Puddles auditioned for AGT in 2017 (Picture: YouTube)
He may now be known as the voice behind this year’s tear-jerking John Lewis ad, but before that, American singer Mike Geier actually auditioned for America’s Got Talent and was known for his alter-ego, Puddles Pity Party.
This year’s John Lewis Christmas ad features a rendition of Blink 182’s All The Small Things, sung by singer and actor Geier.
Geier, 58, has been performing in bands since the 90s – including Elvis Presley tribute band Kingsized – but sprung to prominence as Puddles in 2013, after recording a cover of Lorde’s Royals with the musical collective Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox.
That version has had over 32million views on YouTube, with Lorde saying that it was her favourite cover of the track.
Puddles is a melancholy clown who auditioned for America’s Got Talent in 2017, where he turned up on stage and didn’t say a word.
The audience and judges assumed his act was a mime, but, when Puddles burst into a rendition of Sia’s Chandlier, they were blown away.
Simon admitted the performance left him feeling a little emotional (Picture: YouTube)
He even got a standing ovation from Howie Mandel and Simon Cowell.
‘Oh my gosh, you’re not crying are you?’ Mel B began with the judges’ comments, while Puddles had started tearing up on stage.
‘He’s really crying, those are tears, real tears,’ Mandel said, before Cowell chimed in: ‘I’m crying!’
The singer was in tears at the audience’s reaction (Picture: YouTube)
‘I never, ever want to know who you are Puddles, I mean it, because I have a real problem with clowns but you may have turned me,’ the media mogul added.
He continued: ‘What I love about you is that this is originality at its best.’
Despite wowing the judges during his audition, Puddles only reached the quarter finals, when his cover of Royals got the dreaded buzzer from Simon.
Now however, Geier has found fame as the voice behind this year’s highly-anticipated John Lewis ad.
This year’s campaign, titled The Beginner, shines a light on care experienced children, as it follows one man’s quest to connect with a teenage girl who is being fostered by his family.
The soundtrack follows a long tradition of covers in John Lewis Christmas ads, which have ranged from Sir Elton John’s Your Song through to The Beatles’ Golden Slumbers, Keane’s Somewhere Only We Know and last year’s effort, Phil Oakey and Giorgio Moroder’s Together In Electric Dreams.
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The clip centres on a middle-aged man attempting to master the art of skateboarding, despite suffering many mishaps and accidents along the way.
The reasons for his perserverance are not initially clear, until we learn that he and his family are fostering a teenage girl named Ellie, who arrives at their home at the end of the clip.
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When we meet her we see she is clutching a skateboard – revealing the lengths her new foster father has gone to to try and connect with the youngster.
The John Lewis Christmas advert for 2022 will get its first TV airing during Friday night’s edition of I’m A Celebrity on ITV.
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Puddles Pity Party auditioned for AGT in 2017.
