Blind singer Vernon Barnard made television history when he appeared on The Voice South Africa and reduced the judges to tears with his tear-jerking cover of One Direction’s ‘Story of My Life’. Three of the judges turned their chairs around after hearing him sing, and each one was shocked and emotional when they saw the dark glasses covering Vernon’s eyes. “Is he blind?” gasped judge Lira, instantly summing up the emotion of everyone who was watching the audition.
But out of all the judges, it was Bobby Van Jaarsveld who found himself very touched by the performance, tears streaming down his face as Vernon’s audition came to an end. “I felt so many emotions during that song,” he told Vernon. “Even before you started I felt something in my heart, I swear. Something stirred my spirit with you…I want to beg you to be on my team.” Few were surprised when Vernon did choose to be on Bobby’s team, a moment that clearly meant so much to both the judge and the young singer himself.
But it wasn’t just the judges who were left feeling emotional after watching Vernon’s touching performance, Music Man readers. In fact, viewers from all over the world have rushed to YouTube’s comment section to leave their praise for this resilient, talented young singer who has already faced the challenge of losing his sight. “Gives me goosebumps every time,” said one fan, summing up the feeling of many who had watched the video for themselves.
Vernon sadly did not go on to win that season of The Voice South Africa, but he did make it a good way through the competition and gave us many more memorable performances to look back on as a result. His rendition of Passenger’s ‘Let Her Go’ during the fourth round, for instance, has also racked up several million views on YouTube and again saw Vernon tackling the song with emotion and resilience.
Vernon Barnard might not have won The Voice, but his audition alone was enough to persuade South Africa – and later many other countries around the world – that he was a singer whose voice needed to be heard. The fact he is blind always brought that extra level of emotion and meaning to his performances, and as such, it’s little wonder that fans of The Voice are watching his audition again and again online, even all these years later.
Vernon Barnard’s unforgettable audition on The Voice South Africa has captured hearts worldwide, reminding us of the transformative power of music and resilience. His story and performance continue to inspire countless fans, proving that true talent transcends all barriers. To discover more about Vernon’s incredible journey and hear his moving performances, explore the links below.