have you seen this wonderful YouTube? The guy from Wales in talent competition?

[Hamlette]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fandrewsullivan%2Etheatlantic%2Ecom%2Fthe%5Fdaily%5Fdish%2F2007%2F06%2Ffrom%5Fwales%5Fof%5Fc%2Ehtml

Oh. My. God.

Dare you to watch it and not cry.

(Oh yeah, I want Mudcat to watch it too.)

[Buzz Clik]

1. Hm.

Reminds me of Andy Kaufman as Foreign Guy all of a sudden busting out a flawless Elvis imitation.

That was excellent.

Many thanks.

[mcg]

159. Paul's semifinal win singing Con te partirò (YouTube)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDB9zwlXrB8

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Con_te_partir%C3%B2

Nessun Dorma is from the opera Turandot by Giacomo Puccini.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nessun_dorma

[Warpy]

2. Makes you wonder how much incredible talent is being buried

by a lack of opportunity, doesn't it?

He'd have been eliminated the first week on American Idol, though. They're only looking for lounge singers.

[Az]

5. I am reminded of a story

I forget the title of the story but it may have been something by Twain. Anyway it involved a visit to heaven where all the best representatives of the various arts were appointed special recognition and the visitor was surprised to find that the greatest writer was not Shakespeare or someone similarly known but rather some unknown that had written a single work that no one had ever heard of because it was never published.

There is amazing talent out there. But the commercialism and often time competitiveness of the various industries conspire to bury those who do not have the extra bits beyond their art to survive within the system. In a capitalistic society its not just artistry that brings people to our attention. Playing within the system is a necessary and sad part of it.

[WinkyDink]

10. Name an AI winner that fits that description. Kelly Clarkson? Fantasia?

[ComerPerro]

24. This guy would have been laughed off the stage in round one of US American Idol

[WinkyDink]

29. AND British "Pop Idol". That's because this is a DIFFERENT SHOW.

It's the same as "America's Got Talent".

[ComerPerro]

32. He would have been laughed off of that too. I am aware its a different show

[WinkyDink]

34. Do you watch, though? Because there is no way he would have been "laughed off" AGT.

The winner last year was a girl with an awesome voice.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[The Backlash Cometh]

63. It's sounds like your point is that American audiences are dicks and

want to pick fights.

Hard to disagree with that assessment.

I cried when I saw the video. I've gone to several operas and was never moved like that. His difficulty in winning an American reality show, won't be because he isn't a savant at singing opera. It will be because of his lack of experience in whatever other method of singing they might require him to do during the contest. That would be my guess.

[ComerPerro]

64. not quite what I said, but its not far off.

[WinkyDink]

79. Well, I bow to your knowledge.

Because the BRITS, who originated these shows (you DID see SIMON COWELL and PIERS MORGAN on the Nessun Dorma youtube? You know, the SAME judges from AI and "America's Got Talent", respectively??) are SUPERIOR that way. Not!

[Az]

56. Actually what struck me was the near identical act

America Has Talent presented a similarly rotund opera singer with confidence problems that won the crowd over. It wasn't an identical vote but the similarity had me wondering if it was in fact deliberately staged.

[ComerPerro]

57. probably. Everything else gets stolen from British TV anyway

[roguevalley]

58. he was genuine. his shock couldn't be faked by an ordinary guy.

look at his sweet face. he's a real guy with an angelic voice. this was wonderful. thank you for posting it.

[Az]

67. My guess would be the Brit was genuine

If there was any manipulation I would put it on our side of the pond.

[newportdadde]

70. The US guy couldn't hold a candle to this guy.

[mcg]

160. Tons, in singing, acting, art, dancing, ...

My mother majored in drama, she told me she knew many very gifted actors and actresses that never turned pro.
I've seen many phenomenal amateur dancers who look professional, a professional but pretty much unknown artist at a mall painting stunning portraits, a piano competition on TV of aspiring pianists - all great - only one would get the recording contract.

Given all this talent, it's a shame that people without much talent become famous (or whatever) for other reasons.

[GCP]

3. Absolutely amazing

Thank you.

[karlrschneider]

4. Wow. Just wow. And that's one of my favorites too.

:D

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. damn, what a voice.

