**The Keytar King Who Tried to Flirt His Way to Fame on Britain’s Got Talent**
Talent shows are full of serious singers and polished dancers.
Then someone walks on stage who feels completely different — and the whole room changes.
In Week 6 of the *Britain’s Got Talent* 2013 auditions, a 23-year-old Dutch performer named Maarty Broekman did exactly that. He carried a keytar, a massive smile, and zero hesitation. What followed became one of the most unusual, joyful, and rewatchable auditions of the entire season.
A Walking Flashback to the 1980s
The moment Maarty stepped under the lights, the audience knew this would not be ordinary.
Curly hair bouncing. Tight sequined leggings sparkling with every step. A cropped jacket that looked like it came straight from an old music video. He looked like he had time-traveled from the 1980s.
He proudly told the judges his mission:
to bring the keytar back and prove that ’80s music was “the best music ever in the world.”
The theater laughed. Then it cheered. The energy shifted instantly. This was not going to be another emotional ballad. This was pure fun.
The Song That Made Everyone Lean In
Maarty launched into his original track “Backdoor Lover” — a cheeky, upbeat song about a secret romance.
He didn’t just play the keytar.
He *performed* it.
He danced with it. He pointed it at the judges like a rock star. He treated the quirky instrument like it was the coolest thing on earth. Every exaggerated move and playful pose pulled the audience closer.
It wasn’t about perfect pitch.
It was about pure entertainment.
The Flirt Strategy That Stole the Show
What made the audition unforgettable wasn’t only the music.
From the first notes, Maarty aimed almost every smile, glance, and lyric straight at judge Alesha Dixon.
Cheeky grins. Locked eyes. Full-throttle flirtatious energy that felt both over-the-top and completely charming. The chemistry was impossible to ignore.
The audience exploded with laughter.
The other judges couldn’t stop smiling.
It felt less like an audition and more like a fun, slightly cheeky love letter delivered live on national television.
The Judges Reacted Instantly
David Walliams was won over right away.
He called the song “very romantic” and said Maarty was “born to entertain.”
Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon both gave enthusiastic yeses, clearly enjoying every second of the chaos.
Simon Cowell, true to form, was the only one unimpressed.
He called the instrument “ridiculous,” the lyrics “horrible,” the singing “terrible,” and the costume “awful.”
But the other three happily overruled him. Maarty went through to the next round amid cheers and laughter.
Why This Audition Still Gets Rewatched Years Later
In a show often filled with high-stakes drama and emotional power ballads, Maarty’s performance felt refreshingly different.
He didn’t try to be the most technical singer or the most dramatic storyteller.
He simply leaned fully into his personality — quirky, confident, and unapologetically fun.
His keytar became a symbol of pure entertainment.
His playful attempts to charm Alesha created a moment fans still talk about and rewatch today.
Maarty later reached the semi-finals with the same energetic, retro style. He didn’t win the trophy, but his audition remains one of the most entertaining moments from the 2013 season.
It proved something important:
Sometimes the most memorable acts aren’t the ones that try hardest to impress.
They’re the ones that simply make people smile.
Whether you loved the keytar, laughed at the flirting, or just enjoyed the pure chaotic energy — this is the kind of performance that reminds us why we watch talent shows in the first place.
**Watch the full hilarious audition below and see why the audience (and three judges) couldn’t resist him!** 👇
