'Comeback Queen': Cork Toy Show star bounces back with new song after forgetting lyrics

Sophia McNamara appeared on Patrick Kielty’s inaugural Toy Show last month to perform her rap song ‘Sombrero’, but had a little stumble halfway through and couldn’t finish

Sophia McNamara outside RTÉ ahead of her performance on the Late Late Toy Show last month. Picture Garry McCarthy

An 11-year-old Cork girl has “bounced back” with an inspirational new rap song after forgetting her lyrics on The Late Late Toy Show.

Sophia McNamara, from Knocknaheeny in Cork City, appeared on Patrick Kielty’s inaugural Toy Show last month to perform her rap song ‘Sombrero’, but had a small stumble halfway through and couldn’t finish.

She did not dwell on it, however, as the very next morning she put pen to paper and started writing her new song.

“I was upset and sad because that was my only shot. I was so frustrated. I woke up the next morning, and I was still sad, so I just put it into a song.

“I’m going to embrace what happened and move on stronger,” she said.

The song was posted online over the weekend, and has already amassed more than 200,000 views.

The song portrays a very powerful message about overcoming adversity.

The lyrics read: “Sometimes we stumble, sometimes we fall, that’s OK, that’s life, drive on, stand tall.

“If you mess up and your whole world shatters, take a step back and look at what really matters.” 

Sophia’s mentor and creative director at The Kabin Studio, Garry McCarthy, was shocked when he received the lyrics of Sophia’s new song the very next morning.

“I just couldn’t believe it. Usually, I might encourage things like that, but she got there well before me.

This was absolutely the right way to deal with her emotions, that is exactly what music is there for. It is there to help you through tough times.

Mr McCarthy believes Sophia is a massive inspiration to other children, and adults too.

“We all have a tendency to beat ourselves up, or stay feeling sorry for ourselves, and not want to face the world.

“But she is an absolute trooper, she is unbelievably strong, and every single one at The Kabin are completely in awe of her.

“We are so proud of how she handled everything. She’s going to bounce back 10 times stronger from this.

“This is a lesson. You learn from these things,” he said.

After Sophia’s Late Late Show performance, her mother Michelle had to keep reassuring her it was OK and that “these things happen, even to celebrities who are doing it constantly”.

 

Sophia McNamara and her mum Michelle outside RTÉ on Late Late Late Toy Show night last month. Picture: Garry McCarthy

Michelle said she is “just so proud” of everything her daughter does. 

“I have no words; her new song is absolutely outstanding. The words are amazing, but it’s not done yet, she still has a couple of verses to record,” she said.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Sophia said she wants to be an actor or a rapper when she grows up, and Mr McCarthy is very excited to see what she does next.

“She recently got involved in theatre, she’s very comfortable in front of a camera, she’s very comfortable on stage behind a mic, so who knows which one she will focus on.

“I think she’ll be able to manage all of them, she was born to be an entertainer.”

The Kabin Studio is a not-for-profit music and creative hub in Knocknaheeny in the northside of Cork City. 

It runs workshops, camps and projects where people from the local community and beyond can express themselves through rap, songwriting, poetry, video making, podcasting, art and digital media.