Jade De Rijcke, a 14-year-old vocal prodigy, left the judges of ‘The Voice Kids Belgium’ astounded with her remarkable performance and went on to claim the 2018 tournament’s overall championship title.
Both De Rijcke and her coach, Gers Pardoel, achieved impressive victories in the competition. Pardoel, in his debut season as a coach in 2018, entrusted De Rijcke and his other vocalists to surpass more experienced trainers, securing their path to stardom.
What many viewers might not realize is that 2018 was not De Rijcke’s first appearance on ‘The Voice Kids.’ In 2017, she auditioned but did not progress beyond the blind auditions. De Rijcke later attributed her failure to nerves and expressed disappointment that her audition never made it to television.
However, De Rijcke turned her initial setback into motivation, dedicating herself to training and returning to the competition, ultimately achieving remarkable success. Sometimes, a setback can be the catalyst for hard work and determination, leading to success in one’s chosen field.
The ‘Road to’ videos provide a retrospective of a contestant’s journey on the show, encompassing all their performances in one compilation. For her blind audition, De Rijcke chose to sing ‘Homesick’ by Dua Lipa.
‘Homesick’ is a soulful, piano-driven ballad portraying a woman separated from her beloved and yearning to reunite with him despite the hurdles and loneliness. Just as De Rijcke steadily progressed towards her goal of winning the competition, the woman in the song perseveres in her quest to find her lover.
In the semi-final, De Rijcke took on ‘Sober’ by American pop singer Demi Lovato, a poignant song detailing Lovato’s struggles with alcohol, regrets, and the fear of being unable to quit drinking. De Rijcke, despite her youth, fearlessly tackled this challenging song with her usual composure.
De Rijcke’s final performance on the show featured ‘Grand Piano’ by American artist Nicki Minaj. This song delves into a woman questioning her lover’s sincerity and faithfulness in the relationship while also reflecting on her own decisions. It’s clear that complex relationships are among De Rijcke’s favored themes.
Despite the emotional depth and sadness in her song choices, Jade De Rijcke triumphed over her obstacles, clinching a competition that once appeared unattainable. Her inspirational journey showcases what it takes to become a champion in the making. Watch the video below for the full experience.