Sometimes dreams do come true.
The lore and legend of opera thrives on the fact that every once in a dozen blue moons a star can be born, rising from nowhere. There are stories about the prima donna who, in a fit of temperament refuses to sing, only to be replaced by the shy young understudy who rockets to stardom. I attended a performance of Simone Boccanegra at the Metropolitan Opera where the soprano, whose name I now forget, but of star quality, was ill, only to be replaced by Aprile Millo, who blew away the critics with her exquisite performance of Amelia. My mother still tells the story of the evening she finally made it to the Met to see her favorite Robert Merrill only to discover he was being replaced by a young baritone no one had heard of, Sherrill Milnes. Such a moment occurred a few weeks ago when a very shy, insecure Welsh tenor appeared out of nowhere and has set the opera world, and perhaps the pop music world on fire.…
Article comments
126 - Chris
I agree with this article except for the last sentence ..."Move over Andrea Bocelli with Paul Potts in town, no one is going to remember your name"...
Potts may develop into a tenor but that doesn't mean that he's going to replace Bocelli. I don't believe that Bocelli claims or wants to be the next greatest tenor, in fact most people listen to his songs and like him for his melodic voice when he sings those Italian pop songs and not full opera songs. I doubt Potts can do both, become a great tenor and also have a melodic voice to sings those Italian pop songs. So while Potts may be good in tenor, Bocelli is great in Italian romantic pop songs, so you can't compare apples to bananas... and no one is going to replace no one and no one is going to be forgotten.
127 - Sharon Pereira
We saw a documentary on Sunday, 10/2/08 in South Africa about Paul Potts. This man is phenominal. When he sang, Time to say Goodbye, I sobbed. Not just because of the pure intensity and passion in his voice but for the fact that he was singing with a voice of all those who have ever dreamed. I hope Paul and Jules experience life as they have never known, remaining grounded but delirious with success. You are truly an inspiration
128 - Jo
Paul Potts is in concert just awesome. Why is he not in La Scala,more to do with the lack of opera training, and the tesco suit,doing in a few minutes what most have not managed with years of training.
129 - Ideo
Paul Potts is Great! Have you also heard of Costel Busuioc? A Romanian working in Spain who came out of nowhere and won the Hijos de Babel competition. You can see his songs during the competition.
HE IS AMAZING ! - Especially his version of Nessum Dorma
130 - yahhazie
Paul Potts!!!! What a gift, touching places only heaven can touch, thanks so much for sharing, I am so moved, their are not words!!! Love to you and your wife and your future!!!
131 - Wendy Fuller Primo
I have watched the Paul Potts audition countless times now.
This, easily, is one of THE Greatest Moments EVER captured on film - in every possible way.
I love watching the judges faces turning from disbelief into total wonder.
An incredible moment.
Thanks so much for posting.
Wendy Fuller Primo
132 - Alejandra Peralta
Great article. Bullies and (most) critics are very much the same, they always go after your spirit to try to shut it down. Paul Potts should not hear a word. God gave him an unbelievable voice that could not remain silent forever. Sing! You are beautiful.
133 - so_hubris
So sad that it takes Paul Potts - a man whose voice is mediocre at best - to get people listening to opera. Those who only listen to popular music simply don't ever hear quality singing. This is the reason Potts' voice has such an impact - because it is better than the junk you hear on the radio. However, it is also clearly inferior to virtually any classically trained tenor voice, and simply blown away forever compared to some of the best tenors, whose recordings are readily available. If Potts has got you interested in opera, that's fantastic. Now go check out Caruso, Pavarotti or Bjorling sing the same arias Potts sings, and you'll really see what you've been missing.
134 - Tom
hubris. You are so wrong, we all know Paul is not classically trained like the so called greats, but his voice by far the best. Pavarotti, his voice becomes too much after one CD, too opera sounding, Pauls voice connects up with the soul and is the one you can listen to time after time. Paul without the years of opera training is making people sit up to opera, credit where it is due.