I love opera, and (sorry, you mudbum) I would pay to hear him on stage.

WOW.

[Hamlette]

8. yeah, and his looks and his job you just don't expect it.

I'm not a huge Opera fan but I'm thinking, after seeing this, I should try to listen to some more.

[karlrschneider]

13. A lot of it, I don't care for but some is really beautiful. I can't recall what piece

Tim Robbins played over the prison PA system in Shawshank but it's another nice aria.

[WinkyDink]

31. Pavarotti ain't exactly a svelte hottie.

[jpgray]

124. But Mario Del Monaco is!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrJC7l5Pn-k

[ChairmanAgnostic]

129. so many versions, all beautiful.

damn, I have to get to work.

[jpgray]

136. His and Franco's are amazing, but Pavarotti's is as well

And I don't like the emphasis some place on Paul's existing training and experience, his summers in Italy taking master classes--it's incredibly hard to sing no matter what your experience and he did a passable job under great pressure.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

149. as though that somehow lessens his impact. I agree.

for idiots like mudcat, we can put it into other terms:

Millions of people learn how to sit, put in a key, adust the belt, and put a car into drive or reverse. Very few dare to get on a dirt oval track and race, much less go to NASCAR or Indie. And very few should, because, although I hate car racing, I suspect that the top talent is truly unique and talented.

This is like a guy who spent time in his garage building his own car from scratch. The fact that he warmed up on a few rural dirt tracks is meaningless. He stood up in front of thousands in an audience, and millions on TV, and sang his heart out. Beautifully.

Had he been singing professionally, daily, and constantly taught (the top opera stars still take weekly classes, because they HAVE TO), it would have been different. Instead, this man has a love of music, a great natural talent and he spent a few, a VERY FEW weeks there and there in the most basic of training.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

156. he hasn't seen his feet for 23 years.

or more.

[go west young man]

153. Try some Andrea Bocelli with Sara Brightman.

Also awesome. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmS41_JdVLg&mode=related&search= It got me turned onto opera recently.

[karlrschneider]

9. I think he's very nearly as good as Pavarotti.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VATmgtmR5o4

[Warpy]

20. He will be, with minimal training

I did hear some upper mid range stress and he needs to know technical stuff to deal with that.

His ear is superb. He captured every nuance from every performance he's ever heard. His diction is wonderful. His presence is phenomenal, an ordinary looking, chubby fellow on a bare stage with no props or costumes and he sold the song and its story completely with his voice.

This is genius.

[jpgray]

53. Don't want to diminish what Paul has done, but you can't be serious

Look at the power Pavarotti throws into the performance, the control, the range--no straining, no missed notes. Awesome. I'll agree it lacks the dramatic element of a reality TV show, but try to imagine if this fat bearded guy had just shuffled onstage as a nobody and come out with that voice. I'd argue this performance is the better one.

[Nevilledog]

7. I'm having problems with youtube links.

Just reformatted my puter, running the newest Firefox, yadda yadda, but whenever I click on a link posted on DU to a specific youtube clip I just get a page with computer code on it. No error messages, no missing plugin message... nothing. When I go directly to the youtube site I can view all of the videos there. Any idea what's happening? If you could just give me the name of the video or the person you posted it I can try to find it that way.

[Hamlette]

12. title is:

Paul sings Nessun Dorma high quality video/sound

I have no idea why the links don't work but then I'm not really sure it isn't a bunch of tubes.

[Nevilledog]

18. Thanks for the title.. I found it.

Beautiful voice, glad I got to see it. I'm not computer illiterate by any means, but I'm scratching my head on this youtube link thingy.

[Nevilledog]

37. ...and major tears here too... and I'm not an Opera fan. Awesome! n/t

[tmlanders]

46. Hey Nevilledog

Are you using the Firefox AdBlock Plus plug in? You may need to turn it off for DU. I don't have this problem on DU but it happens all the time to me on Salon.

