IF I CAN DREAM "The Making " - Sofronio Vasquez | NBC The Voice Season 26

Hello everyone,

Something magical happened. I still am in shock that I got to win the Voice Season 26. TBH, I still pinch myself to see if I am dreaming...

One of my favorite performances was If I Can Dream by the one and only King: Elvis. I performed this during the semifinals on NBC – and here's the wild part: Elvis first sang this song on NBC exactly 56 years ago, on December 3, 1968! That special became NBC's highest-rated show of 1968. Talk about serendipity, right? You probably have seen the official video from the Voice's Channel. But let me show you the preparation I did to ready for this performance.... For me, this song was one of the hardest ones to sing. Not only because it is technically difficult (with all the ups and downs and progressions), but also it required intensity, and authenticity. The song required a full body effort to give it justice, as the song doesnt just carry a beautiful melody, it carries a beautiful message that transcends every generation.

This song has always hit different for me. Written after Martin Luther King Jr.'s death, it was Elvis's way of spreading hope during dark times. And when I stood there last night, singing those same powerful words... man, I felt that hope in my bones.

"If I can dream of a better land..." – this isn't just a lyric for me. It's everything I believe in. It's why I'm here.... When they announced I'd won, all I could think was: dreams really do come true.

To everyone who's been with me on this journey – thank you. And to anyone out there chasing their own dreams: keep going. If I can dream, so can you.

Let me ask you, what's your dream?

#IfICanDream #DreamBig #NeverGiveUp

Salamat!