135 - Carole B
Yes Paul Potts voice is the opera peoples choice, something about the voice, it won't leave you. Hubris Are you a failed opera singer, who has trained for years, there are a few of them on Paul Potts site, put Paul in a top opera, the tickets will sell out like they have done for his sixty something shows, some in top opera houses. The tenor range of Paul compares with Pavarotti. Like some artists, they have something that makes them stand out, I am afraid Paul Potts is one of them.
136 - Julianne- USA
Paul Potts is a singing sensation because...he sings with so much blatant honesty, purity and humility. He is as genuine as a child and it resonates through his art. He approaches the music, the lyrics and the purpose with an unadulterated quest to tell the truth in the song.
He is also performing his own soul. Audiences recognize this invaluable essence and cannot help but be captivated. My gosh, mark my words, he will be legendary.
137 - Carol
hubris. Don't you think we have not heard these great classical singers, people live in the same world as you. Pauls voice is the better one to listen to, I cannot put my finger on it, but his CD is the one I want to play daily, Pavarotti after one play I want no more. Paul has made people want to listen to the classics, unique is his voice.
138 - Christina
Julianne USA You said it, his soul. He reaches the high notes but his singing is different, and you hit the nail on the head, the long trained opera singers cannot compete with that.
139 - PORTCHAWL
Paul wants to buy a decent home now prices have fallen, I hope he has enough about him to better his lifestyle, thats what most strive to do. Julianne said she liked living Port Talbot, I think she rules the roost.
140 - laura
There is something very attractive about Paul Potts besides his voice, I wonder if,Jules and Paul will stay together?, she needs to stay on her toes.
141 - Ben G - Idaho
Wow, I can watch this over and over and still get choked up when I see this humble man take to the stage and rip through the hearts and attitudes of the judges and audience. Good for Paul Potts
142 - TJ in Texas
Paul is currently in LA working on his next CD, while his first CD is still selling steadily.
His first CD, "One Chance", was recorded and released in the month following his win on Britain's Got Talent. It had sold two million copies worldwide by Christmas 2007, and hit the three million mark in June 2008 while Paul was finishing up a world concert tour.
I am thrilled at his success.
GO PAUL !!
143 - Maria
Paul is 2nd best singer in opera songs, I'm the best.
144 - Tony Banke
Paul, Take heart, you are the working man hero. Doesn't matter how you got to where your are. You have the talent to be one of the best ever
145 - sexy pots
Want to run off with this man, so sexy, alot in a voice.
146 - Kristina Anna
See Paul on My space sing Granada and Core'n grato, his voice is improving all the time. He has a very special voice.
147 - biddy
Don't you just love to see the hairs come up on the back of the attackers? Sorta like cats and dogs at each other.
I am 72, from the USA, never liked opera..or what was advertised as opera..my ears, heart and body could not take the racket. Made me so nervous!!
Then I heard Paul Potts. I have listened to him every day, carry his CD in my purse..can't let it get warped in the sun, so I can listen to it every where I go.
Just wanted to make ONE point: Please help me to understand WHY I never heard of any of these other people who are raising cain about Paul.
They should be THANKFUL someone came along to let the people of the world....yes, you heard me, the world, find out WHO Puccini is.
We listen to this music, can't understand one word of what is being said, yet we are mesmerized!
Don't you get it?
Being so negative and vocal only shows how small these folks really are.
I was raised with a different set of VALUES: Do not ever correct or criticize anyone in a crowd of more than one. It shows ill breeding.
I for one, hope to hear Paul Potts in person. That is my Christmas wish...Hope Santa is watching.
Good luck Paul, to you and your wife for the rest of your life. When you go by a river, spit in one for me.
148 - Marc
This writeup so captured what poured out of me after watching that first audition video on YouTube. Julianne and Biddy nailed it too. (Hubris...yer name nails you perfectly. lol. I applaud your self-awareness.) I came upon him 2 nights ago after a night of watching Pavarotti and opera on PBS. (God I love/miss Pavarotti.) His voice hasn't left my head...
