• Kelly Clarkson won the inaugural season of 'American Idol' in 2014.
    Kelly Clarkson won the inaugural season of 'American Idol' in 2014.
  • 'Britain's Got Talent' contestant Susan Boyle went on to perform at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Reuters
    'Britain's Got Talent' contestant Susan Boyle went on to perform at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Reuters
  • Australian singer Harrison Craig's audition immediately made a fan of soul singer Seal. Getty Images
    Australian singer Harrison Craig's audition immediately made a fan of soul singer Seal. Getty Images
  • Nicole Scherzinger and James Arthur at the UK's Middlesbrough Town Hall as 'The X Factor' winner returned to play a free homecoming gig. Getty Images
    Nicole Scherzinger and James Arthur at the UK's Middlesbrough Town Hall as 'The X Factor' winner returned to play a free homecoming gig. Getty Images
  • 'American Idol' winner Carrie Underwood is one of the most decorated country singers of all time. Reuters
    'American Idol' winner Carrie Underwood is one of the most decorated country singers of all time. Reuters
  • Harry Styles's audition for 'The X Factor' was not a smooth process. Getty Images
    Harry Styles's audition for 'The X Factor' was not a smooth process. Getty Images
  • 'America's Got Talent' judge Simon Cowell with the 2019 winner Kodi Lee. AFP
    'America's Got Talent' judge Simon Cowell with the 2019 winner Kodi Lee. AFP
  • Adam Lambert performed 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen for his audition on 'American Idol'. Reuters
    Adam Lambert performed 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen for his audition on 'American Idol'. Reuters
  • Mennel Ibtissem performed Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' during her audition on 'The Voice France' in 2018. YouTube
    Mennel Ibtissem performed Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' during her audition on 'The Voice France' in 2018. YouTube

Best TV talent show auditions of all time: from Susan Boyle to Kodi Lee


Saeed Saeed
  • English
  • Arabic

The full version of Harry Style’s audition on The X Factor is available for viewing online.

A video showing never-seen-before footage of how One Direction were formed during the course of the 2010 season has been released on YouTube.

Judging by the audition tape, it wasn't smooth sailing for Styles.

Where the broadcast version had him and judges grinning after a successful take of Stevie Wonder’s Isn’t She Lovely, the full version revealed this was a second attempt for the soon to be pop star.

Styles's initial audition entry had him singing on top of an instrumental version of Hey, Soul Sister by Train.

Unconvinced with the approach, judge and music mogul Simon Cowell demanded another track sung acapella.

“I don’t know whether it’s the track that’s throwing you, but can I hear something just you, without any music?" he queried before Styles launched into a more confident version of the Wonder classic.

Such moments maybe in the distant memory of Styles, with a stratospheric career that included a recent landmark performance at the Coachella festival.

However, the footage proves some of the biggest stars began inauspiciously and the nerve-wracking audition process is not for everyone.

That being said, a number of artists went on to seize the moment and left an impression that continues to resonate today.

From Kelly Clarkson and Adam Lambert to Susan Boyle and Kodi Lee, here are nine talent show musical contestants delivering some of the greatest ever television auditions.

1. Kelly Clarkson, 'American Idol' (2002)

"I want to win 'American Idol' because I like to perform," said Clarkson, then only 20, in her initial audition video as part of American Idol's inaugural edition.

After being rejected by a number of US record labels, the talent show was viewed as a last roll of a dice for a potential career in show business.

That grit and desperation to succeed was all over her first performance of Madonna's 1989 hit Express Yourself.

Clarkson's eventual victory was not only a modern pop cultural milestone, but resulted in a glowing career including releasing nine albums, hosting her own TV talk show (The Kelly Clarkson Show) and influencing a new generation of female pop stars including Demi Lovato, Jordin Sparks and Ava Max.

2. Carrie Underwood, 'American Idol' (2005)

The American was a country music star in the making with her cover of Bonnie Raitt's I Can't Make You Love Me for her audition on American Idol.

