I never like to watch myself - and seeing myself as a weird teen is even worse
JONATHAN ANTOINE was just 17 when Britain’s Got Talent came along and turned him into an overnight global sensation. Twelve million people watched his rendition of the Celine Dion song The Prayer, with schoolmate Charlotte Jaconelli on YouTube in just a single night, and judge Simon Cowell predicted he would be a future star.
It was life-changing moment for the shy teenager who has now grown to become a confident, charismatic performer who is comfortable in his own skin and passionate about his music.
Now 25, he admits he has never been able to watch the original 2012 TV audition which proved such a momentous turning point for him. “It’s almost like a different person on that show. It’s really very strange. I’ve still never watched the audition in full,” reveals Jonathan, before adding with a laugh “well, I don’t like watching myself anyway, but seeing myself as a weird teen is even worse. It’s emotional looking back. It’s me, but everything is so different now. I’ve changed 1,000%. I’m a different person, a better version of myself. There have been ups and downs, but so many things have changed.”
The audition clip has now reached a staggering 123 million views. Charlotte has made her name on the musical theatre stage, while Jonathan has gone on to fulfil his potential as a tenor and is looking forward to the release of his new album Go The Distance, which was recorded at the iconic Abbey Road Studios with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
The lead track was written for him by the Grammy award-winning Diane Warren and the album kicks off with a trio of Disney classics: Go The Distance from the film Hercules, Can You Feel The Love Tonight? from The Lion King and Baby Mine from Bambi.
“It does feel a little strange that the album is coming out at this time when everyone is staying at home,” says Jonathan, “but I am so proud of it. I think of it like three acts of growing up so the first is being a boy with Disney songs. They were a big part of my childhood like a lot of others. I listened to them religiously. I watched The Lion King on repeat for three years straight. “The second act is like my great American songbook with tracks like Moon River, Summertime and John Denver’s Country Roads and then there is the final section – the classical guns out, the whole cacophony.”
The album ends with the showstopper Nessun Dorma, which Pavarotti famously sang for the
Italia ’90 World Cup. Jonathan admits it was daunting recording such a famous aria, which he describes as “the most famous song a tenor can sing”.
He says: “In the end I had to throw my hat in the ring and record the song that I and so many people love.”
Jonathan recorded a TV special set to be broadcast on PBS in North America and worldwide this summer before the coronavirus outbreak and has been spending his time at home working on new music.
“I bought some editing software before all this happened and I have been putting things out there and it has been a lot of fun really. I’ve been keeping in touch with friends online and going for walks around the garden.” He laughs: “I’ve been getting my steps in. I did discover I have a thyroid issue and that’s going to be a whole thing for a while, but I’ve grown and learned so much during this time.”
He’s also looking forward to returning to live performances once venues start to reopen again. “Everything is closed right now and tours and shows are being cancelled and rescheduled, but the instant restrictions are dropped I want to see my family and friends. “You look out of the window and you see people still living their lives despite the fact these hardships are going on in the world.
“I believe in love and hope.
People are everything and I truly believe in the overall goodness of people. People have been putting on living room and bedroom concerts and doing so much. It makes a difference.”
Meanwhile, Jonathan is already planning ahead for the future when the lockdown is lifted and says with a smile: “I want to go everywhere and do everything, I want to go to America, tour the UK ... everything.”
Go to jonathanantoineofficial. com for details of new album Going The Distance, which is scheduled for release on June 5.