Pavarotti never made me cry.
I've considered so many rock/country/music acts of late and no so late so overly produced. Never occured to me opera struck me as same. Too polished...too REMOVED. Was that always it? Removed from me, removed from life, removed from a music's message - which regards LIFE,(unless about death.) ;)
It occured to me opera fans are like a lot of rock fans. They like their heros on pedestals...removed from lives they live. If LUCKY in their lives, that they might come/be close and touch them.
And Wendy was right too - one of the most blessed moments ever captured on film. Usually this kind of thing is a legend you hear about.
In a nutshell: THIS is what I've been waiting to hear from opera. It's beauty and genius as connected to....expressed THROUGH real life, a real soul, likely as it was both initially intended, and conceived.
149 - JOHN
I agree,Paul should and could do an opera, better than most I have seen and they usually have been through these college, academies and such. Does anyone in the know, know if he is going to write a book, I think he should, I guarantee it will be a best seller.
150 - biddy
When I first saw Paul Potts on You Tube, I realized I was so fortunate to have witnessed the GREATEST 2 MINUTES I have EVER seen on TV. I still get chills and my eyes leak when I think about it, or hear him sing, which I might add....Is every day.
What I am most thankful for is: My daughter gave me the CD of Paul for Christmas. We got to hear it together before she passed away.
Every one in my family has Paul's CD. And none of them ever listened to Opera. Now we are waiting for the New Christmas CD and the movie.
151 - Ursula
Someone sent me a link to youtube and his first oerformance. I had goose bumps and I still get them when I hear him sing that song. Amazing the success he has had since then and I hope it keeps coming for him he deserves it; because no matter what he is still down to earth and will robably never forget where he came from and how his live has changed for the better. I for one with him all the best
152 - tom
I don't like Port Talbot, why has he bought a new home there.
153 - redswd
His voice reduced me to tears when I first heard it and still does. I thoroughly enjoy opera sung by Paul Potts. Regardless of his background or what the frustrated wannabe critics say in my humble opinion Paul is already one of the greats.
154 - David Palmet
I was amazed to hear him sing and listen to him every day.
Its nice ti see a hard working decent person have his dreams come true G-D bless him and may he enjoy his new carrer
155 - kath
Paul Potts is a sexy pots.
Bet he makes good music in bedroom.
156 - jasmine
oh god!! very proud of him!
i very underestimate him from his physicly!
but his voices like an angle voice!!!
u make me inspired paul
u make me inspired to be more positive!
and never give up!
i love u paul!
157 - Kathryn Carter
Nothing can describe how you feel,when you listen to Paul sing. As I listen to his Cd "One Chance" today and almost once a week, you can't help, but feel God's love come through the music.Thank you Paul for your perseverience!!Keep doing what you are so blessed to do,Make beautiful music!!!!
Thank you,
Kathryn
158 - alise
I want to marry him.
he is the most desirable man I have known.
159 - epi
Paul Potts' first Nessun Dorma was his best one. Though it was still below average at that time, he is slowly declining since. People who say "Paul is just in the beginning and has a lot to learn and lot to offer" are either kidding themselves or do not have ears for opera. And I think Simon Cowell is also one of them.
160 - joseph m
epi
Go see Paul Potts in concert.
Paul best singer of opera songs in world today.
If people comment without going and seeing how good this man is to day, they are just moaners and jealous green eyed monstors.
Typical of half the world, just back stabbing.
161 - Maggie
I too would like to marry him.
Pauls wife has a pretty face, but I read where she has to lose weight to concieve.
Why after 2 years has she not lost it.
They twiitter on twitter about all this food they have in restaurants.
Well restaurants do have calorie big meals.
162 - laura
Paul Potts is always talking on twitter about had a pint.
Classical singers should not drink, or talk much up to 3 days before performance.
Wonderful voice, but sometimes sounds tired.