'Super proud of you' - McFly founder Tom Fletcher praises risk-taking Derbyshire teen in The Voice UK final
‘I know that I’m young but thank you for believing in me’ - teenager tells mentors in competition climax
Derbyshire music student Frank Raven - who powered through to the final of The Voice UK - said that he has learned so much and gained confidence by taking part in the popular TV series.
In the climax of the competition, Frank, who was 17 at the time of filming and the youngest contender, said: “I wasn't even sure I was going to audition and I finally did it and I've ended up here.” He told his mentors Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones from McFly: " I know that I'm young but thank you for believing in me.”
The New Mills teenager brought his own inimitable style to the final by covering Britney Spears’ Hit Me Baby One More Time in “a slow, darker version” which he accompanied on piano. Frank said: "I know it's a bit out there but I tend to put my own ideas into everything that I do. I've got to make it feel me."
The star-studded panel of mentors praised his performance. Sir Tom Jones said: “When somebody takes a well-known song like that and changes it, that takes some guts...and you pulled it off.” will.i.am, who has worked with Britney Spears said: “I think Britney would have liked that. To adopt someone else’s lyrics and own them, I love that. “ Kelly Holmes said: “This is one of my favourite songs to karaoke sing in the car and I’ve never heard it like that before. It’s so cool, you made me add shades to my karaoke song, so thank you for that.”
Tom Fletcher said to Frank: “It’s not just singing the song, it’s about the look and the staging and the arrangement of the song, like you think every single detail of your performance. Yeah, it’s a risk but you have to take those risks to pull off a performance lke that. Super proud of you Frank.”
Former New Mills School pupil Frank also rose to the challenge of singing a reimagined version of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons’ Can’t Take My Eyes Off You with his mentors. Tom said: "I'm so grateful that you trusted us and I loved singing that with you, it was amazing.”
Frank’s mum and dad Misha and Mark and sister Skye were in the audience to watch his performance. Mark said: “We think he’s knocked it out the park, he’s been really brave. We’re immensely proud of him. Misha said: “He’s always been the the same since he was tiny - he’s very strong and very unique and individual.”
The winner was chosen by the audience who selected Sir Tom’s contestant Cate McHugh for the £50,000 prize, a recording contract with Universal Music Group and a holiday in Orlando. Florida. Cate won the audience vote with her solo rendition of The Beatles’ Blackbird and her duet of Country Roads which she sang with Sir Tom.