Rob King didn’t seem like he was about to blow the roof off the theater when he took the stage on Britain’s Got Talent in 2019. He appeared composed, professional, and obviously from the musical theater industry, but nobody could have predicted how tragic the situation would turn out to be.
Then he started singing “Rise Like a Phoenix,” the Eurovision song that Conchita Wurst made famous. Rob fulfilled all three of the needs of this massive, theatrical song: strength, control, and emotion. His voice filled the room, and the performance felt cinematic from the very first note, progressing from grace to full-fledged drama.
The judges were clearly impressed. Amanda Holden acknowledged that there were a few pitchy times, but she claimed that by the end, Rob’s intensity and presence on stage made her not care. The vibe in the theater was aptly described when Simon Cowell likened the entire performance to something from a film. Rob delivered the song like a leading man in a spectacular finale, not just singing it.
He received three yeses for his audition, which made him one of the season’s most memorable vocal performers. One thing was evident: Rob King knew exactly how to create a moment, regardless of whether the audience enjoyed the theatrical flair or was just taken aback by the performance’s audacity.
