Filipinos Charlie and Madonna shine in Britain’s Got Talent


goodnewspilipinas.com
First Posted 12:06:00 05/03/2008

CHARLIE Green, a 10-year old half-Filipino, and club singer Madonna Decena are singing their way to the next round of Britain’s Got Talent.

It’s a talent search created by American Idol judge Simon Cowell who also acts as judge in the show, alongside journalist Piers Morgan and actress Amanda Holdren.

During the program’s second week of live auditions in Birmingham, Charlie gave a spirited rendition of Frank Sinatra’s 1966 hit record Summer Wind.

He was cool and composed throughout the entire performance, even doing some old-fashioned jazz scatting and finger snapping. After he sang, the audience gave Charlie a standing ovation and chanted his name for a few seconds.

Charlie is the second Filipino to make waves in the talent search. First was the 32-year old single mom and club singer Madonna Decena, who auditioned in Manchester, and wowed the judges with her powerful rendition of I Will Always Love You.

Piers Morgan, who called Charlie, the boy “Old Charlie,” was entertained with both his singing and dancing. Amanda went as far as giving a bold forecast: “I predict, you could win in this show.”

Even the panel’s harshest critic, American Idol judge Simon Cowell, had nothing but praises. He said, “Charlie, I think you’re a little star! I really, really like you!” In the end, Charlie got three “YES” votes from the judges, and is now set to move on to the next round of competition.

Charlie’s mom is a Filipina Cecilia Sumargo -- who hails from Dumajug, Cebu and his dad is British dad. Auditions for Britain’s Got Talent are currently ongoing and will air locally very soon.

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20080503-134350/Filipinos-Charlie-and-Madonna-shine-in-Britains-Got-Talent

There’s another Filipino in ‘Britain’s Got Talent’


By Bayani San Diego Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:06:00 05/06/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Turns out, Madonna Decena isn’t the only Filipino on the reality search, “Britain’s Got Talent.”

According to various blogs, 32-year-old Decena’s stiffest rival could very well be Charlie Green, an 11-year-old Filipino-British jazz singer who similarly wowed judges and audiences in the show’s Birmingham tryouts.

Green, who sang Frank Sinatra’s “Summer Wind,” received a standing ovation from the audience and rave reviews from the three judges: Show co-creator Simon Cowell, journalist Piers Morgan and theater actress Amanda Holden.

The usually caustic Cowell commended the kid: “You’re a little star.” Morgan praised his dancing; Holden predicted that the kid would win the tilt.

Like Decena, Green is advancing to the next round of the contest.

Filipino bloggers have readily embraced Green as Pinoy. One site reported that Charlie’s mom, Cecilia Sumargo, “hails from Dumanjug, Cebu.”

Inquirer Entertainment asked Decena in an e-mail interview if she had heard of Green’s Filipino roots.

“I heard, but I can’t confirm,” she replied. “But it’s been reported [that he’s half-Filipino]. Based on his looks, it’s evident that he has Asian blood.”

Confirmation

Various reports have since confirmed that Green is, indeed, half-Filipino.

According to the Daily Mail, Green, who’s from Droitwich, Worcestershire, was coached by his father Roger, principal vocalist of the Black and White Minstrels which was featured on a BBC show from 1958 to 1978.

The pint-sized warbler told the Daily Mail: “Because my dad is a singer, there’s always music in the house. I love Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé. I’d love to sing with [them].”

On the show, he said that his dream is to become a professional singer. “It’s something I just picked up naturally when I was growing up.”

The same online report recounted that Green had performed at the Royal Opera House at St. James Palace for Princess Anne.

Green’s home page confirmed this, adding that meeting the Princess Royal at age 8 was the highlight of his young career.

According to his website, Green, who was born on February 16, 1997, started singing tunes like “New York, New York” and “If I Were a Rich Man” at age 2 for family and friends.

A year later, he joined a talent show, singing “All of Me” on the cruise ship Ocean Majesty.

For one so young, he has built an impressive résumé, performing in different theaters across the UK.

Last year, Green also recorded a Christmas song, “Hands Around the World,” composed by Cedric Whitehouse.