[Nevilledog]

116. I turned it off....didn't solve the problem.....grrrrr. Thanks though. n/t

[babylonsister]

91. Nevilledog, DU has a computer help group, here:

post your question and some nice, knowledgeable DUer might be able to help you figure it out.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=242

[Nevilledog]

117. Good idea.... I'll post the problem there. Thanks. n/t

[elehhhhna]

11. SWEET. K&R

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

14. Thanks for a nice lift to the spirit.

[spanone]

15. K&R

[Frustratedlady]

16. Here is another - 6 years old, I believe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En0A8KGMgq8

[Booster]

76. Wow, that little girl was fabulous. Thanks for posting this.

[Lorien]

94. Sweet

almost a hypnotic little voice.

[JTFrog]

125. That little girl

showed absolutely amazing control. I cried watching both of them. I wouldn't want to have to choose between the two.

[lies and propaganda]

17. wow. why did that make me cry!!!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

21. because opera done well elicits an emotional response

that is incredible.

Funny, some rap makes me cry, too, but for entirely different reasons.

[lies and propaganda]

35. HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MuseRider]

51. Just made me laugh.

Thanks. *snort* I could not agree more.

[Critters2]

101. Did me, too. That piece often does, but

THAT was a particularly fine performance. He has much to be proud of!! When he sang "Vincerro! (I will win)" I thought, "You damn well ought to!".

[RoBear]

19. Oh. My. God.

Incredible! Sitting at a library computer with tears running down my face...

Thank you.

[Catherine Vincent]

22. Oh that is so nice!

It reminds me of the guy that was a regular on "Just Shoot Me".



I think he worked in the mailroom. Very goofy looking guy that had a crush on Nina. Well they heard him singing once and he was singing opera. Ever since then, they made him sing to them all the time it was so lovely.

[Zodiak]

23. Most of the musical talent in this world

is not found in a record store.

Just a pearl of wisdom from a long-time musician who has seen quite a bit.

The record companies sell ou what looks pretty, not what is the best product....they gave up on looking for the best product years ago when it was determined to not be "cost effective" to scout out new talent.

Here's a clue for the industry.....the "best" musicians don't go around begging record companies for a job. They play and let the audience follow.

[karlrschneider]

26. That's the truth. I'm not a musician but I know talent when I see it.

My job has taken me to every state except Maine and I've seen literally hundreds of acts in hotel lounges that were superior to much of the stuff that gets commercial exposure. Some are crap, admittedly, but then so is some of what
gets airplay. ;-)

[WinkyDink]

33. Let alone the beautiful voices of peasants who never sing but to themselves.

[susanna]

114. Agreed.

Thanks for the reminder.

I find the best stuff (and performers) when I'm not even looking.

Too bad the record companies don't do it that way. :-(

[1monster]

130. Harry Chapin wrote a song about that sort of thing...

Mr. Tanner

Mister Tanner was a cleaner from a town in the Midwest.
And of all the cleaning shops around he'd made his the best.
But he also was a baritone who sang while hanging clothes.
He practiced scales while pressing tails and sang at local shows.
His friends and neighbors praised the voice that poured out from his throat.
They said that he should use his gift instead of cleaning coats.

But music was his life, it was not his livelihood,
and it made him feel so happy and it made him feel so good.
And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul.
He did not know how well he sang; It just made him whole.

His friends kept working on him to try music out full time.
A big debut and rave reviews, a great career to climb.
Finally they got to him, he would take the fling.
A concert agent in New York agreed to have him sing.
And there were plane tickets, phone calls, money spent to rent the hall.
It took most of his savings but he gladly used them all.

But music was his life, it was not his livelihood,
and it made him feel so happy and it made him feel so good.
And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul.
He did not know how well he sang; It just made him whole.

The evening came, he took the stage, his face set in a smile.
And in the half filled hall the critics sat watching on the aisle.
But the concert was a blur to him, spatters of applause.
He did not know how well he sang, he only heard the flaws.
But the critics were concise, it only took four lines.
But no one could accuse them of being over kind.

(spoken) Mr. Martin Tanner, Baritone, of Dayton, Ohio made his
Town Hall debut last night. He came well prepared, but unfortunately
his presentation was not up to contemporary professional standards.
His voice lacks the range of tonal color necessary to make it
consistently interesting.
(sung) Full time consideration of another endeavor might be in order.

