
He performed Blackstreet's "No Diggity" with a guitar and an incredibly smooth voice. He even inserted beatboxing between the lyrics. Granted, it broke the rhythm a little bit, but his charisma and unique nature made up for it tenfold.
Fifth Harmony - "Hero"
This group came into the limelight in 2012 and have received many comparisons to Little Mix, in terms of how they were brought together and their journey throughout the competition. Each member of the group has a distinctly unique voice that makes them stronger.
One of their stand out performances was Mariah Carey's "Hero." Although there weren't any harmonies, everyone got a chance to show off their unique talents, showing that they are cohesive because of their individuality.
Josh Daniel - "Jealous"
Now and again, a contestant will come along with a performance that brings everyone in the room to tears. Josh Daniel was one such contestant. He auditioned with Labyrinth's "Jealous" by channeling the memory of his late best friend.
He sang this song with the perfect amount of volume and every word was an emotional tribute to a loved one gone too soon. His impressive vocal range and touching performance earned him a standing ovation and left Cheryl Cole speechless.
4th Power - "Bang Bang"
Want to impress the judges? Show up with your siblings, solid choreography, and vocals to back it all up. 4th Power is made up of four sisters who tried their luck in competitions in the Philippines.
Their audition of Jessie James's "Bang Bang" can be defined by one word: attitude. Their choreography was succinct, all four sisters had incredible voices, and they made it clear that they belonged on that stage.
Carly Rose Sonenclar - "Hallelujah"
Carly Rose Sonenclar made it to The X-Factor finals at the age of 13. But she wasn't dubbed a "little diva" by Britney Spears for nothing. Her powerful voice and abilities as a performer immediately caught the judge's attention.
Her finals performance of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" was nothing short of stellar! Every word and every note was emotional and demonstrated a maturity beyond her years. Her powerful voice and versatility led her right to the top.