How Michael Rice Got All 100 Judges On Their Feet With His Electrifying Performance
Michael Rice, a 22-year-old English street performer, took the world by storm as he appeared on BBC’s All Together Now. Despite his nervous laughter and timid gestures during the pre-performance chat, Rice transformed on stage, delivering a powerful rendition of Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” with confidence and soul. His electrifying performance ignited the judges’ enthusiasm and sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Rice quickly rallied the majority of the 100 judges to their feet, impressing with his dynamic stage presence, and got them to dance along to his raspy rock vocal that honored Tina Turner’s iconic number. Now with over 11.4 million views, Rice’s audition stands out as one of the BBC YouTube channel’s most-watched videos.
On All Together Now, all 100 judges express their verdicts by standing for approval or remaining seated otherwise. And to the young man’s delight, he brought the entire panel to their feet, prompting a wave of dance and applause by the song’s end.
The celebration was followed by an emotional twist as the judges serenaded Rice with the chorus of his song, creating a touching moment he could never forget. Host Rob Beckett later spoke with Tina T, a judge who impersonates Tina Turner. As a Tina fan herself, the judge couldn’t contain her excitement, exclaiming, “I am one proud Mary! You’ve got 100 of these amazing guys up, respect!”
Rice’s dynamic night didn’t stop there, as he later performed Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love,” in the video below.
Judge Georg Tormann, a seasoned vocal coach from the Brit School, couldn’t help but heap praise on Rice, aligning his potential with that of the school’s illustrious alumni like Adele and Jessie J in the last 17 years. He enthused, “You absolutely lit me up. That was incredible. You are outstanding!” highlighting Rice’s exceptional talent.
Geri Halliwell, the iconic Spice Girl turned head judge, was equally captivated. She applauded Rice for his stellar song choice and magnetic stage presence, noting, “You got 100 people on their feet – Well done.” It’s clear that Rice left a significant mark thanks to his performance.
Rice’s journey on the show was nothing short of spectacular, resulting in him clinching the title. His performances in the final, including renditions of “Crazy in Love” and “Hallelujah,” brought the majority of judges to their feet, showcasing his broad appeal and versatility.
Leveraging his win, Rice embarked on a promising and successful music career, even representing the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019. His talents didn’t stop there; the talented performer signed with Universal Music Group and enjoyed chart success, particularly in Sweden with “Bigger than Us.” The song hit the top 30 milestone in the UK Download chart as well.
For those eager to follow Michael Rice’s musical journey, his YouTube channel and Instagram are the go-to places for his latest updates.
