Nervous Man Waves To Mom Then Opens Mouth With Note So High Simon Is Stunned In Admiration

Mar 18, 2021 by apost team

Talent shows are a great way to find talent that would have otherwise never been discovered. They have the most ordinary people, people you may not even give a second look to on the street, a platform to show their extraordinary skills.

One of the best examples of someone like this was Susan Boyle, whose odd mannerisms had people dismissing her the moment she stepped on stage. Simon Cowell looked like he was ready to send her home already. However, her unbelievable rendition of "I Dreamed A Dream" from Les Miserables shook the world, so much so that today, she is one of the most renowned singers of our time. 

It is stories like these that keep igniting the dreams of people all over the world, who are inspired to show up and do their best no matter what people's impressions and judgments about them are. 

This isn't to say the process is easy! The nervousness from having to do your best on national television in front of some of the most influential names in the entertainment industry could get the better of you. That's what almost happened with Brian Justin Crum of San Diego, California during his audition for "America's Got Talent" in 2016. His anxiety just before he starts singing is evident. It took a bit of familial support for him to find the strength he needed to blow away his audience, including the notoriously hard-to-please Simon Cowell. His audition is one of the best examples of nerves turning into an incredible display of singing talent that changed Crum's life. 

This wasn't Crum's first time performing in front of a crowd. He had honed his performative skills as a youth in San Diego. When Crum was 17, Celeb Mix reports that he received the incredible honor of joining the touring cast for "Wicked." Plenty more musicals followed, such as "Grease," "Jesus Christ Superstar," and "The Addams Family." He has proven himself to a gifted and multi-talented performer. Knowing he had what it took to reach a bigger audience, he set his sights on "America's Got Talent."

He appeared on the show with his mother, whom he praised before he began singing for his audition. He first waves to her, saying "Hi Mom!" and viewers can see that the proud momma was beaming with pride when her son greeted her from the stage. "My mom being here is everything to me," Crum began. "I had a lot of hard times when I was a kid. She's been a huge supporter for me." His mother in the audience looks emotional after this, and we were a little as well! It was really sweet that Crum included his mother in the initial introduction. 

The judges then tell him "Good luck, and enjoy yourself," and the spotlight shifts over to Crum. Even though Crum has already had his fair share of the spotlight on stage as a Broadway artist, the "America's Got Talent" stage still caused his nerves to jitter for a few seconds. After taking a moment to himself, he gives the thumbs-up signal to backstage, and the music begins. 

apost.com

His initial audition for the season 11 competition was his own beautiful rendition of Queen's classic hit "Somebody To Love," no doubt inspired by his award-winning performance as Galileo Figaro in the musical "We Will Rock You." In an interview with Billboard, Crum said choosing "Queen" songs and projects has been no accident.

His love especially for Queen frontman Freddie Mercury comes from the band's unique ability to capture the queer experience in a song. “I think Freddie Mercury's lyrics and music speak to the queer experience unlike any other artist,” Crum told the website. “You can feel the angst, you can feel the unworthiness that we feel as queer people moving through the world. And he speaks to that so eloquently and so beautifully.”

His powerful performance during his first-ever "America's Got Talent" audition was poignant and stunned viewers in the auditorium as well as those watching from home. In the beginning, the audience doesn't react as strongly to his slower singing, but when he shows them his truly wide vocal range, the judges, as well as the viewers, are drawn in by Crum's velvety voice.

The cheers begin when he hits some powerful notes, and as he reaches a crescendo at the end of his performance, he has everyone standing up and cheering for him. The judges are clearly in awe of the sheer, raw talent that Crum was able to show them. It is difficult to impress Simon Cowell as he is world-famous for his notoriously harsh criticism, but Crum easily wowed Cowell, who couldn't help but give him a standing ovation as well. 

It was a moment that Crum will remember for the rest of his life, and even though he did not win that season, he finished in an impressive fourth place overall in the competition, which propelled him into a musical career he had always wanted. Ever since his time at AGT ended in 2016, he has released his own songs such as "Circles" and "I & U." In 2019, he was asked to return and compete on the first-ever season of "America’s Got Talent: The Champions," which has also been called "Olympics of Got Talent" by Digital Journal. 

Staying on-brand with his support for queer groups, he chose to cover Elton John's "Your Song." His rendition was a surefire hit at AGT: Champions, and even though he made it to the finals, he did not finish in the top five of the competition. 

Crum has not let any of this stop him from pursuing what he loves. Apart from many live shows he has done after his time on AGT in 2016, he has also covered his own version of Queen’s “We Are the Champions” which is embellished by ballet dancers that give a routine to the tune of the song. Moreover, he joined Adam Lambert to open the 91st annual Academy Awards with performances of "We Are The Champions" and "We Will Rock You." His love for Queen is quite apparent here.  

Even though he didn't win the competition, he has gained quite a following and great support from his fans. About his fans, he said in 2019, "They have been so incredible and supportive. They have been showing me so much love. I am super blessed."

A moment like Crum's audition is one that can move people to tears. What do you think of this powerful performance? Tell us your thoughts, and be sure to show this to anyone who loves seeing perseverance in action.