Nervous Man Waves To Mom Then Opens Mouth With High Note — Simon Is Frozen In Admiration

Feb 01, 2021 by apost team

If you've ever come down with a case of stage fright, you know how daunting it can be. Now, try to imagine that happening on national television in front of some of the most influential names in the entertainment industry. That's what happened with Brian Justin Crum during his audition for "America's Got Talent" back in 2016. 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. Thankfully, his mother was there and ready to cheer her son on.

The performance on "America's Got Talent" wasn't Crum's first time singing in front of a crowd. He had honed his performative skills as a youth in San Diego, California, where he grew up. When Crum was 17, 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 be 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."

His initial audition for season 11 of the mega-popular reality competition was a performance of Queen's "Somebody To Love," no doubt inspired by his award-winning performance as Galileo Figaro in the musical "We Will Rock You."

apost.com

When he went in front of the judges, he was asked by Cowell about who was with him. He was visibly nervous, but confidently stated that his mom was there, before giving her a heartfelt greeting and wave.
He described his mom as his "rock," who had helped him through life. His mom told him about how proud she was of him. Though they had to spend some of his time growing up apart, it was ultimately for the best and did not ruin the special bond they had.

As soon as he sang the first notes of his chosen song, it was clear that Crum exemplified everything "America's Got Talent" is about. His rendition of "Somebody to Love" from Queen was an experience from start to finish. He hit the notes with such passion that the audience knew they couldn't wait until the end to applaud. He demonstrated a vocal range that almost nobody had expected him to have, ranging from high notes to sultry tones seemingly seamless and without a problem. The judges were in unanimous agreement, giving him four emphatic approvals. This fairy tale moment ended with a standing ovation from the audience. It was clear that everything Crum had worked for over the years and pushed through had led to this moment.

Crum continued to impress the judges and the audience alike during "America's Got Talent" eleventh season. He followed up this amazing performance of a Queen classic with his personal rendition of Radiohead's song "Creep." He immediately received enough votes from the audience to advance into the quarterfinals. Unsurprisingly, his talented voice and singing skills earned him more success. His cover of Phil Collins's hit "In the Air Tonight" had the judges raving with glowing praise.

Billboard.com records that even Simon Cowell, the notoriously hard to please judge, was impressed by Crum's talent:

"You have that ability which is rare that you can take a song and you can turn it into your version. You're just a great person, an amazing singer, a great performer, I really hope you're going to make the semifinals."

Mel B also chimed in, agreeing with her fellow judge:

 "You just get hotter and hotter and hotter as time goes on," she said. "You as a performer are so seasoned ... you own that stage. You have everything."

Crum won the quarterfinals by public vote and advanced into the semifinals, where he chose to perform Tears for Fears hit "Everybody Wants to Rule the World." Again, Crum blew his competition out of the water and received standing ovations from all four judges and enough votes to march on towards the finals.

Instinct Magazine reported (in an article that is no longer online since, but has been archived here) that Cowell, while not enthused at first, came around to Crum's performance and ended up saying:

"I do believe it's your time now Brian. I think you found your confidence and you've turned into more than a singer, you've turned into a performer."

Unfortunately, despite all the praise and warm words, it was not to be. Crum finished the eleventh season of the popular talent show in fourth place, finishing just behind magician Jon Dorenbos, the mentalist duo The Clairvoyants, and the season winner herself, Grace VanderWaal. 

Crum was not about to let that hold him back, however. He explained to the Huffington Post in 2016: "I started singing when I was just 6 years old. I decided I wanted to make career out of it when I was 13." A small setback such as fourth place on "America's Got Talent" wasn't going to dissuade him from pursuing his dream.

This was also not the last time he would appear on the popular U.S. talent show. In 2019, Crum was asked to take part in the "America's Got Talent: The Champions" spin-off, where popular former contestants once again competed against each other. While he started with a strong first performance, he did not finish within the top five. Although he has released a few singles over the years, no complete album has hit the charts so far.

Instead, Crum has refocused back on the place where he originally gained his first experience and skills and is set to appear in a Chicago-based production of the musical "Children of Eden" in 2021. Due to recent events, the musical has been postponed to August of this year and already promises to become a hit. Toting over 50 Broadway and Chicago musical hits alumni, the production boasts with names such as Deborah Cox, David Phelps, Norm Lewis, and more. Certainly a summer performance to look forward to!

A moment like Crum's audition is one that can move people to tears. What do you think of his powerful performance and career since then? Be sure to show this to anyone who loves seeing perseverance in action.