He came home to Dayton and was questioned by his friends.
Then he smiled and just said nothing and he never sang again,
excepting very late at night when the shop was dark and closed.
He sang softly to himself as he sorted through the clothes.
Music was his life, it was not his livelihood,
and it made him feel so happy and it made him feel so good.
And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul.
(And) he did not know how well he sang; It just made him whole.

[ComerPerro]

25. that was just stunning

[WinkyDink]

27. Tears, I'm telling you. And "Nessun Dorma" is my absolute favorite operatic piece.

"Al alba, vincerro"---I HOPE HE DOES!!!

[RoBear]

28. I think what touched me most was

that the audience, most likely "common folk" if I may use that term, was on their feet almost immediately and by the end were cheering.

[Hamlette]

38. yeah, when they started in I was done for

[myrna minx]

30. That made me weep.

:applause:

[Greyskye]

36. wow

if American Idle was more like this, I might even watch it!

[A HERETIC I AM]

39. Extraordinary.

Very well done. Splendid.

[Enrique]

40. the female judge delivered a left-handed compliment

she said he is a lump of coal that will turn into a diamond. His reaction looked like "lump of coal?"

[Hamlette]

43. yeah. that was not good but it was the only part I didn't like. n/t

[glitch]

49. Some people don't recognize diamonds when they see them.

She probably thought he needed more make-up.

[Burried News]

142. Bullseye nt

[jpgray]

60. That was incredibly tacky. But it was a spur-of-the-moment metaphor

Doubtless she meant well, but was a bit flustered.

[canetoad]

71. Do you know

what is, historically, the most well known raw product of Wales?

There was nothing wrong with her comment. It was analogous and appropriate.

[jpgray]

72. Tell your best-loved Welsh friend he or she is like a lump of coal

See how that goes over. :P Lumps of coal are what "Father Christmas" gives the naughty kids, and since the metaphor of coal-to-diamond turns on something ordinary turning into something extraordinary, it's a backhanded compliment and tacky at best. "You're nothing special now, but you might turn into something special!" is the thrust of the remark, though doubtless she didn't mean it to sound that way.

[canetoad]

122. Why are you taking offence

When the Welsh singer didn't? Don't you have anything better to whine about?

[jpgray]

123. No offense or whining here, unless it's on your part. :D

Do you really not see how it may seem a bit insulting? I'm sure she didn't mean for it to seem that way, but your position of "no one could see it that way but whiners" is a bit presumptuous I think.

[1monster]

131. You guys are hyper critical. The expressions on her face and her

body language all said that she was having what looked like a Buddah moment of enlightenment; a religious experience if you will.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

151. My thoughts exactly

Implied a 'from South Wales, must be coal miner' stereotype too.

[smiley_glad_hands]

42. I dont know what words he was singing.

But it was beautiful.

[mcg]

161. Lyrics / translation of Nessum Dorma

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nessum_dorma

[glitch]

44. WOW! Thanks for that. This is what I come to DU for, I would never have seen it

Probably. K & R

[Beaverhausen]

45. He is lip-synching!

[silverweb]

47. Incredible.

And I've never even much liked opera. The expression on Mr. Potts's face more than his voice brought tears to my eyes.

Here's an ordinary guy who thought he'd probably never have a chance, with an incredible gift that is finally and suddenly recognized.

A rising star.

:applause:

[MuseRider]

48. LOVE Opera, simply love it!

This was wonderful. I love the story and I love his guts and his voice. Being a musician I know very well what it feels like to stand there all alone on a stage and be judged. I have been doing it my entire life. He must have been terrified but then the music takes over and there you go....he was wonderful. Yes, weeping here too. It is a beautiful aria.

Thank you for this, it has made a good afternoon into a much better one.

[jpgray]

50. I loved it--great dramatic bit of tv, but the singing is that of a skilled amateur

He's a bit flat in places, and a bit strainy as well in parts. That actually adds to the emotional impact in some ways. Here's a version of Pavarotti for comparison--more staid in terms of actual dramatic impact, yeah, but musically very emotive and technically awesome:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VATmgtmR5o4&NR=1

And naturally people are arguing about which performance is better. :P It just depends what you're looking for--in terms of talent and ability, I think Pav's got it in the bag.

