HE may be out of television talent show The Voice - but Hampshire's Si Genaro has made a lasting friend in international star Will.i.am.

Millions of viewers saw Si, 43, reduce the rapper and producer to tears on Saturday night by playing one of his own songs, When The Last Bird Flies, which he dedicated to his mum.

The heartfelt performance failed to earn him a place in the next round of the contest, but he did get The Voice judge Will's email address so the pair can stay in contact.

When The Last Bird Flies has now climbed into the top 100 in the official iTunes alternative chart.

After Si left the stage, Will.i.am said to his fellow judges: “The song was amazing, I regret not turning. I wish all the people that I liked in music were like Si. He just looks at the world and wants to bring happiness to folks when he walked off stage. I got really emotional.”

Si, from Sherfield English, has now missed out on progressing in the BBC show for two years in a row.

Las year his self-penned tune Chicken Train became an online hit with more than 180,000 people watching it on YouTube.

He told the Daily Echo: “I felt really good about how it went, I haven't emailed Will yet because I really want to get my words right and don't want to seem too desperate but it was really exciting that he passed it on.

“I was quite emotional about the performance and so was he. That music is the sort of thing I do more than the chicken song so I really wanted a chance to show that side of my music.”

He had sung his heart out in a bid to impress the judging panel which also included pop princess Rita Ora, Welsh music legend Sir Tom Jones and Kaiser Chiefs front man Ricky Wilson.

Introduced by presenter Martin Humes as “the man, the myth, the legend”, this time Si gave an acoustic rendition of Falling Slowly by Once.

He was heartbroken as the song ended and no judge had turned their chair but wanting to make the most of his time on the show he asked if he could perform one last song, When The Last Bird Flies, as he would not be returning next year.

He described the tune as a peace song which he wanted to devote to his mum, Sheila, adding: “If everyone was a bit more like my mum, I wouldn't even have to sing this.”