Fil-Brit tyro from Kent wows Tom Jones on ‘The Voice UK’
FOR THE AUDITION, Apostol sang a modified “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”
Coming on the heels of 11-year-old belter Arisxandra Libantino, who got into “Britain’s Got Talent,” another Filipino-British singer, Joseph Apostol, breezed through the first rounds of auditions on “The Voice UK.”
Apostol, 21-year-old son of a nurse based in Kent, impressed the coaches led by Jessie J, Danny O’Donoghue of The Script, will.i.am of The Blackeyed Peas, and Tom Jones.
Apostol sang “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” while his mom and friends cheered backstage.
The first to turn her seat around during the blind auditions was Jessie J, famous for the hit “Price Tag.” The second coach to pick Apostol was Tom Jones, who had only one slot left in his team.
will.i.am praised Apostol as “super-mega dope, fantabulous,” explaining that the only reason he didn’t turn around was because he knew the aspirant would be in good hands if he picked Jessie J.
When will.i.am found out that Apostol was Filipino, the Blackeyed Peas frontman exclaimed: “Like my best friend apl.de.ap!” will.i.am then uttered a few Filipino words, such as “Mabuti! Salamat!” before asking Apostol if he liked chicken adobo and pansit. Apostol responded: “Definitely.”
will.i.am explained to the rest of the team that they were sharing “Filipino secrets.”
Jessie J said Apostol would be a “big asset to my team … you know how to tell a story with your singing.”
Jones pointed out that he heard “the passion, the fire” in Apostol’s voice.
THE FIL-BRIT (right) was the last aspirant to join the team of veteran singer Tom Jones (left).
The veteran hitmaker behind “Delilah,” “It’s Not Unusual,” “Kiss” and “Sex Bomb” recalled that he had been to the Philippines many times. “I know that there are a lot of great Filipino singers. I’ve heard them sing.”
Jones reminded Apostol that he had only one precious spot in his team.
Apostol said it was a “hard” decision.
From the sidelines, Apostol’s mom kept wishing aloud that her son would pick Jones. As though he heard, good son that he was, Apostol picked Jones.
According to the “The Voice UK” website, Apostol preferred “old-school music” and described Jones as his “ideal coach.”
The site said Apostol considered Whitney Houston his favorite singer.
He confessed that he’s “a bit of a joker” and that his “mum” is his biggest fan.
Apostol, who moved to the UK when he was 10, said on the site that migrating was “a real culture shock.”
Jones said of Apostol in an interview aired in the same episode: “I’m glad that I waited. He put something in the song that was not there before. I’ve been holding out and I finally found what I’ve been looking for. [I’m] thrilled to bits.”
