He’s wowed audiences in Australia and across Europe at Eurovision in 2022. And now, the masked singer himself, Sheldon Riley, has blown away the USA with a rendition of last year’s winning Eurovision song, “Tattoo” – rocketing into the semi finals.
Dressed in his signature avant-garde style, Riley’s stunning rendition of Loreen’s song was interpreted in a new way, where the singer spoke about his need to hid behind a mask when singing, in order to feel like himself. He used this performance to dramatically unmask, in a continuation to the unmasking saga that was his performance in Turin in 2022. And even though Loreen’s performance of “Tattoo” was unforgettable in Liverpool, Sheldon made it his own, surrounded by microphones and amped it up – sans the sandwich press. The judges of Mel B, Howie Mandel, Simon Cowell and Heidi Klum each heaped praise, helping Riley make it to the semi-finals of the contest.
Riley, who represented Australia at Eurovision in Turin in 2022, accepted the invitation to hit the America’s Got Talent Stage for the highly anticipated spinoff series, Fantasy League, where 40 of the most viral and fan favourite acts including previous winners from the global franchise are invited back to go head to head. He had previously appeared on the show in 2020.
This season, the 4 judges curate a team of 10 acts each, similar to The Voice format, which they will mentor through the competition. Mel B, formerly of Spice Girls fame, chose Sheldon after she was a panellist on The Masked Singer Australia, where she was a panellist.
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When asked why he accepted an invite onto America’s Got Talent, Riley explained:
“I wanted to bring my heart to this competition, I wanted to bring some Eurovision magic and show a side to Sheldon Riley the performer and creative that I have kept concealed”
Riley went on to explain to Mel B what Eurovision and the community itself means to him and that he holds immense respect for Loreen and her song, feeling it an honour to bring the Swedish song to such a large American audience. As we’ve manifested previously, perhaps a duet with Loreen is on the cards?
Sheldon has reached the semi-finals of America’s Got Talent – time will tell if we see him into the grand final!
What do you think of Sheldon Riley’s performance? Do you think the elusive chanteuse can make it to the grand final of America’s Got Talent? Let us know in the comments below.
loreen grew cordyceps
His voice is too weak for this song. I also dislike the staging very much. The mask, the fake nails, the dress, weird hand moves. Why? It looks horrible and pathetic.
Everything you say is of course your opinion and a matter of taste, but that his voice is too weak is absolutely not true.
So glad to see the song finally be performed by a good vocalist. Like this version so much better than Loreens version.
As an American, I gotta say that America’s got talent REALLY needs to change its name already. Like half the contestants they allow on aren’t American citizens or even US residents anymore, or with otherwise any other kind of personal tie to the US.
I absolutely can’t stand his vibrato… Feels forced AF even though I know it’s natural. Sorry, I’d rather listen to Jemini…
I quite like his version. The song really suits him. If you’re experiencing both the song and his schtick (will-he-won’t-he-reveal) for the first time – as all Americans are – you’d be somewhat in awe.
You can like or dislike but you can’t say that this man is not talented and not creative.
not him still doing talent shows…
I like it but I love Loreen’s rendition!
I have no respect for Loreen when I hear a cover like this tbh
*NEW respect
So contrived these tv shows now. This makes Loreen performance outstanding
Loreen’s performance is/was still outstanding. You can also here how difficult it is to sing Tattoo.
Its so staged, he did the same revealing act at Eurovision, and his version is weak, its lacks the many layers on Loreen’s version and the cutting sophisticate emotions she has
Hate this version but good luck to him…!
All that poor Sheldon who had tough childish years Biden behind the mask blah blah blah yes it was something years ago when he first entered Australia Got Talent, but I really don’t get why someone with his talent still chasing competition and is not a global superstar??? There is something really wrong with it sorry. He has an immense talent, voice, charisma, performing skills and still enters competitions?? The mask act became now quite dated sorry
Agreed. His songs and performances should speak for themselves but it seems like noone cares.
I like the staging but the arrangement was all wrong. It didn’t allow him to show his great vocals. He seemed to be chasing the music with his vocals. It should have been slowed down to a ballad.
Is his goal to plough through every talent show in the world? That is not a good sign for anyone’s career.
he’s so desperate….
Look Sheldon, you and me and never gonna get along. I get why you want the exposure but at this point you’re just fishing for followers. I have one last thing to say to you and then I dont ever want to see your
facemask again:“WE’RE NOT THE SAAAAAAAAAAME!!! OOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!”
This is why he didn’t recieve a good result at Eurovision.
Hope he goes as far as possible! I liked everything about the performance except 2 things!
I hope it is good for his career, but I still find this sad to see. I would never demean my integrity by looking for the approval of Simon Cowell. This show is a sham.
Don’t forget Heidi Klum. This whole jury is so yucky.
I still kinda like Mel B, even with all the fake surprise. She seems at least halfway real.