13-Year-Old Boy Earns A Touching Golden Buzzer Moment In ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ After Singing Like An ‘Angel’

May 01, 2023

The many reality shows we see on television have treated us to a large number of children who showcase truly amazing talent. There is something about seeing a little one display more talent than most adults that the public finds irresistible.

Thanks to talent reality shows like the “Got Talent” franchises have offered the world talented people, no matter what their age, can showcase their God-given talent to the full extent. Malakai Bayoh, 13, stunned the judges of “Britain’s Got Talent” Season 16 after performing an out-of-this-world rendition of “Pie Jesu,” a song usually sang in churches and solemn ceremonies by a choir or a classical singer. 

No one expected that the boy, who came in such a small and innocent stature, would possess a voice of a classically trained and vocally mature man. In his remarkable audition performance, Malakai blew the judges away and the roof down with his angelic song. 

Before he performed, he admitted to Simon Cowell, one of the judges, that he started singing at the age of 7 because of his mother, who forced him to join the church choir because “she’s very bossy.”

Malakai started his career as a chorister, performing in the choir stalls of St. George's Cathedral Southwark in London. He is currently a member of the Schola Cantorum of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School.

Prior to joining “Britain’s Got Talent,” Malakai had been recognized before by Aled Jones. In November 2022, Malakai made his Royal Opera House debut, singing the role of Oberto in 'Alcina.' The two shared a duet in the beautiful St. Paul's Church Covent Garden, popularly known as The Actors' Church, in Covent Garden. On December 2022, Classic FM uploaded a video of Jones singing a classic, well-loved Christmas carol, "O Holy Night," with Malakai. 

With his professional experience in singing at a young age, people who had known about Malakai would have expected that he would win four yeses from the judges easily. But for those, they were completely floored by what was about to happen next. 

Singing “Pie Jesu” not more than a few moments in, Malakai managed to grab the attention of Cowell, Bruno Tonioli, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon – the judges. The crowd was all shocked to hear his voice too. 

Throughout the performance, everyone, even the audience, was tearing up with how moving Malakai’s performance was. As soon as he finished his last note, everyone was up on their feet and clapping and cheering for Malakai. 

Beaming with emotions and smiling from ear to ear, Malakai basked in the applause of the crowd. Shortly after, Cowell said this: “If there’s any one word I could use to describe that ... golden.” He then immediately pressed the Golden Buzzer, sending Malakai to the live shows already. 

Malakai was nothing but joyful after golden confetti poured over him; he even made a snow angel and hid some in his pockets for remembrance. Holden described his performance as “stunning and flawless,” while Dixon confessed that she was in a “trance” because of whatever was pouring out of him. Tinioli, on the other hand, was in tears and told him that he “sang like an angel.” 

Meanwhile, in a tweet from “Britain’s Got Talent,” Cowell revealed that Malakai’s performance defines what a Golden Buzzer audition was. 

“Just when everything was perfect. And it’s a surprise and it’s magical,” he continued. “If it wasn’t me, someone else would have hit it. That’s why I was very quick!” 

The internet was likewise blown away by Malakai’s performance, with praises overflowing all over YouTube. 

Wasn’t Malakai Bayoh’s performance outstanding? Would you want him to win the competition? What other songs are you looking forward for him to perform? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other loved ones!