Christiaan Padavan from Hampton Bays, New York, brought a smile to the judges’ faces when he arrived to audition for American Idol in 2013. Singing a cover of ‘Vienna’ by Billy Joel, Christiaan showcased his powerful vocals and soulful tone. The judges were impressed by his voice, sending him through to the next round of the competition. However, they then decided to throw a curveball.
When asked who was there to support him, Christiaan told the judges that his girlfriend, Victoria, was standing outside the door. He shared that she could sing too but was too shy to audition. Katy Perry decided to challenge Victoria by bringing her into the room and asking her to sing. Victoria was reluctant at first, asking the judges, “Are you serious?” Despite her nerves, she joined her boyfriend to cover ‘Toxic’ by Britney Spears, and wowed the judges with her beautiful singing voice.
Although Christiaan did not make it past the Hollywood Round of American Idol, he has continued to play music since his time on the show. He has continued to play live shows around his hometown of Hampton Bays. He has also showcased his musical talents through his YouTube channel. As demonstrated by his cover of ‘Vienna’ in his American Idol audition, Christiaan has a fondness for music from the ’60s and ’70s, and he shares his covers from this musical golden era on his channel.
One of the most popular videos on Christiaan’s YouTube channel is one of him performing The Beatles’ classic number ‘In My Life’. Armed with an acoustic guitar and standing on a front porch, Christiaan gave a soulful performance of the emotional song. Viewers of the video appreciated Christiaan’s musical talents, with many commenting that his American Idol audition had prompted them to search for him, and one viewer commenting, “Amazing man, I’m truly a fan,” on the video.
Not only did Christiaan’s American Idol audition allow him to share his talents with a whole new audience and bring a new appreciation for his music, but his girlfriend’s shock involvement also gave viewers an encouraging message – to not allow your own self-doubt to get in the way of your talents. Despite Victoria’s shyness about her singing abilities, it was clear to judges and audience members alike that she had the talent to match her boyfriend. Perhaps one day, we will see Victoria overcome her doubt and return to audition for American Idol herself!
For more impressive performances and covers from Christiaan Padavan, you can follow and subscribe to his [YouTube Channel]. You can also find him on [Facebook] and [Instagram].