Watch: X Factor contestant gives an extraordinary ‘duo’ performance of ‘The Prayer’

17 September 2018, 14:38 | Updated: 18 September 2018, 11:35

By Maddy Shaw Roberts

Sephy Francisco stunned X Factor judges on Saturday with an unexpected duet version of ‘The Prayer’.

Sephy, a 27-year-old singer from the Philippines, used her X Factor audition to show off her extraordinary range.

The X Factor contestant, whose audition was broadcast this Saturday (15 September), sang both the male and female parts of ‘The Prayer’, a classical crossover duet.

‘The Prayer’ was made famous by Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion, who released it as a duet in 1999. It later won a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

It’s fair to say that Sephy struggles with a bit of pitchiness in her upper range here, but she still gives one heck of a performance.

Sephy got four ‘Yes’s and was sent through to the next round. After her audition, Simon Cowell said: “Well, that’s the first time I’ve judged a duo as one person”.

People have since been expressing their amazement at her range…

Sephy has both a man’s and a woman’s singing voice? That’s so cool!! And she sounds good with both voices! #XFactor
— Abby Millard (@AMill1994) September 15, 2018

When Sephy dropped the male voice though!....👀 #speechless #XFactor
— MissM (@Milly1978) September 15, 2018

omg what!!! that was unexpected!! #xfactor
— beth (@wildestwonder) September 15, 2018

I loved Sephy so much. Omg. She can literally duet with herself. 😍#XFactor
— Lindsey. ❤ (@LindseyGOffical) September 15, 2018

It isn’t the first time ‘The Prayer’ has been used on The X Factor.

Jonathan and Charlotte, who entered the competition in 2012, sang the duet in their first audition, before finishing the series as runners-up to dancing dog act Ashleigh and Pudsey.

Watch their audition here: