Rachel, who currently worked as a bartender in Nashville, stated that the competitive music industry often seems to overlook older talent in favor of younger acts . She explicitly viewed The X Factor as an opportunity to “prove that my age isn’t an issue”. One of the judges, Kelly Rowland, offered an encouraging counterpoint, telling Rachel, “honey, what’s the point of trying to be a spring chicken when you can be a fine wine?” .
For her audition, Rachel chose to perform a country-rock version of Queen’s powerful classic, “Somebody to Love” ]. Her rendition was incredibly dynamic, beginning with an emotional, restrained vocal and quickly building into a performance full of power, grit, and incredible range . She skillfully adapted the rock anthem to fit her country-tinged vocal style, completely captivating the audience and judges.
Following the audition, the judges were unanimous in their praise. Kelly Rowland was the first to speak, declaring, “Oh my god, Rachel, amazing, powerful, future”. Paulina Rubio added to the enthusiasm, telling Rachel that her voice was the best she had heard and that the industry was “ready for you” .
Simon Cowell then weighed in, pointing out that it felt like Rachel had been “wanting to give this performance for a long, long time to prove the point”. He confirmed that she had successfully “proved a point” with her outstanding performance.
Rachel Potter received four resounding “yes” votes from the entire judging panel. She was visibly overwhelmed and emotional by the positive response, stating that the moment and the four votes officially “validate my life dream” . She concluded that the judges “just made me feel like it was all worth it,” securing her spot in the competition .
The YouTube video for Rachel Potter – Proves Her Point with “Somebody to Love” by Queen – THE X FACTOR USA 2013 can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq0h_0PwnGE