Paul did give a stunning performance, though! Loved the bored/bemused judges changing their looks through the performance.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

54. never saw him so thin.

that has to be old.
gawd, still a beauticious opera.

[LeftHander]

137. True indeed....but with some training it may bring out the nuances

That only extensive training and practice can bring out.

Pavoratti at this stage in his career shows why he was considered the finest tenor of modern times.

[Neecy]

141. very nice Pavarotti clip...

I think he's got it in the bag, too. :)

I liked Paul's poise and his spunk, but his voice didn't knock me out. I too thought he strained somewhat and had a bit of a hard time at the end. Nice to see him go for it, though. I was really cheering for him.

It's funny how many people in this thread started off with, "I don't like opera, but..." and then raved about this guy's emotional impact. That's what opera does! It's the most underexposed form of music in this country and I think if it was more accessible it would be much more popular. I watched a youtube clip yesterday of Placido Domingo singing the final duet of Carmen with Denyce Graves and it just blew me away. Sad that probably only a handful of people got to see that performance live.

[Beaverhausen]

52. He is not an amateur- check out this link.

http://www.bathopera.co.uk/Past%20Productions/Aida/aida_biographies.htm

scroll down. There he is.

student of Ian Comboy, Paul has appeared on national and local television and radio. He has spent two summers touring Northern Italy training with one of the major opera schools, and has taken part in masterclasses with Vilma Vernocchi, Katia Ricciarelli and Luciano Pavarotti. He has also performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. With Bath Opera he has sung the roles of Don Basilio (Marriage of Figaro), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni) and the title role in Verdi's Don Carlos. Future plans include the role of Chevalier des Grieux (Manon Lescaut) for Southgate Opera, London, and another concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the summer. Oh yes! He also plans to get married in May this year!!!

[Duppers]

66. nice catch. here's what the Welsh news had to say

Paul is top of the Potts
Jun 10 2007

by Rachel Mainwaring, Wales On Sunday

HE’S battled a burst appendix, a huge tumour on his adrenal gland and a shattered collarbone after being knocked off his bike.

But Paul Potts had to face another traumatic hurdle when he took part in Simon Cowell’s new search-for-a-star show Britain’s Got Talent on ITV1.

And there’s little more daunting than singing a famous opera song in front of TV’s Mr Nasty, ex-tabloid editor Piers Morgan and actress Amanda Holden!

But last night the 36-year-old Port Talbot singer wowed the judges, who are searching for an act to perform in front of The Queen at the Royal Variety Performance and win a £100,000 prize.

Wearing a “cheap Tesco suit” and with his hair cut too short, Paul admits the trio weren’t initially impressed. But when he sang Nessun Dorma, he blew them away.

Paul said: “I don’t think they were expecting very much. I’m a bit short and overweight and had a cheap old suit on and the hairdresser had used a number two on my hair instead of a four so it made me look a bit bald.

“But when I sang, I made sure I looked at the judges and I saw Simon Cowell’s jaw drop. I knew then I must have done alright”

Paul, one of the stars of last night’s show, presented by Ant and Dec, received a standing ovation from the 2,000-strong audience at Cardiff’s Millennium Centre and much praise from the hard-to-please judges.

He said: “I think they thought my image was poor. Simon said the suit was too big, Piers told me I looked awful but Amanda said it was nothing TopShop couldn’t solve.”

The Carphone Warehouse manager now goes on to the next stage of the competition, but he’s proud of what he’s achieved.

The keen opera singer, who once had a masterclass from Pavarotti, said: “I heard some of the audience were reduced to tears after my performance and Amanda has been quoted as saying the hairs on her neck stand up when she remembers it.

“As far as I’m concerned, that’s a great achievement already, anything else is a bonus. I just saw the show as my last chance really.

“I had to take a long break after my health problems.

“First I burst my appendix, then they found a 10cm benign tumour which had to be removed and just as I’d recovered, I was knocked off my bike, shattering my collarbone. It meant I had to take quite a lot of time out from singing but it’s nice to have another shot at it.”

