As he lounges on a leather loveseat, styled hair flicked casually over his forehead and a confident smile at the ready, Greyson Chance is no longer the nervous 12-year-old boy making small talk with Ellen DeGeneres.
Two years ago, the now 15-year-old burst onto the music scene after his cover of Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi caught the talk show host’s attention and then went viral on YouTube. Now, countless television appearances and a record deal later, the Oklahoma native is hitting the road on a solo tour, with a stop Wednesday at the PNE.
“Everything has changed,” said Chance, who performed as part of the fair’s WestJet Family Fun Series. “I’m constantly travelling now, I’m performing and writing music all the time. I’m an artist.”
The funny thing, he says, is that he never intended any of this to happen.
In April 2010, Chance was filmed playing the piano and singing at his school talent show. He picked Paparazzi because the song was “an oddball choice.” At that point, he’d had three years of classical piano lessons and no vocal training, but in the video — which has over 48 million hits — a young audience is seen erupting into smiles and hushed whispers as Chance starts singing, putting his own spin on the pop hit.
“That song is so eclectic,” he said. “Nobody would have put two and two together ... It was so different and I think that’s why people hung on to it.”
That year, Chance’s cover video was the third most popular video on YouTube.
Since then, the singer has appeared on Ellen a staggering eight times, toured North America with iCarly’s Miranda Cosgrove and Cody Simpson and performed for President Barack Obama. Chance, who recently released the single Hold On ‘Til The Night, is preparing to launch a new, self-written album the coming months.
“It’s very organic,” said Chance of his new album. “There’s a maturity to it that’s off the cuff. It’s very full of stories.”
Most importantly, people have finally stopped comparing him to YouTube trailblazer Justin Bieber. With similar windswept locks and legions of female fans, Chance says he understands why people do it, but says they are very different people.
“He’s a super nice guy and we’re both close to the same age, but we sing completely different kinds of music,” he said.
Judging from the excitement and anticipation of hundreds of fans gathered in front of the PNE stage an hour before his set, it’s clear that whatever Chance is doing is working.
Gunash Solmaz first heard of Chance after she saw him perform at a Simpson concert in Seattle last year. She says she likes Justin Bieber just fine, but Chance’s songwriting abilities stand out.
“I think they’re both talented, but I really like the way Greyson writes his music and puts it together,” said the 15-year-old. “I love how he puts so much thought into his music ... I love how he can play the piano.”
Chance says it’s a good thing he strayed from classical piano to pop songs. And the young musician, who says taking his own path just comes naturally, has some advice for wannabe young stars.
“Don’t try to follow somebody’s lead,” Chance says. “If you’re trying to force things, I don’t think it works a lot of the time. Sometimes, things just happen.”
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