Liam Payne’s ‘extraordinary’ X Factor audition that made him a star goes viral again following his shock death at 31

Liam Payne’s ‘extraordinary’ X Factor audition is going viral again in wake of the singer’s shock death.

It was reported that the One Direction alum, 31, had died Wednesday after falling off a three-story balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It’s unknown whether the fall was intentional or accidental.

Fans flocked to YouTube to watch Payne’s first-ever audition on the UK talent competition show in 2008, when he was just 14-years-old.

He performed an jaw-dropping rendition of Frank Sinatra’s hit Fly Me To The Moon for judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and his future ex-girlfriend Cheryl Cole.

Although he made it through to the Judges’ Houses round, Payne was ultimately sent home.

Cowell encouraged Payne to try out again in ‘two years,’ which is when he’d achieve global superstardom as part of the boy band One Direction.

Fans flocked to YouTube to watch Payne’s first-ever audition on the UK talent competition show in 2008, when he was just 14-years-old

‘When I’m at school, in general, I think about singing all the time,’ Payne gushed to the show’s producers.

‘I should really be concentrating on my school work but I just think about singing too much.’

As he stood before Cole, Cowell and Walsh, Payne explained: ‘A lot of people say I’m a good singer and I’ve got The X Factor but I don’t really know what The X Factor is and I believe you guys do.’ 

The judges were left totally impressed by the teenager, who successfully showed off his pitch perfect voice.

However, Cowell said Payne’s performance was ‘missing a bit of grit, a bit of emotion and actually a bit of fun, funnily enough.’

Cole — who started dating Payne in 2015 and welcomed seven-year-old son Bear with him two years later — quickly leapt to his defense.

‘I liked it. I think you’re really cute. I think you’ve got charisma.. you gave us that cheeky little wink,’ the Girls Aloud hitmaker gushed.

Walsh added: ‘I think this kid could do fantastic in the show.’

Despite Walsh and Cole’s high praise, Cowell still felt there was ’20 per cent missing’ for him.

‘When I’m at school, in general, I think about singing all the time,’ Payne gushed to the show’s producers. ‘I should really be concentrating on my school work but I just think about singing too much’

As he stood before Cole, Cowell and Walsh, Payne explained: ‘A lot of people say I’m a good singer and I’ve got The X Factor but I don’t really know what The X Factor is and I believe you guys do’

The judges were left totally impressed by the teenager, who successfully showed off his voice singing Fly Me To The Moon

‘Well give me another audition and I’ll show you I’ve got that 20 per cent,’ Payne fired back.

Taken by the young man’s confidence, Cowell agreed to send him through to the next round, where he was eventually eliminated due to Cowell thinking he was ‘too young’ for the competition.

A 16-year-old Payne returned to the X Factor stage in 2010, where he performed a cover of Julie London’s 1955 hit Cry Me A River. He was sent through.

During the competition, Payne was introduced to fellow solo singers Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan, with whom Cowell and former judge Nicole Scherzinger brought together to form One Direction.

Although One Direction ended up placing third in their X Factor season, they soon became one of the biggest boy bands in the world.

Keen to capitalize on the boys’ already devoted fanbase, Cowell moved quickly with recording for the band’s debut album beginning in January 2011. 

They released five successful studio albums, achieved four no.1 hits in the UK and embarked on four world tours before splitting up in 2016. 

However, Cowell said Payne’s performance was ‘missing a bit of grit, a bit of emotion and actually a bit of fun, funnily enough’

Cole — who started dating Payne in 2015 and welcomed seven-year-old son Bear with him two years later — quickly leapt to his defense 

Although he made it through to the Judges’ Houses round, Payne was ultimately sent home. Cowell encouraged Payne to try out again in ‘two years,’ which is when he’d finally achieve global superstardom as part of the boy band One Direction

Since then they’ve sold over 70million record worldwide.

Payne started a solo career in 2017. He released his first solo album titled LP1 in 2019.

His singles Strip That Down co-written with Ed Sheeran climbed its way to number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that same year.

Over the course of his music career, the popstar collaborated with the likes of J Balvin, French Montana, Dixie D’Amelio and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie.

Payne tragically died in Buenos Aires on Wednesday after falling from a hotel.

He had reportedly arrived in the Latin American country earlier this month to attend his ex bandmate Niall’s concert.

Several witnesses said Mr Payne had fallen from his room at the Casa Sur Palmero Hotel shortly after 5pm (ART) Wednesday evening.

Fans have gathered outside the hotel, where emergency services are present, and a red tent has been erected.

Local police have since launched into the 31-year-old’s sudden death, as tributes flood in in the wake of the tragedy.

Although One Direction ended up placing third in their X Factor season, they soon became one of the biggest boy bands in the world; (L-R) Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik

A police statement from local police said they arrived to the hotel after they were ‘informed of an aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol’.

City ambulance service provider spokesman Alberto Crescenti said Mr Payne had fallen around 40 metres and suffered ‘severe injuries which were incompatible with life.’

He said: ‘The alarm was raised at 5.04pm local time saying a person was lying in an internal patio at Casa Sur.

‘At 5.11pm an ambulance arrived and the man was certified dead.

‘Afterwards we found out he had been a famous singer. Unfortunately the injuries he had suffered as a result of the fall proved to be fatal. There was no possibility of resuscitating him.’

The star’s final Snapchat post showed him happily posing with his partner Kate Cassidy as they looked into a mirror – a picture which was originally taken last August.

Further posts from the final moments of the star’s life showed him enjoying lunch in his hotel room, where he revealed the pair had been ‘waking up at 1pm every day’ and deciding on Forest Gump as a Halloween costume.

After the and split in 2016, Payne started a solo career. He released his first solo album titled LP1 in 2019; seen in 2016

It was reported that the One Direction alum, 31, had died Wednesday after falling off a three-story balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It’s unknown whether the fall was intentional or accidental; seen in 2023

A further tragic selfie was captioned: ‘Lovely day in Argentina’ before the star shared a photo of his hotel, writing: ‘Happy I got some time away’ followed by a heart emoji.

He shared a further photo with Kate captioned: ‘Quality time.’

Payne’s ex-fiancée Maya Henry broke her silence following the singer’s sudden death. A source close to Henry has told DailyMail.com: ‘Right now she is obviously in shock.’

The model only found out when a member of her team was contacted by a reporter.