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_headline=paul-is-top-of-the-potts&method=full&objectid=19271531&siteid=50082-name_page.html


His pic from your link above..

[mcg]

106. But Bath Opera is an amateur company, and look at these comments ...

From
http://teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?currentpage=2&topic_id=54856

About the concert thing, here's what someone posted on youtube about that (I can't vouch for its veracity). It looks like he's an amateur that paid money to perform in those concerts.

pp7hi (6 minutes ago)
the comments are from a website for an AMATEUR opera society of which he was a member. He had to pay to be in the group. The trips to italy were paid out of savings from a shop assistant's wage. He wasn't paid for any of the concerts they were all part of the course. I know this guy pretty well and he has worked hard and paid out a lot of money so he deserves a break

From
http://www.bathopera.co.uk/about%20us/about%20us.htm

We are also very proud of having (probably) been the first amateur company to perform Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes, a hugely thrilling experience for everyone who took part and rose to the challenge.

[LeftHander]

138. Hahaha he is a sandbagger....

Watch him get better. He was acting then. Playing a part...

too funny

[lazyriver]

55. Wow.

Music in general and opera specifically should invoke an emotional response. He gets it.

[Duppers]

59. Chills! WOW, wow, wow!

Yes, I cried.

Not an opera fan, but if I could hear THIS, I'd go.

[zippy890]

61. nice, thanks nt

[Tracer]

62. There was an absolutely wonderful show on PBS ...

... called "Operatunity" just a short time ago.

It was filmed in England, and was a hunt for amateur singers to perform in a professional opera.

The amount of talent they found was incredible.

They couldn't choose just one finalist, so they chose two: one of them was a grocery check-out woman and the other was a blind mother of three kids.

When those two sang, I had giant goosebumps and plenty of tears!

Please catch this show if it ever repeats!!!!!

[jannyk]

65. Wow, thanks for the link - even though it made me cry. nt

[Beaverhausen]

68. Aretha Franklin singing Nessun Dorma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koshAexeNpI

I remember her singing it at some big awards show (the Grammies?) a few years ago because the person who was supposed to do it got sick (Pavarotti?) and she KILLED!!!

This recording isn't that great, but you get the gist.

[Duppers]

69. yes, I heard her sing it

She nailed it but good. I was wow'ed then too.

Yes, this recording's sound quality sucks.


Thanks for the reminder.

[Hamlette]

77. too bad the audience is so LOUD. I want to scream at them "SHE'S SINGING"!! n/t

[dogday]

73. I have played it three times now and it is so beautiful!

What a voice... What expression and tone....Wonderful :thumbsup:

[DesertRat]

74. A must see! K&R

[chaska]

75. Highly manipulative camera work, etc.

I'm not falling for it. No thank you, no contagious crying for me. He'll have to earn it all by himself.

[Hamlette]

78. you out Simon'd Simon....

true, its not an unedited-off-a-cell-phone piece but still...the set up had me at "I want to sing Opera"

[FatDave]

155. Agree totally.

Highly edited for emotional effect. I'm not saying the guy can't sing, he sings incredibly. But I can't say how much of this clip was the actual performance and how much was put together after the fact. For all I know, the judge reactions were all shot a week later. I'm guessing that if you were in the audience that night, you recognized an outstanding performance, but it may not have been the completely moving experience seen here.

[DrDan]

80. that was incredible

[babylonsister]

81. Thank you, Hamlette, for finding this, and you're right;

my eyes are not dry, but in a good way!

[WiseButAngrySara]

82. Why do Humans Weep at Beauty? Spinoza: "All things excellent

are rare" This touched on the divine! I can't thank you enough for posting this. It made my birthday so incredibly perfect in a way.

Why is it that humans weep at beauty? Human beings are meant to live up to their full potential. We recognize quality when we witness it. We know the beautiful, good and true when we see it. I so hope that America will wake up from thier stuporous slumber and see the inherent evil in the NeoCons PNAC agenda, or I'm afraid beauty like this will be lost forever.

This is what he is saying in english.

"None must sleep! None must sleep!

