Amazon’s new holiday ad featuring a singing janitor strikes similar tune to ‘America’s Got Talent’ winner

Dreams apparently do come true, for more than one singing janitor.

Amazon’s new holiday ad, titled “Midnight Opus,” tells the story of a theater janitor whose vocal talent is discovered by his colleagues as he sings his way through a shift, polishing mirrors and mopping the stage floor.

“What the world needs now, is love, sweet love …”

An usher with a smartphone opened to the Amazon app is among those who can help deliver that love, as she purchases a tuxedo jacket for the janitor. Others work behind the scenes to set up the stage for a performance, and when the jacket is delivered to the theater and then to the janitor, his singing dream is truly realized in front of co-workers in the theater’s seats.

In a story about the ad, Seattle-based Amazon calls the 1965 song “What the World Needs Now Is Love” a reminder “of the enduring power of love, connection, and compassion.”

The theater janitor in Amazon’s ad sounds different, but follows a similar path to the real life Indiana elementary school janitor who won season 19 of NBC’s reality competition show “America’s Got Talent” in September.

Richard Goodall opened his audition by telling the show’s judges that he was a longtime janitor whose passion in life is singing. He said the title of the song he was performing — Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” — speaks for itself, and he proceeded to belt out an impressive version of the 1981 hit.

He went on to perform songs by Michael Bolton and Survivor, and another by Journey, before being backed by the actual band in the finals.

“Before ‘AGT,’ my life was very normal … I would have never thought any of this up. Never,” Goodall told NBC Insider after his win. “You’re just doing what you do. You don’t think you’re all that special. This is something you see in movies, and here I am.”

Amazon said its ad was produced by the company’s internal creative team in partnership with production company Hungry Man. The 90-second holiday spot will begin airing in the U.S. and Canada on Nov. 18 across broadcast TV, video on demand, online video, cinema, and social channels, through December.

GeekWire reached out to Amazon for any additional insight on inspiration for its ad storyline.