Iconic Crooners: Michael Bublé

My First Encounter With Michael Bublé

I still remember the first time I saw Michael Bublé. I was just a kid, aimlessly browsing the internet in search of great music. Suddenly, there he was on YouTube, his first concert at Madison Square Garden. I simply couldn’t look away. A then 34-year-old Canadian crooner holding the attention of an entire arena with charm, swing, and that unmistakable sparkle in his eyes.

“Feeling Good” hit like a freight train. Later came “Save The Last Dance For Me”. Not the version you know from The Drifters. No, this one had swagger, big band punch, and a kind of loose cool that felt effortless. Many more incredible renditions of amazing songs followed, both classics and originals. From that moment, I was sold. Not on the spectacle or the glitz, but on the feeling. The swing. The soul. Real musicians, playing real music, in real time.

My Duet With Michael Bublé in Cologne

Fast forward to 2019. I had just won The Voice of Holland and was about to see Bublé live for the first time, in the Lanxess Arena in Cologne. I already knew he always picked someone from the crowd to sing with him during that tour. So I made myself a promise: I don’t care what it takes, I’m going to get his attention tonight. And somehow, it happened.

Before I even knew what was going on, I found myself right by the stage. His arm around me. We sang a bit of “That’s Life” together. Then, in the middle of the song, he took my glasses off, put them on himself, looked at me with a grin, and kept singing. Totally spontaneous. Completely surreal. That moment lives forever in a video on my YouTube channel. One of those once-in-a-lifetime things that still makes me smile like an idiot whenever I watch it back.

The moment I sang with Michael Bublé in Cologne, 2019

Higher at the Ziggo Dome

In 2023, I went to see him again. This time it was in Amsterdam, during his Higher tour at the Ziggo Dome. And here’s the thing: vocally, he wasn’t even at his best that night. But guess what? It didn’t matter. He didn’t need to sing perfectly. The charm, the humor, the tight band, the ridiculously energetic backing vocalists, all made the show incredible. The whole night was alive. I left with this thought stuck in my head: people don’t buy tickets to hear flawless singing. They come for a feeling. A moment. Something that only happens when it’s real and live and unrepeatable.

One of My Biggest Inspirations

Tony Bennett once told him: “If you steal from one person, you’re just a thief. But if you steal from everybody, it’s research.” And that line? It stayed with me. I’ve done plenty of research. Also definitely on Bublé. I’ve learned so much by watching him and listening to him. His aura, his jokes, and how he lets people breathe. The way he builds a connection with a crowd. I try to bring some of that into my own shows. Not to imitate, but to do what he does best: make people feel something.

Experience It Yourself During My Tour

Starting this October, I’ll be back on stage with a brand-new show: Keep The Great Crooners Alive. It’s a love letter to the legends and a chance to share that same live magic with you.

🔗 Click here to see my upcoming tourdates and get your tickets! Come experience it yourself!