But my mystery is locked within me,
no-one shall know my name, no no

Vanish oh night!
Fade, stars
Fade, stars
At daybreak, I shall conquer
I shall conquer,
I shall conquer"

[silverweb]

83. Thank you for the translation.

The words are so very appropriate to the occasion and to this young man!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

85. hippy b-det to thee.

and thatnks for the translation!

[WiseButAngrySara]

90. Thank you for the birthday wish! And the translation is from

one of the commentors on the YouTube site.

Do you know I have never watched one single episode of American Idol? Not one. But it is inspiring rare moments like this that might justify it? I don't know.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

98. nor I.

nor those island thingies, nor do I wanna be a bazilionaire, nor many things on boredcast TeeVee.
however, if they had someone like this on, odds are that probably, I might consider the possibility of the thought crossing my mind, in passing, that is.

[BeHereNow]

92. Happy Birthday WBAS! Agreed, he made my day too.

Such beauty is rare, and to think it came from such an
obnoxious form of television makes it divine justice.
Proof that the cream always rises to the top-
even in the cauldron of slime that is television.
Have a beautiful birthday!
BHN

[WiseButAngrySara]

105. Thank you so much BHN! I did have a Happy BD and I so

agree with what you said. People know quality; that is why 'classics' are classic, and people know slime, like B* et al, no matter what the packaging. Beauty like this wakes mankind from their slumber. Please let there be more of his/her genius to awaken us from the madness that currently engulfs the Earth!

:hug: and TU!

[smoogatz]

84. There are lots of great Welsh tenors driving trucks and selling phones.

Singing is a big part of Welsh culture (as it is, still, in Ireland). But this guy's pretty extraordinary even so.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

86. I spent a summer studying law in the UK

spent several weakeneds (from the Brains and Guiness, I suspect) in welchland. Boy, are you right. They sing (beautifully) at a drop of a hat, a drop of an ale, or a drop of a scot, irish, even rum.

[puebloknot]

87. Give him a hug, fix his teeth, and bring him to the Santa Fe Opera.

I cried!

[Tinksrival]

88. Have you seen little Conny?

If you like Paul......You will enjoy this one also

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En0A8KGMgq8

[WiseButAngrySara]

132. I did enjoy it! Thanks. ....n/t

[Faux pas]

89. BRAVO Paul!!!!!!

:kick:

[DemExpat]

93. Thanks for the heads up on this one - fantastic!

DemEx

[Lorien]

95. Another beautiful YouTube: "while my ukelele gently weeps"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J30S6hkiyU

Not as flashy in terms of camera work, but I bet you never heard a Ukelele sound like it before!

[WiseButAngrySara]

134. Beautiful! Gently weeping Ukelele. I fav'ed it. ....n/t

[deadmessengers]

145. That's Jake Shimabukuro

I absolutely LOVE that song, and that rendition of it.

[Lorien]

148. Yeah, he has a few others on YouTube (linked to the video above)

"Dragon" is quite nice too, as is "crosscurrent" which is a duet with a guitarist. I guess that he's huge in Japan! (But he's an American guy from Hawaii).

[La_Fourmi_Rouge]

96. Ulp!

Simply riveting!

[jimshoes]

97. That was just beautiful

I had to hear it several times. By the third time I felt a tear welling up in my eye. Bravo Paul.

[Hamlette]

99. third time? Talk about a lump of coal!

The third time I listened I felt like I was in a wet t-shirt contest (sniff)

But then I still cry every time I hear the national anthem. Even now when I'm SO pissed at my country (mostly over torture).

[BrklynLiberal]

100. Gave me goose bumps...not just his incredible voice, but his demeaner as well.

I thought he was going to cry...and it made me feel like crying.

[gravity]

102. Wow, I was not expecting that

Gave me goosebumps. It was like something out of a movie.

[file83]

104. His spirit is soaring with the music - that's the only way I can explain it.

He's digging deep and connecting to something beautiful, and sharing it with us.

I'm so touched.

[goodgd_yall]

103. Chills and almost tears here too

What I loved about the clip was the audience and panelist reaction (especially the woman). They were brought nearly to tears as well. It's a piece that does that to you. If he can make that last note as he did, he can go places!

[renate]

143. welcome to DU!

:hi:

And yes, it was lovely to see the audience's reaction, wasn't it?

