Goth Meets Opera on America’s Got Talent

Goth Opera Singer America's Got Talent
One of the highlights of NBC’s America’s Got Talent show this season so far was this week’s appearance by Andrew De Leon in the Austin, Texas auditions. As De Leon explains below, he has been treated as a bit of an outcast for his Goth looks and had never before sang in front of anyone. When he first opens his mouth to sing, the sound is so unexpected that you do not know whether it is going to be terrible or not. But then you realize that the guy can sing. Check out the video below (after a short commercial).

If you are wondering what he is singing, it is “O mio babbino caro” (“Oh My Beloved Father”) a soprano aria from the opera Gianni Schicchi (1918) by Giacomo Puccini. You may read a short description of the context of the aria on NPR’s website, which also has an audio performance by opera singer Amada Squitieri.

As for De Leon’s performance, it is always a nice surprise when someone does something unexpected. As you can see in the video, judges Howie Mandel, Howard Stern and Sharon Osbourne all voted for De Leon to stay in the competition, so we will be seeing him again.

June 27, 2012 Update: After De Leon stumbled a bit from nerves in Las Vegas, the judges voted to eliminate him from the competition. I think the judges blew it. What do you think?

August 22, 2012 Update: He’s back! Howie Mandel brought De Leon back for the Wild Card show, where the judges brought back contestants for a second chance. De Leon delivered, and America voted for him to continue in the competition.

What did you think of Andrew De Leon’s performance? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    This Week in Pop Culture Roundup (18 Dec. 2011)

    Captain America In case you were too busy planning and then canceling a debate because nobody was going to show up, here are some of the pop culture stories you might have missed. This week’s roundup features some “Best of 2011” lists.

    —– Best of 2011 —–

    Salon listed its 10 Best Movies from 2011.

    Chicago Tribune critic Michael Phillips selected his top 10 films of 2011.

    Slate listed the best jazz albums of 2011.

    The African-American Film Critics Association named Tree of Life the best film of 2011.

    Time Magazine
    ‘s “Person of the Year” is. . . The Protester.

    Here are 10 movies from 2011 that you may not have seen but should have.

    The Americana Music Association listed its 2011 Top 10 Most Played Albums.


    —– Movies —–

    Where’s the Batsuit when you need it? Christian Bale got a little roughed up in China while trying to visit a dissident in the country.

    Cuban horror spoof Juan of the Dead, satirizes socialism using zombies.

    Poptimal has a review of Tinker Tailor Solder Spy.

    The first trailer for Men in Black III has been released.

    Orsen Welles’s 1942 screenplay Oscar for Citizen Kane went up for auction.

    Here’s an interesting video essay about “the Spielberg face” used in the director’s movies:

    The Screen Actors Guild Award nominations may change predictions for the Oscars.

    Say it ain’t so! Daniel Ruettiger, who inspired the film Rudy, settled w/ the SEC regarding allegations against him.

    Paramount Pictures is tweaking its logo.


    —– Music —–

    No Depression featured a review of a Ryan Adams show in Baltimore.

    Questlove from the Roots listed his top five hip-hop concept albums.

    On Monday, Billy Joel became the first nonclassical musician to be inducted into Steinway Hall.

    In January, Ani DiFranco will release her first album in three years.

    Hasidic Jewish reggae musician Matisyahu announced upcoming changes and shaved.

    The Los Angeles Times reviewed one of Aimee Mann’s annual holiday shows.

    Etta James is terminally ill with chronic leukemia. Since we posted recently Rachel Crow’s version of “I’d Rather Go Blind,” let’s give a listen to James singing her great song.


    —– Television —–

    The FCC ordered TV stations to regulate the volume of loud TV commercials, taking effect Dec. 2012.

    Howard Stern is replacing Piers Morgan on America’s Got Talent.

    Steve Carrell of The Office got snubbed in the Golden Globe nominations. That’s what she said.

    After interviewing the Kardashians and others on her special, Barbara Walters revealed that her “Most Fascinating Person” for 2011 is the late Steve Jobs.

