Italian busker and saxophonist Daniele Vitale had just wrapped up a song during a live street performance when a heavy metal fan approached him, unexpectedly asking if Daniele could play a Michael Jackson hit.
Daniele hit play on his drumbeat backing track of MJ’s “Billie Jean,” and was just in the process of riling up his crowd’s energy when a spot-on Jackson lookalike stepped beside him in full fancy dress, ready to steal the show!
Music Man readers can watch the magic unfold in the viral video above; it’s already amassed more than 707,000 views since hitting YouTube last October!
So, what did the MJ lookalike have in store for Daniele’s crowd? A spotless dance performance, stuffed with every trademark Jackson move under the sun, topped with a sparkling personality that made the stunned saxophonist instantly smile.
But then, Daniele wowed the crowd himself by slaying the lead melody of the Jackson hit on his sax; his rich, brassy tones singing the lyrics in the ultimate re-interpretation. Daniele flooded the track with a retro, disco groove; a surprisingly perfect match for the throwback pop hit which gave the tune a new lease of life.
The mystery MJ dancer handed Daniele the spotlight for a moment, before amping up Daniele’s pure vibe with his flawless choreography, stunning every member of the crowd in sight. One young boy even mimicked Daniele’s musical talent on his air-sax, while adults from all walks of life watched on, amazed.
Once this video hit YouTube, hundreds of the duo’s mind-blown viewers couldn’t help but spread their love for this epic impromptu performance, with one top commenter writing, “You’re absolutely insane! I can’t believe you played Billie Jean’s most difficult music like that! You’re truly amazing!” and another backed up the mood, commenting, “This is pure gold! This is perfect. This is more than perfection. A classic for the ages, you’re a real smooth criminal.”
With fans reckoning, “MJ’s music never dies,” one viewer even earned Daniele’s attention when they posted this review, which was liked by Daniele himself: “You are the most talented saxophonist I know. You truly have a unique style of playing the saxophone, so as always, only in your incredibly talented performance do I have the unique opportunity to listen to an absolutely phenomenal cover of this magical music. Thank you Daniele!”