Singing Pinoy cousins wow Ellen DeGeneres

The Filipino duo featured in a viral video last April have made it as guests on the renowned US TV program "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." They were sent an invitation five months ago by host Ellen DeGeneres herself.

 

Cousins Aldrich Talonding and James Bucong played on the show, where Aldrich serenaded the crowd with his soulful cover rendition of “Dance with My Father,” originally by Luther Vandross. James meanwhile strummed his guitar during the performance.

 

According to a report from 24-Oras, Aldrich, said it was a life changing event when their video clocked in at over 4 million views on YouTube.

 

“When the video got viral people started recognizing us along the streets or in the malls. They even recognized us in the restroom,” Aldrich said adding “That was weird.”
 

Aside from being popular in their native General Santos City, the cousins, especially Aldrich, is very much attached to the song. When they posted the original video last April, they were just doing it for fun. But Aldrich's father has since passed away in June, which tinged the cousins' performance with a tragic shade of meaning.

 

“It really means a lot to me because I didn't really realize that the song would become true,” Aldrin admitted.

 

DeGeneres invited the cousins over to be guests at her show after she saw the video of the two. The cousins also received a surprise cheque of US$10,000 as a gift from the show for their family.

 

They are now the fourth Filipino guests of the show, joining the ranks of great Filipino singers Charice Pempengco, Rhap Salazar, at Zendee Rose Tenerefe. – Andrei Medina / KDM, GMA News