MANILA — Filipino singer Matty Juniosa conquered the “Britain’s Got Talent” stage with his cover of Prince’s “Purple Rain”, receiving the golden buzzer from judge Simon Cowell.
Juniosa’s performance captured the judges and crowd, prompting a standing ovation.
“It’s like when you discover a new food or a new restaurant, you’re like, ‘I need to go back, I need more,’” judge Alesha Dixon said.
“Whatever you’re about, I just need more of it,” she added.
English singer and actress Amanda Holden meanwhile said the performance was fantastic, telling Juniosa: “But I can see how much you want it and I can see that passion in you.”
“So well done, it was an amazing audition. And I just love you!” she said.
Musician and boxer KSI commended Juniosa’s “outstanding” personality. He said the Filipino singer became a superstar as soon as he took the mic off the stand.
Simon Cowell said Juniosa’s performance may have prompted “the biggest reaction we’ve had from anyone.”
The audience proceeded to call for Cowell to hit the golden buzzer, which did not last long before the judge heeded the call.
Cowell later said: “To everyone in this audience, I’m gonna say this is your golden buzzer as well, genuinely.”
The golden buzzer is a one-time award a judge may give during auditions that sends a contestant straight to the semi-finals.
Juniosa, 27, has been living in Glasgow in Scotland for three years, after migrating from the Philippines.
He is currently working as a part-time waiter.
During the audition, he said he dreams to “sing for this amount of people and to sing every day, and to make music and to conquer the world."
“I have been waiting for this chance to finally put an end to this long thing that I’ve been thinking about myself that I will always be a singing competition loser,” Juniosa said pertaining to Idol Philippines where he competed in 2019.
'Idol Philippines': This cover of 'A Natural Woman' had the judges on their feet