On April 28, a boy who uses the name “greyson97” posted three video clips on YouTube. In each, he plays piano and sings: two original compositions, at home, and Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” at a school assembly. The third clip has gone viral. I discovered it this morning, thanks to a friend who posted it on Facebook. We’ll be able to look back and say we remember when. Because this kid is about to take off like a rocket.
Just since I looked at the clip the first time, thousands of other people around the world have looked, too, and commented and shared and signed up for Greyson’s subscription list on YouTube — a roster that tripled in three hours this morning. And this is how things work in the 21st century.
To judge by Greyson’s user name, I calculate that he’ll turn 13 sometime this year. A great deal of his talent is raw, a combination of imitation and instincts. His skills want refinement, especially the piano playing, though he works the microphone expertly. But he’s barely a teenager, for mercy’s sake: he hasn’t been on the planet long enough to learn much of anything. And raw though his talent is, it’s authentic. That’s one reason the video clips are exciting so much attention today.
Surely many of us are feeling a bit like the blonde girl sitting under the map of South America, in the background of the clip. Though some of the girls around her appear bored and don’t seem to understand what’s happening, the blonde knows she’s in the presence of something special. Watch her face as it registers astonishment and pleasure. She’s the first fan. There will be others, I’ll bet, but that blonde girl will be the one who started it all.
I don’t think she’s merely crushing on Greyson (though she’d hardly be the first girl in history to fall for a young troubadour). I sympathize with her, really: sometimes when I’m listening to my singer-friends, I marvel at my luck, not only to know the singer but also simply to be present, to witness the song. And that’s what I see in her expression.
Quite a few people are comparing Greyson to the teen pop star Justin Bieber — at Bieber’s expense. Well, they do wear their hair in similar styles, and I gather that Bieber got his start on YouTube, too. Now he’s world-famous, and legions of young Internauts resent him.
Greyson 97amazed his classmates and stole the girl's hearts when he performed a rousing piano cover of Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" at a recent school festival. He also showed his intelligent demeanor on "The Ellen Degeneras Show" this afternoon May 13,2010 and won the hearts of fans around the globe. With his Mom in the audience one could clearly see the pride and joy in her eyes. He received a call from Lady Gaga wishing him well and telling him to "Sing his heart out", if a picture is worth a thousand words the expression and passion within the soul of this young artist speaks volumes.