In 2014, Bars and Melody (often known as BAM) wowed viewers with their own version of Twista and Faith Evans’ ‘Hope’. The pair’s rendition of the song replaced lyrics originally written with ones protesting against bullying, something which young Leondre of the duo had endured. The two were sent straight through to the semi-finals after Simon Cowell pressed the golden buzzer. At the final, they ultimately came third after Lucy Kay and Collabro.
Following their first audition, David Walliams told an emotional Bars and Melody: “It seems like we hardly need to critique you but lets' have some comments”. What followed was Amanda Holden calling them ‘beautiful’ and Alesha Dixon saying that the now-famous song was moving. Simon Cowell said: “I’ve heard some monstrous songs today and I was losing my mind. With your song, I listened to every word.” He told the pair that he thought the record could be a hit… and it certainly was!
Bars and Melody consists of rapper Leondre Devries and singer Charlie Lenehan. The pair met on social media after Leondre had seen Charlie's singing videos. Leondre, who was born in 2000, is from Port Talbot and attended the Glan Afan Comprehensive School when he filmed BGT. Charlie, who lives in London now, was born in Gloucestershire and returned to school the day after the 2014 BGT finale. But where are the duo now? Do they still talk?