[susanna]

107. I saw it this afternoon...

how amazing. And how utterly human. All of us have talents we don't dare show. This guy did. I'm sooooooo happy for him! :-)

[WiseButAngrySara]

108. Everyone should listen to this. It is unbelievably beautiful and

so uplifting!

[WiseButAngrySara]

109. ....

[WiseButAngrySara]

110. ....

[WiseButAngrySara]

111. ....

[WiseButAngrySara]

112. ....

[susanna]

113. I saw it this afternoon.

It's astounding.

I don't necessarily like opera, but I certainly understand the ability of someone no one knows to make a moment like that. This guy did, for me. I also understand the goosebumps comment!

I won't lie. I cried. He was amazing! Thanks for posting it. :-)

[Gelliebeans]

115. Bravo.

[FightingIrish]

118. My God, we need more of that.

[Mojorabbit]

119. Just beautiful

I have heard so many masters do that song but this was the first time it made me cry.

[opihimoimoi]

120. Stunningly Beautiful...had to see/hear it twice......Thanks

[timtom]

121. My God! That is amazing!

And I DID cry, too.

The reactions of everyone there...

The total honesty of the singer...

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

126. "and he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul,

"He did not know how well he sang; It just made him whole."

Harry Chapin, Mr. Tanner

Darn it! You made me cry!!!!

[donheld]

127. He nailed it!

I wish him all the best.

[mark11727]

128. Whoa.

[Iris]

133. Fabulous. Thanks for posting this! n/t

[Chalco]

135. Holy crap! Unbelievable!!! nt

[Totally Committed]

139. That was INCREDIBLE.

Some people have dreams and talents far beyond their situations in life. This is a video about one of thise people. Not even that vile Simon what's-his-name has anything bad to say about this, otherwise, very ordinary man.

I was BLOWN AWAY.

Thanks you for sharing this!

Recommended.

TC

[progressoid]

140. I've never been able to stomach American Idol

But the British version I might be able to watch. That was great!

[Sequoia]

144. Chill bumps!

Wow! Tears springing...!

[Ron Green]

146. The difference between Paul Potts and Pavarotti

(many comparisons are being made, both here and on You Tube):

Paul is Television, and Pavarotti is Opera. The manipulative camera editing, the "ugly duckling" or "underdog" story, the format of the "talent search" show firmly ensconced in the popular culture; all these operate in a very different way from the conventions of opera, where pure ability meets high art and the days of the masses sitting through a couple hours of Verdi (as in Italy) are long gone.

Good for Paul, that he's been able to get a standing ovation from Television people. And that perhaps a number of people will check out other recordings of Nessun Dorma and get more deeply into this music. But just as Andrea Boccelli ain't the Big Time, neither is Paul.

[elehhhhna]

152. hate to say but

you're right. Here's the link to Pav' singing it and he's better.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ltje-_XZA2Y&mode=related&search=

But Paul ROCKS. And what a gorgeous piece of music. WOW.

[NoSheep]

147. Wow. I'm STILL crying!!!

[LSK]

150. wow, that was amazing!!

[cooolandrew]

154. Watch this too, link

video link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KilUT9TCwKs

[WinkyDink]

157. Singer's little girl competitor got moved to DU's Lounge:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x6612359

Simon Cowell's Top 6 Picks (includes Opera Guy and Little Girl):
http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/2007/06/14/simon-s-six-89520-19294138/

[diamidue]

158. He has had much training:

If this is the same Paul Potts, then back in 2001, he was already teaming up with Pavarotti:

scroll down:
http://www.bathopera.org/2001_DonCarlos/Biographies.html

Not exactly a nobody who stepped out on the stage for the first time, but fantastic none-the-less.

[jollyreaper2112]

162. that was a good version

I'm a bit partial to this version as well... you would NOT expect it, not from a metal act. :)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5316861762812522100&q=manowar+nessun&total=5&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

[WinkyDink]

163. SEMI-FINAL PERFORMANCE Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEFrQxSzTTQ&eurl=

[DemExpat]

164. He won tonight. Final performance.

This was just great to see this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_5W4t_CBzg

DemEx