Greyson Michael Chance Rocks Ellen

(CBS)  Just days before Justin Bieber is set to appear on the Ellen Degeneres show, another young Internet sensation, Greyson Michael Chance, sat down with the talk show host, then rocked her stage.

The 12-year-old came to Ellen's attention because of a breakout performance on YouTube in which he sings Lady Gaga's hit "Paparazzi" at his elementary school.

Chance, who has been studying piano for three years but has never had a vocal lesson, said he also writes his own songs including one about "a wife who dies of cancer and she goes into the stars."

Another original called "Broken Hearts" "was about two girls in particular," says Chance. "I tried to make some pretty powerful hints into it, but I am not going to say their names of course."

"Look what's happening to you now," Ellen quipped. "Now they're sorry."

Ellen also had a big surprise in store for the sixth grader from Edmund, Oklahoma when Lady Gaga herself phoned in.

"Greyson you are so sweet and so talented and I was so excited that you covered 'Paparazzi,'" Gaga told Chance. "Keep following your dreams and work really hard and stay away from girls."



Check out Chance's YouTube Channel.

[Spence88]

A fine roster of artists Jay has mentioned - to which I'd add Allison Crowe who's a talent as great as any in popular music for decades. Overall music is doing very well today. The mainstream business has lost any vision it once had and focuses on novelties and manufactured products. Thus people are looking elsewhere to find the exciting acts.

[ArtistJoeyJordan]

I think he has an awesome voice. Some singers kinda hit an area in the mind that inspires images and artistic vibe in visual artists... With me when I hear this young man sing, I get that vibe. I do wish him the very best and look forward to getting what ever music he puts out in the future.

[JayAdler1]

Follow up: Did you know that the following iconic stars had no musical training when they walked into a studio or radio station and began their careers immediately. Johnny Mathis, Mel Torme and the most amazing was The Girl From Ipanema, Astrud Giaberto. If you like that sexy Brazilian samba beat then you must remember that one. A long time ago, Astrud was a married to a major Brazilian music industry figure possibly Antonio Carlos Jobim, sorry this was over 40 years ago.Anyway she had never had a solitary lesson and the vocalist never showed up to record. So Astrud asks her husband whether she could sit in. One take and she aced the song that keeps playing and playing forever. Astrud of course became a major recording artist and if I am right, Jobim started a duo with Frank Sinatra.These are are the real entertainers we disparately need today.

[JayAdler1]

As a published music critic on a major Internet site and as someone who has always as a youth been in bands, my eternal love of music which started as a kid listening to Mitzi Gaynor performing South Pacific has a disappointing air to it. Right now we have two 12 year olds and a slew of amateur performers who skipped the "struggling step" all fueled by tween spending power, Madison Avenue and Big media. I do not think there will ever be another Bob Dylan or Joni Mitchell. These are nice young people who are essentially aspiring. I think the only saving grace we have is the Adult Alternative genre with singer songwriters and acoustic marvels like Jakob Dylan, Steve Poltz,Dave Mathews band, Counting Crows, Thea Gilmour and Dido might be in this one.I believe if we keep flooding the market and hyping those that are not genetically blessed with talent, the music industry will become a cheap night out and continue as a cherry picking download delight.

[avigil2]

I wish nothing but the absolute best for this little guy. He seems to have so much talent waiting to burst.

[actornaught]

GMC

I hope this kid is a good investment...