To have such passion and the ability to fearlessly pursue it is a gift in and of itself. While living with autism may take from some areas of a person’s life, it also can give and blossom in others. And while there are varying degrees of autism to cope with, some people can function exceptionally well with it.
Calum Courtney, the 10-year-old from Basildon, Essex, UK, also known as the “Asada Boy” for singing “Who’s Lovin’ You” in local grocery stores, is a little boy with high functioning autism. While social boundaries are blurred, difficulty learning in school is prevalent and forging new friendships is challenging for him, on the other side, Calum shows fearlessness on stage and exudes musical prowess.
In his “Britain’s Got Talent” audition, Calum reprises Smokey Robinson’s “Who’s Lovin’ You” (also done by Jackson 5) for the judges. He’s showed up to perform with his immediate and extended family as his support system. While onstage, Calum doesn’t give off the slightest bit of nerves, and he’s got everyone’s attention right from the first note he hits, which isn’t a piece of cake. This kid’s got soul, and it’s perfectly showcased in his song choice. The judges are floored by his range, as is the audience. Who knew such a powerhouse of a voice could come out of the mouth of a child?
Calum continues to belt his voice with emotion and feeling. He takes the stage like he’s done it a hundred times (which he probably has in grocery stores!), his presence strong and stable. His family, off to the side of the stage, is delighted. They know they’ve got a star in the making! And it gets even better when he’s done – just after he wraps his singing, his little brother comes hurtling out to hug him alongside mom. Calum breaks down into heartfelt tears as the crowd goes wild and the judges sing his praises.
Poor little guy, but he should be very proud of himself and his wonderful talent! He truly put himself out there to be seen and be heard. I’m positive we’ll be seeing a lot more of Calum!
What other performances of this little boy do you like? Share them with us in the comments below! I know I have more than one on my list!
Click the video below to watch this moving performance.
