Lebanese girl wins MBC’s The Voice Kids

BEIRUT: A 12-year-old girl from Lebanon with no musical training was declared the winner of the first season of MBC’s Arab talent competition, The Voice Kids Ahla Sawt.

Lynn Al Hayek was one of six youngsters who made it to the final round of the show and sang live from Beirut on Saturday night in front of a television audience of millions.
The finale was the culmination of 10 weeks of tears and laughter as dozens of children between the ages of 7 and 15 competed for the top prize.
The March 5 finale began with a special Arabic rendition of “We Are the World,” where children from S.O.S. took part in the heart-warming performance along with the top 6 contestants.
Al Hayek will receive a scholarship worth SR250,000 and the opportunity to record a single that will be produced by Platinum Records. The rest of the finalists received SR10,000 each, and every child who auditioned for the show — even those who were not chosen — went home with SR5,000 riyals, The National reported.
Al Hayek, whose mature ­vocals and enviable range defy her years, lives near the northern city of Tripoli and dreams of ­studying chemistry. She said that when she is not riding her bike and climbing trees, she is ­singing.
“I haven’t studied music, but the sound of the sea and the streets are music to me,” she says. “I like to go to my favorite spots near our home and just sing.
“I just can’t believe it at all, that I’m part of this. I used to dream I’d one day be on The Voice when I grew up, so I just had to audition when I heard about The Voice Kids. I never dreamed I would come this far.”
Al Hayek was coached by Iraqi superstar Kazem “The Caesar” Al Saher, who was also mentor to 11-year-old Mirna Hanna from Iraq.
“I learnt so much from Mr.Kazem,” Al Hayek said before her performance in the final. “I was so shy — he taught me how to be confident and show what I’ve got. I’m a new person now when I sing.”
Al Hayek performed two technically difficult songs in the final: Saudi Arabian performer Mohammed Abdo’s Aba’ad Kuntum and the late Tunisian singer Thikra’s Kol Eli Lamouny.