This Young Man Got To Perform With James Blunt Himself On Stage After Poignant American Idol Performance
When Iam Tongi stepped onto the American Idol stage, choosing a James Blunt song for his audition, little did he know that he’d soon be performing a duet with the iconic singer himself, singing that exact song just a few months later.
As his father recently passed away, the sorrow was palpable for Iam as he delivered a soul-stirring rendition of James Blunt’s “Monsters,” a song that poignantly captures the anguish of a son losing his dad.
There are thousands of contestants applying for television shows like The X Factor or American Idol, but only a select few make it to the televised rounds. It takes a truly remarkable performance to deeply move the judges. But Iam managed to do it spectacularly in the latest season of American Idol.
The young man’s audition captured hearts, quickly going viral with 10 million views in a month, making it the season’s most-watched. Prepare yourself for a deeply moving experience by watching his performance, but remember to have tissues at hand, as you will likely bawl your eyes out later.
Iam knows the sting of rejection all too well, having been turned away from previous auditions, one of which he attended with his father. Reflecting on that experience, Iam shared what his father said to him: “He was like ‘Son. I need to talk to you. You need to work on your music,’” a piece of advice that Iam took to heart.
Regrettably, the journey to Iam Tongi’s current success is shadowed by his dad’s passing. His father, Rodney, who was his biggest supporter and source of inspiration, passed away a few months before Iam’s second audition attempt.
The impact of his father’s death left Iam visibly heartbroken, a sentiment he shared with the judges Lionel Ritchie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan, leading to a moment of emotional vulnerability on stage. Lionel Ritchie, as the gentleman he is, offered words of comfort for the weeping young man. “When you love so deeply, you feel so deeply,” said the “Hello” singer.
By choosing James Blunt’s “Monsters” for his audition, Iam used it as a song about a son bidding farewell to his dying father, added an extra layer of emotional intensity to his performance. The judges were visibly affected by the performance. Luke Bryan, in particular, also shared his empathy, relating to the pain with his own personal story of taking in his nephew after his father’s death.
Iam’s audition concluded with a thunderous standing ovation from the judges and unanimous approval to advance. Katy Perry dedicated her yes vote to Iam’s late father, Rodney, creating a memorable and touching moment. Iam’s journey through the competition is eagerly anticipated by all who were moved by his audition.
Months later, Iam got the chance to perform the very same song, “Monster”, this time with the legend James Blunt himself. The live duet was an emotional rollercoaster, leaving both performers and the audience in tears. You can follow Iam on Spotify or Instagram to keep up with his musical endeavors.