Simon said it was “like a scene from a great movie” when a musical duo who’d never met in person, became Golden Buzzer winners. There are a few stranger-than-fiction parts to this pretty incredible story. Check out the video and see for yourself!
Meet now 23-year-old Flintz and 17-year-old Taylor. The two appear on stage looking as if they’ve been performing as a duo for a bit, and, more than that, they look like they could be best friends. But, this is actually their very first meeting! And, they really aren’t (nay, weren’t) an established duo!
Flintz is from Croydon, which is a large town in South London, and Taylor hails from Birmingham. The two met while on lockdown in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. They connected on social media, and, according to Flintz, they “bounced off of each other’s vibe.”
After initial introductions, we learn a little through an interview about how the two came to meet and work together. The guys explain that Taylor provided the piano music, and Flintz wrote the lyrics to the rap.
Back in front of the judges on stage at London’s Palladium, Flintz explains that he wanted to write something to encourage his younger brothers to make good choices and stay out of trouble. He had started down a wrong direction as a teenager but credits his parents with pulling him back from dangerous people and paths.
The two take their places. Taylor begins the accompaniment, which feels unique for a rap song. Flintz’ words, though, are also different from many rap songs. The lyrics are about detentions and suspensions, following the crowd and making parents proud. It’s Flintz’s story of his hard work to change his ways—to move from making poor choices to making a future for himself. The camera shows his parents and brothers, clearly moved by the performance!
Behind the wonderful, positive words is a piano that somehow complements the beats, rhythms, and rhymes of the song with an original melody. Both Flintz and Taylor impress. There is at least five seconds of silence when the song ends and before the audience reacts. They are in awe!
When the applause begins, Alesha yells out in affirmation. She and the other judges stand. The crowd goes wild. Taylor comes forward and hugs Flintz in a way that demonstrates his support of Flintz and his willingness to remain in the background. But, by accident, producers have considered the two a duet rather than a solo act with piano backing.
Flintz shared, “Then the producer asked if we both wanted a microphone, it just happened we came out and introduced ourselves and they thought we were a duo and it just worked.”
“I was the unnamed person in the background but everyone liked us as a duo,” added Taylor.
When the judges comment, they use words like: passionate, phenomenal, important, real, brilliant, and perfect. In the audience, Dad removes his glasses and wipes his eyes. He is one proud papa! When Alesha gets her turn, she says that there’s no one on the show like Flintz, and, with that, she’s up and slamming her hands down onto the Golden Buzzer!
The guys jump and hug in a storm full of gold confetti! They will now go to the live shows! It is a beautiful moment!
Two young, musical strangers brought together virtually during a pandemic and face-to-face for the first time on an enormous stage. Without playing together before and with an odd pairing of instruments, they blow away the judges. That might just make the movies!
“in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:6
