THERE was disappointment in Laois on Saturday night when the news filtered through from Manchester that Portlaoise rapper Wally had failed to get to the next round of Britain’s Got Talent.
There had been high hopes among his fans when it was announced that he had entered and had qualified for the first live round of the competition.
Speaking to the Laois Nationalist, Wally said: “I’ve never had so much fear, nerves or excitement in my life. The back stage tension was unreal. Ant and Dec (show presenters) were deadly and so were all the staff.”
Wally had performed one of his best known songs Rather be a rapper in front of a live audience of 3,000. The show will be broadcast to an expected audience of 15 million in March.
“I didn’t know what to expect. I thought it was totally different to what you see on TV. The television doesn’t really get the fear and anxiety all the competitors feel while waiting to go on.”
Unperturbed about going out at the early stages, Wally vowed: “I’m doing it again next year.”
Explaining how he performed, Wally said: “I had finished the first verse was and going into the second. The whole place responded to my chorus and it was looking good. Then Simon buzzed. I kept going. Then Amanda (Holden) buzzed, next bar in. Then David (Walliams) just after. Alesha (Dixon) kept hers off while dancing in her chair. Then just as the song ended buzzed. That was it.”
Wally, real name Kieran O’Loughlin from St Brigid’s Square, Portlaoise, reckons he fell down because he sang the wrong song on the night.
Adding: “I’ve come back home with pride in overcoming and facing the fear many artists don’t want. The fear of failure. We all have to fail in some things in life in order to improve.”
He went on to thank his family and friends for their support before and after the event and for all the well wishers and fans who sent him good luck wishes over the past few days.
“What to some might seem to be a negative outcome, I view it as a positive learning experience,” said Wally.