Stunning
by Volker Weber
Watch how an unassuming man without confidence turns his life around in less than two minutes by singing Nessun Dorma from Puccini's Turandot on a UK talent show. It is a stunning display of how a tenor can touch your heart. Watch what he does to Amanda on the last "vincerò".
Paul will at the end win the finals of the talent show. There are more of his performances on YouTube, but this audition is the most touching since it shows the turn in his life.
UK readers will have seen this, but it was news to me.
Comments
Yup. We were watching this. There'd been an endless parade of no-hopers and wannabes and when this guy shambled onto the stage we thought, oh - another one.
And then he opened his mouth.
He was a mobile phone salesman before this, apparently.
I think us Brits get very emotional with this specific of music though because of the Iatlian World Cup, they played this all through it, and it always hits a chord for us as it reminds us of getting knocked out and Gazza crying, but that shouldn't take anything away from his singing though.
Thanx. Not only a tenor but one with a heart. Wow!
More!
That was amazing. 'Unassuming' is an understatement. It should be a reminder to us all to remember to follow our dreams, no matter how unattainable they may seem at first.
I actually don't like opera, but I loved this clip. I knew exactly what was coming, because NPR here in the states aired an interview with him last week.
Also, I hate this show, because I just can't laugh at the people who are so bad. But my first reaction to this guy was probably the same as most others': "Wow! What a voice! And just look at him!"
He clearly deserves the fame and glory, great story.
What's next, "The 3 Welsh Tenors"??
Wolfgang, Paul has recorded ten tracks for his album One Chance.
Actually, the winner of the german version of the show also was a (19 year old) opera singer with a lot of talent as well, but it was not quite as touching as the tale of the mobile phone salesman with the crooked teeth.
One should mention that Paul is not a amateur, he already was a fairly successful opera singer before the show: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c15_1182115773 (original source: http://www.20min.ch/unterhaltung/sounds/story/28304439). So I'm not sure if your judgment regarding his confidence is correct.
In my opinion it's all about "story telling". Marketing at it's best.
Markus,
so your comment isn't biased and the 20 Minuten article isn't about "story telling" and biased reporting?
As far as I'm concerned the Bath Opera is non-professional, they are an amateur opera, a bunch of people who do this in their spare time. He had some opera training and once sang in front of Pavarotti, so what?
I would be very surprised if the vast majority of the contestants in these talent shows don't perform regularly in some kind of amateur bands, participate in other competitions etc etc. Not much of a difference as far as I'm concerned.
Armin,
I think I need to clarify my point of view: The Paul Potts Story works, because "Got Talent" and Potts created a nice story. A non-confident mobile phone salesman, who got bullied at school, shows enormous talent and changes his life in a second. He indeed has a great singing talent, but -in my opinion- it's not the source of his success.
He got elected (and served) as a councilor in Bristol, he appeared in a tv talent show before, he sang twice a leading role in a opera (amateur opera, but still) with tv and press coverage. He sang for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, toured Italy as a solo singer and later on worked as a manager (not a simple salesman) for a mobile phone company. This is not a typical CV for a shy man lacking self-confidence.
So yes, he absolutely deserves success. But it wouldn't have worked if he -and "Got Talent"- didn't do a classic "story telling". I really like the power of marketing, so don't get me wrong. It's not that I judge "Got talent" for doing so, I just admire the success of that story. :-)
Impressed? Then you should also look ar Conny Talbot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnUOJonRcCw
Don't forget your handkerchief!
Also Tony Laf http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ9DCRl6hbA has his sad story! Amazing.
That could not come so emotional in US or Europe!
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