The judges sat still, their backs turned, as a sweet, pained voice emerged from the platform, full of something that caught them by the chest. “The Story of My Life” was more than just sung; it was lived, with each syllable oozing with agony and honesty, like pages from a torn-up notebook. The room exhaled deeply.
However, as the chairs turned, the voice’s truth struck them deeply. His face spoke the rest of the story: of grief, hardship, and bearing more than anybody should. The judges’ strength broke in that moment. The tears flowed silently at first, then all at once, and there was no stopping them.
The video below contains an outstanding performance that may have you in tears. Vernon Barnard was born with glaucoma. He could see pretty well initially, but after 16 procedures, he lost his vision before the age of five.
Despite his infirmities and tribulations, he never abandoned his passion for singing. He auditioned for The Voice: South Africa and impressed everyone who listened to him. Judge Bobby van Jaarsveld, in particular, was profoundly impressed. Vernon’s version of One Direction’s “Story of My Life” moved him to tears. To be honest, it broke me down, too. After the tryout, Bobby went down on his knees and requested Vernon to join his squad. Vernon embraced him as his coach.
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