When RuMac walked onto the Britain’s Got Talent stage, he brought an instrument that immediately made his audition different: an accordion.
The Scottish musician then used it to perform “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie,” the classic song by Baccara. What followed was an unusual combination of accordion playing, vocals, and disco energy. The official BGT video describes it as a “disco banger with a twist.”
Meet RuMac
RuMac is the stage name of Scottish musician Ruairidh MacLean. ITV describes him as a Scottish musician who opened the new BGT series with a disco classic and an unusual instrument choice.
According to the audition transcript, MacLean told the judges that playing music had started as a hobby that “got out of hand.”
That line gives some context to the act. Rather than arriving with a conventional pop-band setup, RuMac built his performance around the accordion.
An Unexpected Song Choice
The song RuMac chose was “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie,” originally recorded by the Spanish duo Baccara.
The song is strongly associated with disco, making the accordion an unexpected choice for the arrangement.
RuMac did not simply play an instrumental version. He also sang while continuing to play the accordion, creating a performance that combined the instrument with his vocals.
The Accordion Becomes the Center of the Act
At first, the accordion seemed to be the biggest surprise.
The judges’ initial reactions reflected the unusual choice of instrument. But as the performance developed, RuMac moved into the recognizable chorus of “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie,” and the atmosphere changed.
The Music Man reported that the audience gradually warmed to the performance as RuMac increased the energy of the song.
That progression became an important part of the audition.
Rather than relying on a dramatic production, RuMac’s performance was built around a simple idea: take a familiar disco song and perform it with an accordion.
From Scottish Pubs to the BGT Stage
RuMac’s musical style did not begin on television.
The Music Man reported that he had spent years performing in pubs and bars in Scotland, developing his unusual accordion-based act before appearing on Britain’s Got Talent.
That background helps explain why the performance felt like more than a novelty act.
The accordion was not simply a prop. It was the instrument at the heart of RuMac’s musical identity.
On BGT, he brought that style to a much larger audience.
The Judges React
RuMac’s audition produced mixed reactions at the beginning, but the performance gradually won people over.
The Music Man reported that guest judge KSI appeared surprised by what was happening, while Simon Cowell initially looked less convinced before the audience response helped change the atmosphere.
The official BGT material similarly frames the performance around RuMac’s unusual instrument choice and his attempt to win over the judges.
That makes the audition particularly entertaining to watch: the performance develops rather than revealing everything immediately.
A Classic Song With a Completely Different Sound
“ Yes Sir, I Can Boogie” has a recognizable disco identity.
RuMac’s accordion arrangement gave the song a very different musical texture.
The combination of the accordion, vocals, and upbeat rhythm created a performance that did not look like a typical BGT singing audition.
It was also an example of how familiar songs can sound completely different when an artist changes the instrumentation and performance style.
RuMac’s BGT Journey Continued
RuMac’s appearance was not limited to the audition stage.
According to BGT reference material, he later reached the semi-finals, where he performed “Take on Me” by A-ha while singing and playing the accordion.
That gave viewers another opportunity to see how he could adapt his unusual accordion-and-vocal format to a different song.
His BGT journey therefore became more than a single unexpected audition.
Final Thoughts
RuMac’s Britain’s Got Talent audition worked because it combined a familiar disco song with an instrument that few viewers would expect to hear performing it.
His accordion version of “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie” gave the classic Baccara song a distinctive twist, while his vocals and stage energy helped turn the unusual concept into a complete performance.
For BGT fans, it is a memorable example of what can happen when a performer takes a familiar song and approaches it from a completely different musical angle.
