An 11-year-old entered The Voice Kids stage, little in height but with a voice that would soon shock the globe. The first gentle notes of Elvis’ Can’t Help Falling in Love wafted through the air, and time seemed to stand still. It was more than simply a song; it was a moment.
The judges leaned forward, their faces ranging from interest to incredulity. The audience held their breath, waiting on every note, as if the King had returned. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house by the end of her performance. The judges were stunned, unable to discover any flaws in her performance. When the stillness was broken, the crowd exploded in deafening, uncontrollable applause, a standing ovation fit for a legend.
If the explosion of talent hunt TV shows has taught us anything, it’s that there are plenty of brilliant youngsters all around the world. So here’s a little girl from Germany who I’m sure will blow your socks off.
Georgia Balke, 11 years old from Bremerhaven, Germany, has been a fan favorite throughout the season. She began the year with a 60s ballad titled “House of the Rising Sun.” Strangely, the judges had kicked Georgia off the competition earlier this year, but audience voting brought her back. Talk about a comeback.
Georgia picked Elvis’ classic “Can’t Help Falling in Love” as her conclusion, and she did an excellent job. She then applauded with her “coaches,” Michi Beck (left) and Smudo from the Fantastischen Vier.
The real prize was not announced that evening but later in the week. Georgia was unable to attend because of a Covid quarantine.
