The Voice song that drove Guy Sebastian to tears
It’s usually the artists who become emotional during rehearsals, but this time, the tears came from coach Guy Sebastian, who struggled to fight back the waterworks as he admitted he has been going through “a whole lot of personal stuff at the moment”.
Guy was working with his artist Johnny Manuel and was surprised when the hopeful artist revealed he wanted to sing his smash hit track, Before I Go. Johnny mentioned how “deeply” the song resonated with him.
"I thought [it] might be kinda fun," Johnny admitted. "But it could also be disastrous."
As he watched the singer deliver the powerful lyrics, Guy began to tear up.
As Johnny finished, Guy's first reaction was to joke with his band, who were backing Johnny up. "That's what it's supposed to sound like," he laughed.
Quietly, he confided in Johnny, "From my personal point of view, I'm going through a whole lot of personal stuff at the moment which is like, related to when I wrote this song.
"And it's like, properly helping me, you singing that. It's a moment for me."
"That's great man. I'm just glad you like it," Johnny said, while Guy sucked in a deep breath, fighting tears.
"I do," he managed.
"I hope they're not getting me right now," he said, of the nearby camera crew. "’Cause I am in struggle town."
Guy managed to get back into the swing of things as Johnny took to the stage to perform the hit for the remaining coaches.
How does Johnny continue to blow our minds week in week out? 🤯 #TheVoiceAU pic.twitter.com/ctV6INHUEU
— The Voice Australia (@TheVoiceAU) July 12, 2020
His face was again full of emotion as Johnny delivered a fiery version of the track, looking on as Johnny sang,
'You thought you had me
You thought that I was done but,
I'm stronger up against the ropes.
I am, a fighter
Before this fight is over
You'll know my name before I go.'
"That was a song that I wrote in a particularly tough and vulnerable time," Guy confessed. "After you sang it, I actually went home and on my drive home just burst into tears.
"To hear you sing it is like… wow," Guy finished, once again fighting tears. "It's just a gift."
The rendition was flawless, with Kelly Rowland admitting he could win the entire competition.
"You make me nervous," she said. "I gotta watch out for you."
"He's one of the best singers that has ever graced the stage," agreed Delta Goodrem.
"I've never been in a position where I'm hearing my own song being sung and it's like there's this whole new life in it," Guy explained later, joking he would never again be able to perform the track after Johnny nailed it so well.
Johnny had his own motivations for selecting the tune. The hardworking artist has had a long history with false starts and is hoping his time on The Voice is finally the big break he is so desperate to get.
"It feels like my exact journey," Johnny said. "I have been fighting for a very long time to make this dream happen."