With a rocking rendition of the Led Zeppelin classic “Whole Lotta Love”—a song that the X Factor Global audience will never forget—dreamy dad Joseph Whelan wowed them.
Even before he spoke a word, the 26-year-old tool salesman’s tattoos made him a popular with the female audience members, who made it difficult for the judges to hear them over the raucous catcalls.
Whelan may have looked good, but he was certainly more than meets the eye; the kid could rock like no one’s business. Whelan brought the perfect blend of gritty intensity and a hint of croon to Robert Plant’s screams, which are notoriously difficult to sing credit to. The roof came off the joint as his scream entered the chorus, and the judges couldn’t help but exchange enthusiastic looks. His X Factor Global audition has been viewed 50 million times, making it one of the most popular videos on the platform.
Whelan, a native of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands, accompanied his son Kian, who is four years old, to the audition and said that the young footballer is his world. I want to be a musician, of course, but I also want to do what’s right by my son, and I feel like a lot is riding on this, he added. I pray he is pleased with his father.
Judges heard him say, “I’ve been playing in bands about ten years now and wanted to try something on my own,” before he sang. Speaking about young Kian and his desire to “do the best I can for him and give him the best life I can,” he elicited a lot of “awws” from the crowd. In an acoustic rendition of “Always” by Bon Jovi, during his X Factor UK audition, Whelan showcased a new side of his personality and guitar skills. Look at it down below.
Whelan finished his faultless rendition of “Whole Lotta Love” and Judge Tulisa silently said a “wow.” She said, “Joseph, oh my God, what a voice, what a tone you have.” once the applause subsided. At that point, she rubbed judge Gary Barlow the wrong way with the words “Gary’s gonna start getting jealous because you’re gonna be stealing all the female attention.”
“That was an absolutely outstanding audition,” Louis Walsh added afterwards. You’re incredibly gifted; your rock voice is genuine. “That was absolutely awesome,” Barlow remarked after comparing Whelan’s cordial introduction to his untamed rock roar. I thought that was fantastic; what a wonderful voice. After receiving such glowing reviews from the judges, Whelan returned home with a solid four yes votes.