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Tom Ball Hit the Longest Note Ever Singing Sam Smith's 'Writing's on the Wall'
"There's something very likable about you," Judge Simon Cowell told the singer. Watch AGT: All-Stars on Peacock.
America’s Got Talent: All-Stars finalist Tom Ball got his big break on Season 15 of Britain’s Got Talent singing a show-stopping rendition of “Writing’s on the Wall” by Sam Smith. While this song may be a challenge, Ball managed to nail it perfectly.
For Ball’s initial Audition last year, then 23-year-old schoolteacher introduced himself and revealed that his students were not aware of his singing talents. Judge Simon Cowell made a joke of how things would go back home if the performance went badly. But Ball knew that with his talent, he wouldn’t have to worry about that.
His song first started with intense, suspenseful music. Ball took a few deep breaths before starting.
“I've been here before, but always hit the floor,” he crooned in a perfectly balanced tone, sounding heavenly on the first note.
“I've spent a lifetime running, and I always get away, but with you, I'm feeling something that makes me want to stay,” he continued in his higher register with some seriously impressive vibrato.
When it was time for the chorus, the crowd cheered on Ball. “If I risk it all, could you break my fall?” he belted powerfully. Then, he juxtaposed the sound by expertly flipping into some soft falsetto.
“When you're not here, I'm suffocating. I want to feel love run through my blood; tell me, is this where I give it all up? For you, I have to risk it all,” he sang before hitting a super-sustained note.
“'Cause the writing's on the wall,” he continued with an intricate riff.
“That haunt me from my past, as the stars begin to gather, and the light begins to fade, when all hope begins to shatter; know that I won't be afraid,” he sang with raw emotion during the second verse.
“If I risk it all, could you break my fall? How do I live? How do I breathe? When you're not here, I'm suffocating, I want to feel love run through my blood; tell me, is this where I give it all up? For you, I have to risk it all. 'Cause the writing's on the wall,” he repeated while pulling off the ultra-long note for a second time.
“'Cause the writing's on the wall…” he sang for the epic conclusion, getting a standing ovation from the Judges.
