Success is not final, failure is not fatal, Winston Churchill once remarked, but it “is the courage to continue that counts.”
Madison Curbelo might not be familiar with those words of inspiration the British wartime prime minister once shared with his compatriots, but she certainly gets the drift.
On Monday night (March 4), Curbelo stepped into the blind auditions for season 25 of The Voice with a guitar, a skinful of courage and a story of failure.
Hailing from Puerto Rico, now residing in Westfield, Massachusetts, the 21-year-old stood out with her rendition of Ben E. King’s classic “Stand By Me.” Curbelo incorporated Spanish lyrics into her delivery, for a version reminiscent of Prince Royce’s 2011 cover, but very much her own take.
John Legend turned first (and fast). Then Dan + Shay, followed by Chance the Rapper and finally, Reba McEntire. A four-chair turn, and a standing ovation from Legend, Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney.
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A clearly ecstatic Curbelo has been here before, but not like this.
The youngster was a contestant on season 20. On that occasion, the 18-year-old sang “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” None of the coaches at the time — Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Blake Shelton, and Nick Jonas — would turn their big, red chair.
Failure is not fatal.
“Confidence is the biggest thing that has changed. And I’ve been writing so much music,” she explained after her latest performance made all four coaches turn. “So I kind of like discovered the sound that I love. And just finding Madison, I think was a big thing.”
Legend admitted he wasn’t a believer back then, but things have changed. “I feel like you’re just ready now. And I love that you say that you found your sound. And you found the way you want to express yourself,” he remarked. He could feel her smile with his back turned, and “every run you did was so tasteful.”
Legend pitched Finding Madison as an album title, getting his sales pitch in discretely.
Dan + Shay set out to recruit the singer. “You radiate light and joy,” explained Mooney. “It’s true, you know when you get told no sometimes in your life I think that pivots you and puts you on a different trajectory. And allows you the opportunity to grow in your moments. Your voice was just flawless.”
Chance weighed in, “you’re an awesome talent. So exciting and fun. You have a really cool energy. It makes me smile just hearing you sing.” He added, “whoever you go with, just think about ways that we can help you in terms of arrangements.”
Curbelo had a decision to make, a choice of four teams. She chose Dan + Shay who, for a moment, gave off the kind of energy that typically beams from a winner.
Watch the audition on NBC‘s The Voice below.