According to the kid’s homepage, Whitehouse (who had previously worked with artists like Roy Orbison, Kenny Rogers and Chaka Khan) invited the kid to record the song for charity.

Green’s chosen beneficiary is Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, a cause close to his heart because a good friend, Murray Field, suffers from that ailment.

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20080506-134984/Theres-another-Filipino-in-Britains-Got-Talent

You’re a good kid, Charlie Green


By Bayani San Diego Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 18:58:00 05/08/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Based on an e-mail sent to Inquirer Entertainment, Charlie Green, the pint-sized YouTube sensation, seems to be an ordinary kid, after all.

The 11-year-old of Filipino-British descent wowed audiences and judges alike on the ongoing UK reality TV contest “Britain’s Got Talent” (BGT). The video of his performance of Frank Sinatra’s “Summer Wind” has received over 53,000 hits on YouTube so far.

On the show, he prompted judge Simon Cowell to comment: “You’re fantastic.” Fellow juror and theater actress Amanda Holden predicted that he could win the tilt.

Like another contender from the Philippines, Madonna Decena, Charlie is moving on to the next round, which will be aired later in the month.

On April 27, Inquirer was alerted to Charlie’s story by reader Kristy del Prado who sent links to two sites (www.greatpinoys.com and www.celebritypeeps.com) that confirmed Charlie’s Pinoy roots—specifically, that mom Cecilia Sumargo “hails from Dumanjug, Cebu.”

Charlie confirmed that he has Philippine ties, that he’s been to the country thrice, and is looking forward to visiting again.

His dad, Roger, helped the boy send the e-mail.

What do you do in your spare time?

I play lots of sports: football, cricket, pool, table tennis, rugby ... I also play video games on my XBox 360 Elite, Nintendo DS and Sony PlayStation 2.

Apart from Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé, who are the other singers you admire?

I like Leona Lewis and Elvis (Presley).

What songs are on your iPod?

I have Leona and Black Eyed Peas.

What do you know of your mom’s homeland?

I have been to the Philippines three times. I hope to go again this year when “Britain’s Got Talent” has finished. My mum has lots of family there. I like the friendly people and the sunshine.

What was it like performing for judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan?

At first, it was scary, but it was exciting and their comments were fantastic.

Do you ever get nervous onstage?

Not normally, but I was a little nervous [during the BGT tryouts].

What’s it like being onstage?

I love being onstage, whether it be for singing or playing the piano.

How often do you rehearse singing?

Once a day with my dad, who is a singer (with the BBC’s Black & White Minstrels), and on my own.

What’s your favorite subject in school?

I’m in Grade 5. My favorite is Science.

After seeing you on TV, how do people react when they see you in person?

I have lots of people, especially young girls, ask for my autograph. They also have photographs taken with me. It’s good fun.

What’s next for you?

Getting through to the show’s semi-finals, which commences on May 26.

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20080508-135453/Youre-a-good-kid-Charlie-Green

Entertainment, 5/20/2008 3:41 PM May 20, 2008
Two Filipinos prepare for "Britain's Got Talent" semifinals

by DANNY BUENAFE



ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

The countdown begins for the semifinal round of the United Kingdom's primetime program, "Britain's Got Talent" (BGT).

Two Filipino performers will try to push their luck, after both received a rare standing ovation during their separate taped auditions for the program. 

Single mom Madonna Decena and 11-year-old Charlie Green met each other for the first time during a courtesy call with Ambassador Edgardo Espiritu and Philippine embassy officials in London.

Green was accompanied by British dad Roger, and Filipina mom Cecil who hails from Cebu City. 

It will be recalled that BGT judge Amanda Holden shed a tear while Decena sang  Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You", which the singer dedicated to her two daughters in Manila.

This was in contrast to Green's performance. The three BGT judges were in an upbeat mood as the child confidently rendered the song "Summer Wind" by Frank Sinatra.

With almost 150 acts, the number of performers will further be reduced to 40 as part of the initial selection process for the semifinals on Saturday.

Both Decena and Green are counting on the support of all UK-based Filipinos as the grand finals will mostly be decided through text voting.

The finals will be held on May 31st.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=118840