    —– Other Pop Culture News —–

    Joe Simon, the co-creator of Captain America, passed away Wednesday night. Vanity Fair has a nice tribute to Christopher Hitchens, who also passed away in the last week. RIP.

    Ho Ho Ho! Check out these photos from Life magazine of Santa making kids cry. We hope that your wishes come true without any crying in the upcoming holiday weeks.

    What were your favorite pop culture stories of the week? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    This Week in Pop Culture Roundup (Nov. 12, 2011)

    Maybe this week you were distracted with an overload of stories about Herman Cain’s sexual harassment accusers, concerns about whether Justin Bieber is going to be a father, or the firing of Penn State Coach Joe Paterno. If you fall behind on the latest news you risk embarrassing yourself like Ashton Kutcher did. So check out these links to some of the stories you might have missed.

    Music

    Rapper Heavy D passed away. RIP.

    rem part lies

    NPR will let you listen to REM’s new 2-CD set, “Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage.”

    Taylor Swift won Entertainer of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards.

    Lady Gaga won four awards at last Sunday’s MTV European Music Awards show. And was that streaker a planned part of show?

    Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy and his sister Maile Meloy each have released new young-adult novels.

    Singer Andy Williams revealed he has bladder cancer.

    Wednesday night, Bruce Springsteen performed at the 5th Annual Stand Up for Heroes show. Watch videos of his performance on Blogness.

    A Cheap Trick museum wants you to want it.

    This “Desert Island Disc” discussion reminded us of Willie Nelson’s overlooked concept album Yesterday’s Wine. (via @grayflannelsuit)

    Whatever gets the tooth fairy though the night: John Lennon’s tooth sold for more than $31,000.

    New remasters from Pink Floyd were released and include alternate version of “Wish You Were Here.”

    Movies

    snow white
    The new live-action Snow White will have 8 dwarves and many changes.

    Snow White and the Huntsman will be released on June 1, 2012, but watch the trailer now. This ain’t your Disney version of Snow White.

    Director Werner Herzog discussed his new film, Into the Abyss: A Tale of Death, A Tale of Life.

    Seven years after the release of the excellent film Sideways director Alexander Payne released his follow-up film, The Descendants. I hear Oscar buzzing. . . .

    Slate reconsidered Blue Velvet 25 years after the film’s release.

    For Veterans Day, the Los Angeles Times chose the best war films from American cinema for each war.

    The “Atlas Shrugged, Part 1″ producer is planning Part 2 despite the poor box office for the first movie.

    Television
    Piers Morgan quit “America’s Got Talent” to focus on another talent show: the 2012 presidential election. In related news, Howard Stern might join “America’s Got Talent.”

    The producer of next year’s Oscar telecast, Brett Ratner, stepped down after making a stupid gay slur. After Ratner’s announcement, the Oscar host, Eddie Murphy, announced he would no longer host the show, apparently because he had only agreed to do the show because he had worked with Ratner on Tower Heist. Vegas just announced that the payout on bets for “Eddie Murphy wins an Oscar in the next decade” went up 1000%.

    Regis Philbin’s last week on Live! with Regis and Kelly will include guests Kathie Lee Gifford, David Letterman and Tony Bennett.

    13-year-old “X Factor” singer Rachel Crow started out life in a crack house before she was adopted. Although I had been favoring Josh Krajcik to win, Crow’s performance this week was probably the best of the group.

    Other News
    ‘Family Circus’ creator Bil Keane died at age 89.

    Slate had an interesting discussion of “The New Classics,” enduring books, films, ideas, etc. since 2000.

    “This is Nixon unplugged“is how Historian Stanley Kutler described new recordings of the former president available online for the first time, including Nixon’s grand jury testimony.

    In honor of Joe Frazier, who passed away, Life magazine presented a slideshow of never-seen photos from “The Fight of the Century” of Ali vs. Frazier in 1971

    Two new biographies about Charles Dickens are out. In related news, I have had a two-volume Dickens biography on my shelf for more than a decade that I have yet to read. Now, I do not know where to start. Maybe I will watch a movie. . .

    What was your favorite pop culture story this week? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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