MANILA — Filipino singer Matty Juniosa wowed the judges and audience on Britain’s Got Talent with his cover of Prince’s “Purple Rain,” earning the coveted golden buzzer from judge Simon Cowell.

Juniosa’s performance drew a standing ovation and high praise from the judges.

“It’s like when you discover a new food or a new restaurant, you’re like, ‘I need to go back, I need more,’” judge Alesha Dixon said. “Whatever you’re about, I just need more of it.”

Judge Amanda Holden called the audition fantastic, adding, “But I can see how much you want it and I can see that passion in you. So well done, it was an amazing audition. And I just love you!”

Musician and boxer KSI commended Juniosa’s “outstanding” personality, noting he became a superstar the moment he stepped away from the mic stand. Cowell said the performance may have prompted “the biggest reaction we’ve had from anyone.”

The audience’s chants prompted Cowell to hit the golden buzzer, later telling the crowd, “To everyone in this audience, I’m gonna say this is your golden buzzer as well, genuinely.” The golden buzzer sends a contestant directly to the semi-finals.

Juniosa, 27, has been living in Glasgow, Scotland for three years after migrating from the Philippines and currently works as a part-time waiter.

During his audition, he shared his dream to “sing for this amount of people and to sing every day, and to make music and to conquer the world.”

“I have been waiting for this chance to finally put an end to this long thing that I’ve been thinking about myself that I will always be a singing competition loser,” he said, referring to his participation in Idol Philippines in 2019.