In typically understated fashion, Cowell declared her startling acapella performance as merely “very good”.

It was the beginning of a journey leading Underwood to winning the competition, world tours and becoming the country singer to have won the most industry awards in history.

Her trophy mantle includes eight Grammy Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, 16 Academy of Country Music Awards and 17 American Music Awards.

3. Susan Boyle, 'Britain's Got Talent' (2009)

Susan Boyle's audition on Britain's Got Talent is the reason TV shows of this format were launched.

Quiet and eccentric, she shuffled onto stage and blew the roof off with an epic cover of musical standard I Dreamed a Dream.

Boyle became an instant star; she, unsurprisingly, went onto win the series.

In the years since, she has released seven albums, sold out theatres across the UK and the US, in addition to performing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony.

4. Adam Lambert, 'American Idol' (2009)

It takes a certain amount of confidence to belt out Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody as part of your American Idol audition, but US singer Adam Lambert cut a cool figure at only 19.

While coming second place, Lambert won the prize of a lifetime after being chosen to tour with some of the surviving members of Queen (under the name Queen + Adam Lambert) and releasing two live albums under the project.

5. James Arthur, 'The X Factor' (2012)

Looking like he strolled into the studio after a spot of street busking, the husky voiced Brit, who spent part of his childhood in Bahrain, made an immediate impact with a rendition of Young by English singer Tulisa.

With Take That singer and judge Gary Barlow praising the performance, Arthur went from strength to strength and eventually won the competition.

Arthur went onto release four albums including last year's pandemic-inspired It's All Make Sense in the End.

6. Harrison Craig, 'The Voice Australia' (2013)

When you know, you know.

It only took soul music star Seal about 20 seconds to press the buzzer in his successful bid to mentor The Voice Australia winner Harrison Craig.

What made the audition more impressive was star mentors Ricky Martin and Joel Madden also offered their services to the Aussie singer, before Harrison eventually settled on Seal.

It was a wise choice with Seal guiding Craig to glory and realising the dream of being a full-time recording and performing artist.

7. J-Sol, 'The X Factor' (2018)

You don't have to win or make the final rounds of a big talent show to make a global impression.

This is what happened when British-Nigerian singer J-Sol auditioned with original song, Bullet in My Heart, which left judges Ayda Field and Louis Tomlinson in tears.

While leaving in the earlier stages of the competition, J-Sol remains an active performer in the UK.

8. Mennel Ibtissem, 'The Voice France' (2018)

French-Arab singer Mennel Ibtissem caused headlines both in France and the region after her spellbinding blind audition of Leonard's Cohen spiritual ode Hallelujah, which included English and Arabic lyrics.

An early favourite to win the competition, Ibtissem controversially withdrew from the show after an uproar surrounding old social media posts in which she declared her support for Palestine and where she criticised the French government.

9. Kodi Lee, 'America's Got Talent' (2019)

One of the all-time great America's Got Talent auditions.

Blind, autistic and a prodigious musical savant, the Korean-American sat behind a piano and delivered a riveting and devastatingly beautiful take of Leon Russell's A Song for You.

Lee's audition amassed over 50 million views within weeks, proving the ageing show still has a lot of life yet.

Lee stormed through to win the series and is presently headlining the America's Got Talent Live residency show at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas.

