X Factor auditionee Raign unrecognisable 8 years after clash with Cheryl, singing Vampire Diaries theme and no.1 single
THE X Factor competitor Raign Rabin shock the judging panel with her eye-rolling attitude when she auditioned for the show. Getting off on the wrong foot with the panel during her performance, her audition is likely to have been stuck in the mind of fans of the ITV show. Raign, 38, took to the stage […]
THE X Factor competitor Raign Rabin shock the judging panel with her eye-rolling attitude when she auditioned for the show.
Getting off on the wrong foot with the panel during her performance, her audition is likely to have been stuck in the mind of fans of the ITV show.
Raign, 38, took to the stage to perform in front of the judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Mel B and Cheryl back in 2014.
Having written hits for pop stars Rita Ora, Jesse McCartney, and Tulisa – she was keen to start her own career in the pop industry.
She headed to the audition room to sing Clarity by Zedd, but found her voice trembling as she struggled with nerves and the high notes.
The judges could be seen rolling their eyes and looking unimpressed, as Simon, 62, told her: “Can I be honest with you? You didn’t sing the song well.”
“It’s an audition I’ve heard a thousand times before,” the SyCo mogul continued.
Raign hit back with a fierce attitude: “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone sound like me before, Simon.”
As Mel B stepped in to defend her fellow judge, Raign began to list all the ways she had prepared for the audition and told the Spice Girl to not judge her.
She was seen telling Simon she was “sorry” as he swiftly delivered his no vote, as Cheryl chimed in to ask why she was apologising.
“I’m sorry I didn’t impress him, I really wanted to impress Simon, he was the most important person for me to impress,” replied the singer.
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Cheryl, 38, went on to give a blunt “no” as things turned awkward, with Raign demanding that the Fight For This Love singer change her mind.
“It’s not fair,” Raign hit out, begging Cheryl to reconsider – but the judge was adamant and slammed her as “not likeable”.
Raign was branded a “nightmare” by Simon as she stormed out of the studio, before heading back in for a second chance singing her own song.
After performing Don’t Let Me Go, the panel buckled and gave her enough yes votes to let her through to the next round – boot camp.
While Raign was voted out at the boot camp stage having clashed with the judges, it didn’t stop her career from taking off.
Unlike other difficult auditionees that have faded into obscurity, Raign found international success away from the show as her song was featured on TV.
It was played during tense scenes in The Vampire Diaries, and a second song, a cover of Wicked Games by Chris Isaak, was placed in series Legacies.
The song was used in shows including Dancing On Ice and America’s Got Talent.
In 2015, her cover of Knocking On Heaven’s Door in film The 100 was voted as the Best Use of Music by Entertainment Weekly’s TV Season Finale Awards.
Raign, whose mother was also a pop star, has since a released many more songs, landing a number one in Russia with dance tune Fix Me.
Her debut album SIGN came out in 2018 – before she welcomed a little boy and turned her attentions to creating a new clothing brand.
The star has also swapped out her signature long brunete locks for a shorted blonde style, which she revealed to fans on her Instagram.
