Mr. Zip, whose real name is Zipparah Tafari, introduced himself to the Britain’s Got Talent judges as a 49-year-old plasterer from Manchester whose true passion was music. With an eccentric and highly confident demeanor, Mr. Zip declared his ambition to go “global” and announced that he was about to perform an original song he had just written that was “going to be massive.” He then revealed the surprisingly mundane theme of his self-written rap: losing his keys and his phone. His belief in the song was so absolute, he insisted it would resonate with everyone, even “Prince Charles,” setting a high expectation for his unconventional performance.
Mr. Zip launched into “Where Me Keys, Where Me Phone,” an undeniably catchy but simple song based on a situation everyone could relate to. His performance was energetic and full of unique, rhythmic movements, including a memorable hand gesture that became synonymous with the song. He managed to transform the frustrating experience of frantically searching for misplaced items into a surprisingly entertaining and memorable rap anthem. The song’s repetitive chorus instantly burrowed its way into the listeners’ heads, confirming Mr. Zip’s confidence that it had the power to become a huge commercial hit.
The judges, initially skeptical of the eccentric rapper and his subject matter, were won over by his charm and the song’s infectious nature. Alesha Dixon loved the performance, calling the song “genius” and admitting it was easy to remember. David Walliams confessed he thought Mr. Zip was “annoying” at first, but then got more annoyed, and finally “liked” him. Simon Cowell also acknowledged the strange appeal, admitting he couldn’t get the song out of his head. Despite his reservations, Simon realized he had witnessed a potential novelty hit. Mr. Zip secured four unanimous “Yes” votes, with Simon predicting the song would likely go “straight to number one,” validating the plasterer’s global aspirations.
