Suleman Mirza

Infobox musical artist
Name = Suleman Mirza

---

Img_size =
Img_capt = Suleman Mirza
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Suleman Mirza
Born =
Died =
Origin = London, England
Instrument = Vocals
Years_active = 2008 – present
Genre = Bhangra, Pop
Occupation = Singer, Dancer
Associated_acts = Signature
Madhu Singh
Label =
Influences = Michael Jackson
URL =

Suleman Mirza (born in London) is a British Asian with Pakistani Muslim background. He is a dancer and singer who rose to fame when he performed with Madhu Singh as the dance duo Signature on the second series of television talent show "Britain's Got Talent" on ITV1 in May 2008, in which they finished as runners-up on 31 May.cite news
last = Hastings
first = Chris
title = 20 million tune in for talent show finals
publisher = The Daily Telegraph
date = 2008-06-01
url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2059689/BBC%27s-I%27d-Do-Anything-and-ITV%27s-Britain%27s-Got-Talent-finals-draw-20m-viewers.html
accessdate = 2008-06-01] .

Background

Mirza is a trainee lawyer who performs as a Michael Jackson dance tribute act. He is also a solo singer. He lives in Ilford, London.cite news
url = http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.2310620.0.redbridge_britains_got_talent_dancer_loses_final.php
title = REDBRIDGE: Britain's Got Talent dancer loses final
date= 2008-06-01
accessdate = 2008-06-01
publisher = Redbridge Guardian] He first met Madhu Singh in 2000 at an audition for a talent show at Westminster University.cite news
url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?xml=/portal/2008/05/30/fttalent130.xml
title = Britain's Got Talent: dancing to the same beat
date = 2008-05-30
accessdate = 2008-06-02
publisher = The Daily Telegraph] As part of Signature Mirza appeared at the "BBC Asian Mega Mela" held at the National Exhibition Centre in Solihull alongside Bollywood actress Mahima Chaudhary. He started performing Michael Jackson dance moves as a child, and would spend up to five hours a day freeze-framing the singer's music videos to perfect his routines. Mirza has also performed with Sunil Shetty and Anil Kapoor.cite news
title = Dancer thrills on Britain's Got Talent
publisher = news.com.au
date = 2008-04-28
url = http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,26278,23573270,-10229,00.html
accessdate = 2008-06-01]

"Britain's Got Talent"

In their audition for "Britain's Got Talent" in London, which aired on 24 April, Signature performed to "Nachna Onda Nei" (by Tigerstyle featuring Kaka Bhainiwala) - a bhangra tune mixed to the beat of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean". They combined the Michael Jackson lyrics and style of dancing with traditional bhangra style music and dancing in a comedy dance act.

Before the audition Mirza said: "I don't think the judges will have ever seen an act like mine before...in this act there will be a lot of moon walking, but there is a twist, and if they weren't Michael Jackson fans before they may even turn into one."

Mirza is then shown moonwalking around the stage, and performing Michael Jackson style dance moves. As he dances, Madhu Singh, dressed in a white coat, walks past the show presenters Ant & Dec at the side of the stage and makes his way onto the stage with a broom. The two then start a Bhangra/Michael Jackson "dance off", bringing with it a standing ovation from the audience and one of the judges, Amanda Holden.cite news
title = Britain's Got Talent: The escapologist who can't escape, a Bhangra Michael Jackson and, yup, more cute kids
publisher = The Daily Mail
date = 2008-04-25
url = http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-562024/Britains-Got-Talent-The-escapologist-escape-Bhangra-Michael-Jackson-yup-cute-kids.html
accessdate = 2008-06-01]

In the first semi-final on 26 May they performed to "Thriller", winning the public vote and so went through to the final.cite news
last = Hilton
first = Ben
title = Two 'Talent' acts make it through to final
publisher = Digital Spy
date = 2008-05-27
url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/realitytv/a96832/two-talent-acts-make-it-through-to-final.html
accessdate = 2008-06-01]

Before the final show, Simon Cowell said that he believed that Signature were one of five acts who could win the show.cite news
last = Kilkelly
first = Daniel
title = Cowell reveals five 'Talent' favourites
publisher = Digital Spy
date = 2008-05-31
url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/realitytv/a97172/cowell-reveals-five-talent-favourites.html
accessdate = 2008-06-01] In the final they again performed to "Nachna Ondei Nei" and were announced as finishing in the top three alongside street dancer, George Sampson, and boy soprano, Andrew Johnston. Sampson won the show with "Signature" finishing as runners-up.

References

External links

* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suleman-Mirza/12182613612 Facebook profile page]
* [http://www.myspace.com/sulemaninfo MySpace profile page]
* [http://talent.itv.com/videos/viewvideo/16481817 Signature's performance on "Britains Got Talent" at itv.com]