Doylestown’s Lapidus Rocks America's Got Talent With Parmesan Reprise

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. — Doylestown’s own Ben Lapidus did not disappoint on America’s Got Talent
Tuesday night reprising his Parmesan cheese song and whipping the audience into a frenzy.

Now we’ll see what America has to say.

Lapidus, the first contestant in AGT history to get four X’s during the auditions and still move on to the finals when the judges bent to audience pressure and reversed three votes, pulled another fast one on the judges starting off by singing what appeared to be a serious ballad as he took center stage.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH BEN PERFORM THE PARMESAN SONG DURING HIS AUDITION

“I’m going to show America the other side of me,” he said in an introductory video. “I’ve been writing songs since I was a kid and I’m ready to share something more serious and close to my heart. America heard me the first time and I hope they’ll hear me again.”

“Sometimes I feel so hopeless thinking about the things that feel so wrong in this world,” he sang.

Then suddenly he stopped singing. Paused for an awkward moment before screaming out, “I’m the Parmesan cheese guy!”

With that he ripped off his shirt and pants revealing a leather vest and pants underneath, and began belting out a metal rock version of his Parmesan cheese song as the audience screamed wildly.

“I always want more Parmesan, but I’m embarrassed. I always want more Parmesan, but I’m embarrassed,” he sang.

“Let’s hear it,” he shouted to the audience as they responded with the chorus.

Lapidus introduced the song during his audition for the show this past spring, singing about the influence of “big Parma” and how waiters and waitresses never give him enough Parmesan cheese.

On Tuesday night, singing in the style of Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath, Lapidus rocked the place with high-powered energy as the judges again responded with their buzzers.

“I’ve never been lactose intolerant. But he makes me lactose intolerant,” said AGT Judge Howie Mandel, over the crowd’s deafening roar.

“You’re a super nice guy, but I don’t understand how you got here. How are you back here?” asked celebrity judge Sofia Vergara.

All judge Simon Cowell could do is cover his face with his hand.

“The American people aren’t stupid,” said Lapidus, when asked why he deserves America’s vote. “We know that the big Parma bureaucrats have infiltrated the media, the financial system and the highest levels of government," he ranted.

Lapidus is one of 11 acts vying for two finalist spots and a chance to win a million dollars and a live show in Las Vegas. The finalists will be decided by a public vote through the AGT app.

Voting continues through 7 a.m. on Wednesday morning. The two acts with the top votes will move on to the final round of competition on Wednesday night.

Read Related Story: Doylestown's Ben Lapidus Appearing On 'America's Got Talent'

“Before AGT I was Ben. Now I’m the Parmesan cheese guy. I’ve just been blown away by the support,” said Lapidus, a Central Bucks High School graduate.

Prior to the competition, Lapidus was asked, “Why America’s Got Talent?”

“Because it’s the biggest stage in the world and this is what I want to do with my life,” he said.

“When I was a kid I had a ukulele that I found in the garage and I would sit and just play melodies that I heard. Music was my lifeline,” he said.

Lapidus, who works full-time as a sound designer for narrative podcasts, has been writing songs since he was 14. "This is just something I always do and never stop."