(Inquirer Ph) Tyson Venegas. Image from his Instagram
Tyson Venegas. Image from his Instagram page

Filipino-Canadian teen Tyson Venegas won the first-ever platinum ticket of the American Idol’s 21st season with his soulful rendition of Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind,” all while playing the piano.

Venegas, who was one of the contestants in Season 2 of ABS-CBN’s The Voice Teens, wowed Idol judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan as he confidently hit each riffs and runs, showcasing his superb falsetto and voice curling techniques.

The performance of this 17-year old native of Vancouver, Canada was so powerful that Richie quipped that he needed to validate if he was indeed just a teenager as he said.

Richie asked Venegas’ mom, Iris, to verify his age. “He’s claiming to be 17-years-old, but he’s performing like a 45-year-old.”

Venegas’ mom told him that one of her son’s first concerts was Richie’s. “He was inspired by you, and that’s when he learned to sing from his heart.”