When world-renowned singer Michael Bublé singled out Aberdeen 17-year-old Ben Fagerstedt to sing with him Saturday night in front of 18,000 people at the Tacoma Dome, it was a dream come true for the teenage singer who ranks Bublé as second only to Frank Sinatra as a musical inspiration.
Fagerstedt already has a lot of fans locally from school and recital performances and he is the current state champion in the baritone division for the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.
As a Christmas present, Fagerstedt received VIP tickets to the Bublé concert, which meant he got to stand in a pit area directly next to the stage. In the VIP room before the show, the other concertgoers were made aware that Fagerstedt was a singer and idolized Bublé, so they cheered for him when when Bublé asked for audience participation.
When Bublé asked what Fagerstedt wanted to sing, he didn’t hesitate and requested the Sinatra classic “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” Bublé took the first half line and handed the microphone to Fagerstedt and the two sang harmony at points.
“He makes you feel like the only person in the audience, kind of like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin in the day,” said Fagerstedt, who has done singing gigs at various Grays Harbor bars and restaurants in recent months. “He’s one of my inspirations, and it was an absolute blessing to sing with him.”
Fagerstedt added that last December at the Hoquiam Brewery was his first time singing in public, but he has won other awards for singing, including the state WIAA title in the baritone division. Most of his family is musically-skilled as well, and his mom serves as the worship leader at Foursquare Church in Central Park.
In the video, Bublé holds up a sign by Fagerstedt that reads, “Dream Come True – Sing With You?” along with an unflattering picture of Bublé’s face squinting. Fagerstedt fibs that his mom made the sign, and the two both joke about their last names before he picks the song that became a signature for Frank Sinatra.
“Initially, I was extremely nervous,” said Fagerstedt. “Once he looked at me, sat down and put his arm on my shoulder, I just wanted to show him what I had.”
The band accompanied Fagerstedt, who was surprised and thought it would be just a capella, and the song appears to go smoothly, with Bublé sitting cross-legged and clapping along, sometimes joining in to sing a harmony part. At the end, Bublé holds up the teen’s hand and got an applaud chant going.
Up in the nosebleed seats, Fagerstedt’s dad, Joe, and mom, Allison, watched, literally breathless, said Joe, due to excitement.
“As a dad who wants their son to have success, it’s a pretty neat moment,” Joe said, who added that Ben made sure to pick a song out beforehand so he didn’t miss his chance like some previous audience members who couldn’t think of one in time.
In the future, Fagerstedt said he would like to form his own singing group, and hopes to continue pursuing a career as a singer.
“It would be such a hole in my life if singing wasn’t there,” he said.
