Jennifer Phillips’ audition on X Factor 2015 is living proof that you’re never too old to try something new and chase a brand-new dream! This hopeful from Camden Town came out of retirement to sing in front of the X Factor judges, and burst onto the stage with an insane amount of energy as she covered Mary Mary’s R&B hit “Shackles (Praise You)”. Needless to say, the crowd was stunned when this song matched her personality and voice brilliantly, making for an unforgettable audition!
Things weren’t looking too strong for Jennifer Phillips at first. However, Simon Cowell advised her to change her original song choice from Beyonce’s “Halo” to “Shackles (Praise You)”. This decision turned out to be for the best, as Phillips seemed more comfortable and expressive performing Mary Mary’s classic hit. The song was incredibly well received by the crowd, who cheered her on at every opportunity. Watch her electric performance in the video below:
From start to finish, Jennifer Phillips’ performance was that of a natural-born entertainer. Her movement on stage, her powerful vocal control, and her interaction with the audience were a complete shock for the judges, who did not expect such wondrous energy and an electric delivery from Phillips! She finished her rendition with a huge smile on her face as she was greeted by a standing ovation, and Judge Rita Ora was unable to sit down out of respect and admiration for such an amazing performance.
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Mary Mary’s “Shackles (Praise You)” is considered a quintessential R&B hit with one of the genre’s most memorable and recognizable choruses. It is also one of the best-selling gospel songs of all time, being noted as a pioneer of the urban gospel genre. After its release, it quickly became a global hit and catapulted the duo to stardom. Another individual who helped make urban gospel more popular was Brian Courtney Wilson, who blended the smooth sound of gospel with the bounce of R&B.
Jennifer Phillips’ X Factor journey didn’t last much longer than the initial audition. Much to many people’s shock, she was eliminated during the Judges’ Houses stage of the competition, where she sang One Direction’s “Drag Me Down”.