Danyl Johnson “X-Factor” Audition Video

By Amanda Pendolino on August 25th, 2009

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It’s not easy to get Simon Cowell to crack a smile. But that’s exactly what he did on Saturday night when Danyl Johnson sang a cover of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends” on British Talent Show The X-Factor. “That was the best first audition I have ever heard,” Simon said, noting that he has been judging such hopefuls for 8 or 9 years.

Since the clip hit YouTube, MTV News reportsthat the 27 year-old teacher from Reading, UK has got millions of people around the world smiling too.  It’s a bit reminiscent of Susan Boyle, the thick-browed 47 year-old British woman who brought the world to tears (also via YouTube) when she sang “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Mis on Britian’s Got Talent. The difference here is that Johnson is a lot more like your typical pop star.  With his boyish good looks, winning smile and fit bod, I’m betting he won’t remain just a web celeb.

Johnson was a natural performer, strutting around the stage and urging the (already cheering) audience to wave their hands. He’s been doing this for a little while; he has been in two unsuccessful boy bands, Upfrunt and Streetlevel, and he has also performed on television with a rock band called Empty Spaces. He has auditioned for X Factor three times in the past.