My name is Ben Lapidus. I'm 29.
I'm from Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
And I'm a singer-songwriter.
As a kid, I had, like, a ukulele that
I found in the garage and I would sit and just, like,
play melodies that I had heard.
I was mostly raised by my mom.
My dad passed away when I was six.
Totally unexpected.
I just couldn't handle it, and I started
writing songs and recording them.
I've just been...yeah.
Music was my lifeline.
- Why "AGT"?
- It's the biggest stage in the world and this
is what I want to do with my life.
I'm gonna be performing an original song,
and I hope that it resonates with the judges.
[cheers and applause]
- Hello. - Hi.
- Welcome.
Tell us who are you?
- My name is Ben Lapidus.
I am a singer-songwriter. [cheers and applause]
- So how long have you been a singer-songwriter?
- I've been writing songs since I was 14,
and I've just never stopped.
- Are you making money doing this?
- For work, I'm a sound designer
for narrative podcasts.
And this is just something I always do and never stopped,
so I'm just so thrilled to be here, you know?
[cheers and applause]
- What song are you gonna sing for us?
- I'm gonna sing an original.
- Yippee!
Good luck to you, Ben. - Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. [cheers and applause]
♪ When I get pasta at a restaurant ♪
♪ And the waiter comes around with a Parmesan cheese ♪
♪ And he says Parmesan and I say, "Please" ♪
♪ He gives me a spoonful
♪ And says, "Would you like more?" ♪
♪ And I say sure, as if it's no big deal ♪
♪ As if it's not my reason for ♪
♪ Choosing an Italian restaurant in the first place ♪
[laughter]
♪ He looks at me and says, "Is that good?" ♪
♪ Yeah, that's good, thanks [laughter]
♪ I always want more Parmesan, but I'm embarrassed ♪
- That's me.
- ♪ Why are they so stingy?
♪ Is there a shortage of Parmesan? ♪
♪ Is it really that expensive? ♪
♪ I just want more cheese, is that so wrong? ♪
♪ Just leave it at the table
[buzzer]
♪ For God's sake, I'm a grown-up ♪
♪ I have rights
♪ And I will not be shamed for my cheese intake ♪
[buzzer]
♪ I always want more Parmesan, but I'm embarrassed ♪
♪ I will not remain silent
♪ I will not give in
♪ I will die before I let big Parma win ♪
- Yeah! - More cheese!
♪ I always want more Parmesan, but I'm embarrassed ♪
- Me too!
♪ I always want more Parmesan, but I'm embarrassed ♪
- I gave him a buzzer!
- ♪ I always want more Parmesan, but I'm embarrassed ♪
[buzzer]
♪ I always want more Parmesan
[audience booing]
- What is going on?
[audience booing]
- That was beautiful. What a beautiful lyric.
- I feel the same way. I always want more Parmesan.
I was right there, I know, I know.
Why are they so stingy on the Parmesan?
- I hate bloody Parmesan.
- What? - It's disgusting.
- What? - No.
- I don't know why I'm even having
this conversation anyway, because...
I don't like Parmesan, I don't like your song.
[audience booing] So I'm saying no.
- Howie, what do you think?
- I got to say I didn't-- I didn't love it.
- Sofía?
- It's a no, I don't know what was happening.
[crowd chanting] Parmesan! Parmesan!
- Wow. - Oh, my God.
- Parmesan! Parmesan!
- No, no.
- Parmesan! Parmesan!
Yes!
This is what's up!
- Parmesan! Parmesan! Parmesan! Parmesan!
- See, maybe we have to hear it again,
and then it maybe grows on us.
- No! [cheers and applause]
- They want it!
They want it!
[cheers and applause]
- Come on, Ben. Do it again, Ben.
Do it again!
- Let's go. Parmesan!
- ♪ I always want more Parmesan, but I'm embarrassed ♪
♪ I always want more Parmesan, but I'm embarrassed ♪
♪ I will not remain silent
♪ I will not give in
♪ I will die before I let big Parma win ♪
♪ I always want more Parmesan, but I'm embarrassed ♪
♪ I always want more Parmesan
♪ But I'm embarrassed
Everybody!
all: ♪ I always want more Parmesan, but I'm embarrassed ♪
♪ I always want more Parmesan, but I'm embarrassed ♪
- ♪ I'm embarrassed
[cheers and applause]
[yelling] The people want more Parmesan!
Give it to 'em!
[loud nonsensical shouting]
Just a little bit of Parmesan!
Please! Please! - Just put it on the plate!
- Okay, Ben. Ben.
[REO Speedwagon's "Can't Fight this Feeling"]
- Yes! - You know what?
Um...
I want to kill you right now, 'cause...
- Yeah, me too. - I love you, Simon.
- I can't get that "I want more Parmesan"
out of my brain.
Take the X away.
I'm giving you a yes.
- ♪ I can't fight this feeling any longer ♪
- Me too.
- ♪ And yet I'm still afraid to let it flow ♪
- Let's go! - Howie, come on.
- No! [record scratches]
[audience booing] - Okay.
- Sofía!
[crowd chanting] Sofía! Sofía!
- Listen.
[crowd chanting] Sofía! Sofía!
- They love it!
It's the power of the people.
- Sometimes you got to listen to the public.
- Okay, so, I guess I'm gonna have to say yes!
- ♪ And I can't fight this feeling anymore ♪
- Yes!
- Ah!
- ♪ I've forgotten what I've started fighting for ♪
- Thank you. Thank you.
- ♪ It's time to bring this ship into the shore ♪
- You guys are crazy.
- No, I'm not kidding. - You're insane.
- I'll tell you why, I couldn't get the song out of my head.
- Yeah, it was a horrific song
and now we're gonna have to hear this guy again.
- We got the Parmesan!
It's all for you. Oh, my God. Give me a little.
- Parmesan! Parmesan! Parmesan!
[audience joins in] Parmesan! Parmesan! Parmesan!
Parmesan! Parmesan! Parmesan! Parmesan!