14 of the most incredible actor transformations in film — in pictures

  • Nicole Kidman donned a prosthetic nose that drastically changed her appearance when she took on the role of writer Virginia Woolf in 'The Hours.' Photo: Paramount Pictures
    Nicole Kidman donned a prosthetic nose that drastically changed her appearance when she took on the role of writer Virginia Woolf in 'The Hours.' Photo: Paramount Pictures
  • Charlize Theron in a scene with co-star Christina Ricci in 'Monster.' Theron's face was airbrushed with layers of translucent washes of tattoo ink to change the texture of her skin to appear like real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Photo: Newmarket Films
    Charlize Theron in a scene with co-star Christina Ricci in 'Monster.' Theron's face was airbrushed with layers of translucent washes of tattoo ink to change the texture of her skin to appear like real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Photo: Newmarket Films
  • Tilda Swinton's transformation into Dr Jozef Klemperer for 'Suspiria' included prosthetics, makeup and a full bodysuit. Photo: Amazon Studios
    Tilda Swinton's transformation into Dr Jozef Klemperer for 'Suspiria' included prosthetics, makeup and a full bodysuit. Photo: Amazon Studios
  • For his role in 'House of Gucci', Jared Leto wore a three-piece bald cap to cover his hair, facial prosthetics and a bodysuit. Photo: Universal Pictures
    For his role in 'House of Gucci', Jared Leto wore a three-piece bald cap to cover his hair, facial prosthetics and a bodysuit. Photo: Universal Pictures
  • Tom Hardy was transformed into legendary mobster Al Capone in 'Fonzo' through facial prosthetics and a bald cap and wig for a receding hairline. Photo: Vertical Entertainment
    Tom Hardy was transformed into legendary mobster Al Capone in 'Fonzo' through facial prosthetics and a bald cap and wig for a receding hairline. Photo: Vertical Entertainment
  • It took a team of makeup artists 11.5 hours the first time they transformed Emmy Rossum into Angelyne in the TV series based on her life, using wigs, bodysuits, lenses, and a breastplate. Photo: NBC Universal
    It took a team of makeup artists 11.5 hours the first time they transformed Emmy Rossum into Angelyne in the TV series based on her life, using wigs, bodysuits, lenses, and a breastplate. Photo: NBC Universal
  • Christian Bale gained more than 18kg and spent between four to eight hours a day in makeup for his role as Dick Cheney in 'Vice.' Photo: Annapurna Pictures
    Christian Bale gained more than 18kg and spent between four to eight hours a day in makeup for his role as Dick Cheney in 'Vice.' Photo: Annapurna Pictures
  • Jessica Chastain committed to sitting for one to two hours a day to be fitted with cheek appliances and prosthetics, to resemble televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker in 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye'. Photo: Searchlight Pictures
    Jessica Chastain committed to sitting for one to two hours a day to be fitted with cheek appliances and prosthetics, to resemble televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker in 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye'. Photo: Searchlight Pictures
  • Colin Farrell spent three to four hours to become the Penguin in 'The Batman'. Photo: Warner Bros
    Colin Farrell spent three to four hours to become the Penguin in 'The Batman'. Photo: Warner Bros
  • Along with dyeing and cutting her hair, Rooney Mara got real piercings on her face for her role in 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.' Photo: Columbia TriStar
    Along with dyeing and cutting her hair, Rooney Mara got real piercings on her face for her role in 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.' Photo: Columbia TriStar
  • Matthew McConaughey gained more than 18kg and was fitted with a balding toupee for his role in 'Gold'. Photo: Dimension Films
    Matthew McConaughey gained more than 18kg and was fitted with a balding toupee for his role in 'Gold'. Photo: Dimension Films
  • With shaved brows, a red wig and a prosthetic nose, Margot Robbie is unrecognisable as Queen Elizabeth I in 'Mary Queen of Scots'. Photo: Focus Features
    With shaved brows, a red wig and a prosthetic nose, Margot Robbie is unrecognisable as Queen Elizabeth I in 'Mary Queen of Scots'. Photo: Focus Features
  • Sean Penn with co-star Julia Roberts in a scene from 'Gaslit.' Penn wore a full prosthetic face that included cheek and noses pieces to play former US Attorney General John Mitchell. Photo: Hilary Bronwyn Gayle
    Sean Penn with co-star Julia Roberts in a scene from 'Gaslit.' Penn wore a full prosthetic face that included cheek and noses pieces to play former US Attorney General John Mitchell. Photo: Hilary Bronwyn Gayle
Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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'Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World’s Sole Superpower'
Michael Beckley, Cornell Press

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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EA Sports FC 26

Publisher: EA Sports

Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

Rating: 3/5

Updated: August 02, 2022, 12:19 PM