Jamaican singer Dalton Harris brought the entire room to a halt with his raw talent and profoundly moving backstory. The video, titled “Dalton Harris: Emotional Singer from Jamaica With A SHOCKING Voice! | The X Factor UK 2018,” captures the defining moment of his career, instantly becoming a viral success with over 10 million views.

Before singing, Dalton revealed the incredibly humble reality of his life in Jamaica. He grew up in a single-parent household and was “dirt poor,” explaining that his family lived in one room that they sectioned into different parts [00:55, 01:01]. He also shared that they never had electricity or running water [01:06]. Despite the hardships, he stated it was not a sad story, but a testament to how he is now “triumphant” [01:13].

Dalton chose to sing the emotional Elton John classic, “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word.” [01:33] He explained that the song resonated with him because he believes if a lot of people he has come across had said “sorry,” they would have been “left with a lot less pain” [01:40, 01:44]. He was visibly nervous before starting, calling the audition the “most important moment of my life” [00:37, 01:25].

His rendition was sung with immense sincerity and quiet power. However, it was the raw emotion that truly defined the moment. He was incredibly emotional throughout the performance, nearly losing control of his voice toward the end [04:23]. When asked why he was so emotional, he revealed that he has “been alone since I was like 15” [04:38].

The judges were deeply moved by his vulnerability and his honest connection to the lyrics. They praised his sincerity, with one judge noting that he sang something “sincere which was surprising,” giving a “whole new take on that song” [05:33]. Another judge told him, “I’m so glad that your journey has brought you here because you are truly magnificent,” and added, “I’m just rooting for you more than anyone I’ve seen so far” [05:49, 06:00].

Ultimately, Dalton Harris’s powerful voice and profoundly moving story secured him four resounding yeses, cementing his place in the competition. His audition stands as one of the most compelling examples of an artist bravely sharing their pain through music, transforming a classic song into a deeply personal anthem of resilience. You can watch his full, emotional audition here: