Calysta Bevier on Her Amazing ‘America’s Got Talent’ Tryout
“I didn’t even know that I was going to be performing on the show until a day before.”
16 year old singer Calysta Bevier wowed audiences on America’s Got Talent with both her singing ability and her story.
Before she sang, Howie Mandel complimented her short hair, at which point she mentioned that her short hair wasn’t necessarily her choice, since she is a stage 3 ovarian cancer survivor and had gone through chemotherapy.
That story, coming from a teenager, was enough to stun the panel of judges, but it was her performance of Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” that floored them.
In fact, Simon Cowell hit the shows’ “Golden Buzzer,” which automatically sent Bevier to the next round.
The courageous teenager’s rendition of “Fight Song” went viral on ellentube.
Now she’s here for a live performance with a special guest!
~~Fight Song~~
Calysta Bevier
America’s Got Talent – June 21, 2016
Calysta Bevier gets Simon Cowell’s Golden Buzzer
America’s Got Talent 2016 Full Auditions
~~Published on Jun 22, 2016~~
Full Segment
She was blown away by the support from Cowell, who can be intimidating to amateur singers.
“Getting the ‘Golden Buzzer’ from the other judges would have been great, but he’s a producer, he has worked with so many artists. So for me, it was amazing. I never expected that.”
Samuel “Sam” Tsui (born May 2, 1989) is an American singer/songwriter & video producer. He rose to fame as an internet celebrity and is known for covering songs by popular artists like Adele, Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars, as well as some original songs, medleys, and mashups, along with his frequent collaborations with fellow YouTuber Kurt Hugo Schneider.
As of August 31, 2015, Tsui had reached 2.1 million subscribers.
Casey Breves performs across the United States, Europe, and Asia as both a pop and classical vocalist. Born and raised in New York, he sang with the GRAMMY Award‐winning male vocal ensemble Chanticleer for three seasons (2010-‐2013) immediately after graduating from Yale University, where he was a member of Schola Cantorum, the Duke’s Men of Yale and the Whiffenpoofs.
He most recently has been recording and producing originals and covers of pop music, and releasing videos on YouTube.
It was almost exactly one year ago that I posted my first mashup with the talented Casey Breves, and we had no idea how much you guys would like it – so to celebrate, created a new mashup for you all to enjoy!
Took Rachel Platten‘s new single “Stand By You” and combined it with one of my favorite songs, Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me”, and this was the result – a huge thanks to Jason and Joel for helping us out!
Piano Guys combine ‘Fight Song,’ ‘Amazing Grace’ in unlikely Scottish mashup
By Alex Johnson, Deseret News
Published: Friday, Oct. 30 2015
The Christian hymn “Amazing Grace” and Rachel Platten’s contemporary hit “Fight Song” may seem like an unlikely pair, but the two songs have one thing in common: a message of hope.
Although the The Piano Guys are known for playing entertaining and uplifting music in unusual locations,their latest video isn’t just fun to watch. The group combined the songs “Amazing Grace,” “Fight Song” and short interludes from “Scotland The Brave” to create an anthem of strength.
“This song and video for us was a struggle but a beautifully defining one,” according to the video’s description.
“We all struggle.
Not in the same way, nor at the same level, but we all want a fighting chance,” The Piano Guys wrote.
“And we all share in one gift: the will to make the most of our lives.
To take what we’ve been given and turn it into something better could be considered the sentient measuring stick of success.
But to do so seldom is simple and more often requires we fight.
Not against each other.
But against the current threatening to drown the ambition in us.”
The video was filmed at the Eilean Donan Castle in Dornie, Scotland, where the group collaborated with members of the Wasatch and District Pipe Band.
When we first heard Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” we were inspired by its message. In a world where we too often talk about our differences, we have at least one thing in common. We all struggle. Not in the same way, nor at the same level, but we all want a fighting chance. And we all share in one gift: The will to make the most of our lives. To take what we’ve been given and turn it into something better could be considered the sentient measuring stick of success. But to do so seldom is simple and more often requires we fight. Not against each other. But against the current threatening to drown the ambition in us.
There is tremendous purpose in struggle.
It is when the struggle becomes so fierce that we must fight to swim or sink. John Newton, who penned “Amazing Grace,” worked on a slave trader ship and condoned inhuman atrocities. As his ship was on the verge of being torn apart in a violent storm he called out for Grace. Once his feet were again planted on firm soil he determined to change. His covenant was written into these words,
“I once was lost, but now I’m found; was blind, but now I see.”
Grace is the defining moment when we face and fight a monster poised to define us or destroy us.
This song and video for us was a struggle, but a beautifully defining one. We chose the Scottish culture to depict the dichotomy between Grace and struggle. Who else is tough enough and yet delicate enough to don a kilt in battle? And the Scottish pipe and drum are the ultimate conveyors of melody and cadence. One represents Grace, the other the indomitable fight.
Our dream was to film one of the most iconic castles on the Earth, Eilean Donan Castle in Dornie, Scotland.
Grace somehow made this video possible. We had to postpone our trip to Scotland several times, and when we could no longer postpone we had to leap in faith because just before we left everything had fallen through. It wasn’t until we were in the moment and had to let go of our pride and anxiety when everything Gracefully came together.
We recognize that this video is far less important than a fight for one’s life. We hope this music will serve as an anthem for those that are in the fight of their lives. We have people close to us who inspire us every day with their grace in the face of such a struggle.
This video is dedicated to them.
The superheroes in our lives that don’t wear capes, but wear a smile under villainous pressure — those that have been through so many defining moments that they are intimately acquainted with Grace and know it to be close cousins with hope. We pray “Grace will bring them safety through.”
CREDITS
Fight Song written by Rachel Platten & Dave Bassett
Amazing Grace (traditional) – lyrics by John Newton
Scotland The Brave (traditional)
It Is What It Is 