Joel Goncalves, barely 15 years old, stepped onto the stage of Australia’s X Factor and proved himself to be superstar material in an explosive audition. Even though he was apprehensive before going on stage, he admits that all he wants to do in life is pursue a music career. Before appearing on The X Factor, the largest audience he had ever performed in front of was roughly 20 people, making his audition all the more nerve-racking for poor little Joel!

Before his audition, a member of The X Factor crew asked the audience surrounding Joel, “Do you think this kid looks like he could be Australia’s Justin Bieber?” This implied that Joel already possessed superstar characteristics before he even took the stage. The audience soon realized that he not only looks like a celebrity, but he also sings like one! He delivered an exceptional rendition of the challenging Michael Jackson song “The Girl Is Mine”, delivering a heartfelt performance. Watch below:

The judges were immediately pleased by Joel’s music choice, as any Michael Jackson classic is difficult to perform correctly. However, Joel quickly dispelled all misgivings as he began to sing. Joel’s nervousness faded as soon as he entered his zone, and with his family watching, he performed a fantastic version of one of the King of Pop’s best songs. The audience went crazy for him and saw the potential that this brilliant young man had on stage!

“The Girl Is Mine” is the first single from Michael Jackson’s renowned 1982 album, Thriller. From beginning to end, the album was a huge success, delivering some of Michael Jackson’s biggest songs, including the catchy title track that captivated the globe upon its release. Listen here: