Mennel Ibtissem turns 4 chairs on beautiful “Hallelujah” blind audition on The Voice

A blind audition on The Voice France brought Mennel Ibtissem all four chair turns for her interpretation of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” The first judge turned before the 22-year-old completed her opening line, and the other three followed before the performance ended. She recast the song with a delicate gospel and R&B approach that showcased her flawless singing.

Mennel, a French-Syrian Muslim artist with Syrian-Turkish and Moroccan-Algerian family roots, divided the performance between English and Arabic. For the Arabic section, she incorporated material from Kuwaiti musician Muhammad Al Husayn’s “Ya Ilahi (Oh My Lord),” which had previously been adapted to the rhythm of Cohen’s composition.

The accompaniment began with piano alone, then expanded with the addition of an eight-string acoustic folk instrument. Its lead part threaded through the vocal line, giving the arrangement another influence beyond the bilingual text and Mennel’s gospel and R&B treatment.

The broadcast prompted extensive coverage in the French media. Fans praised Mennel’s vocals while also commenting on her regal features and bright blue turban. Some viewers emphasized the importance of seeing a French Muslim woman represented in a major televised competition.

Watch the full performance on page two