Who knows Paul Potts?

[Natasha]

I think Paul is great! Its wonderful to see somebody classical win a show like that!

And btw, I just wanted to say I think Simon Cowell is great. He's arrogant without question but he knows what he's doing. I personally don't think it matters if Paul Potts gets into the classical charts or not. He's doing the same songs as he did in the competition, and yes it's more crossover but it's a good way to start. Isn't he No.1 on the pop charts?

[Ross]

We saw about Paul Potts in New Zealand too and I bought the album which was released here yesterday. I really enjoyed his singing. I don't know why it wouldn't be classed as a classical album Here is the song list:-
Nessun Dorma
Time to say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro)
Amapola
Everybody Hurts (Ognuno Soffre)
Caruso
Nella Fantasia
You Raised me Up (Por Ti Sere)
My Way (A Mi Manera)
Cavatina
Music of the Night

The next night on the same current affairs programme (Close Up) they had a lot of requests to show the U tube item from the same show of a six year old girl singing Somewhere( I think) and she could be the next Hayley.She had the lady judge crying.

[Dave]

Hi guys,

Regarding the questions about Paul's album being pop or classical, I thought it was about time I had a look at the song list. Looking at the list posted above,

Time To Say Goodbye is an Italian pop ballad,
Amapola is a 1920s pop song,
Everybody Hurts is a 1990s pop song,
Caruso is a 1980s Italian Ballad,
Nella Fantasia is an Italian song based on a film theme,
You Raise Me Up is a pop song first released in 2000,
My Way is a 1960s pop ballad,
Cavatina is I think a film theme (admittedly written for for classical guitar) and...
Music of the Night is from a 1980s Musical.

Nessun Dorma is operatic classical. So that's one! but It needed about 6 classical songs (written by classical composers or 'traditional') to count as a classical album in the UK charts, so it didn't even come close.

Paul's album is a pop album made to sound classical-ish. Classical Crossover, I guess - but a different kind from what Hayley does. Simon Cowell doesn't usually bother producing albums for the classical charts and he doesn't need to. It's the album tracks that decide this, not the singer.

I suspect from the short samples I've heard that there may be synthesized backing on some or all of the tracks too, which would also stop it counting as classical in the UK. This would allow the album to be rushed out quickly of course, which is exactly what happened. Mr Cowell certainly knows how to make money.... fast! Let's hope he lets Paul Potts have some of it!

Cheers, Dave

[Stephany]

Thanks for the enlightment, Dave.

Paul is incredibly talented and I'm sure he will go far.
It will be interesting to see if he creates his own songs in the near future.

Best wishes,
Stephany

[Martin]

Paul has been singing semi-professionally on and off for eight years and went to Italy for formal training several years back. His recent success in the talent competition was a means of getting back into the profession after a long illness.

At Woburn he came across as a very down to earth type of chap and quite humble. In introducing "Jerusalem" he said to the audience that he might need some help as he hadn't sung it for a long time. This amused the conductor!

Martin

[Dave]

gerrit said:

(please move to the appropriate thread - I posted it here because there's some mention of Paul here .....)

Hmmm,

This DivX standard may be all right. It isn't everyone's cup of tea though. And it doesn't have the right aspect ratio, Here's a super high quality version now of the video that overwhelmed the Britain's Got Talent judges, with the correct aspect ratio!!.

If you don't blink, you can see Amanda's tears!

www.classicalrelatedperformances.com/pp/ppnessun.wmv (3:37, 29.5 MB)

Cheers

Gerrit

Moved from the Woburn Abbey thread by Dave

[dutchjoyce]

I just read this again,and realize that within 2 month's (Thread started 15 june)Paul became a superstar.UNBELIEVABLE.greetzz JOYCE.

[Ross]

This appeared in an article about Paul Potts in the Christchurch Press TV guide 28 Aug.
Not long before arriving in New Zealand, Potts sang Land of Hope and Glory with Hayley Westenra at a concert in Woburn Abbey. "She is an absolutely charming person and is very down to earth with no pretences about her and no agenda," he says.
Looks like Paul has been Haleywowed too.

[Belinda]

Wow his tickets are on sale tomorrow nearly 8 months before the concert


Belinda

[Stephany]

Are you going Belinda?

[Ross]

I have already booked my tickets but at $98 he isn't cheap.On Sunday I am going to see the Ten Tenors (from Australia) which cost $81 so maybe that is the price you have to pay to see quality entertainment.

[Stephany]

According to a few comments' on Paul Potts' Myspace, he recently mentioned in a SonyBMG Australia interview possible duets with Hayley Westenra and Katherine Jenkins. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif
Link : Paul Potts Myspace & SonyBMG Australia interview

Stephany

[dutchjoyce]

Bought his album when i was i n London, to see hayley at Shepherd's Bush.
I love it !!! joyce.

[Stephany]

Here is an article about Paul Potts from 'The Press' (Christchurch, NZ).
Of course he mentions Hayley i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

PAUL POTTS
Jane BOLTON
28 August 2007
The Press (Christchurch)
© 2007 Fairfax New Zealand Limited. All Rights Reserved.


A few months ago, Paul Potts was selling mobile phones in Britain. Today he is atop NZ and overseas music charts. His thing is opera. Jane Bolton reports.

Just three months ago, Paul Potts, winner of Britain's Got Talent TV programme, was flat out selling phones for The Carphone Warehouse. Today, the 37-year-old Welshman might be basking in the limelight having seen his debut album soar to the No. 1 spot on British and New Zealand music charts, but you won't find him chucking in his day job just yet.

"I haven't handed in my notice but I have taken a six-month sabbatical from work," says Potts.

"I'm fully aware that there is no such thing as a guaranteed future and I'd go back to my day job tomorrow with no problem."

Potts' album, One Chance, was made in just nine days after he captured British hearts with his opera singing as part of the show's quest for talent, but he is not planning on being a one-album wonder.

"I have plans for more albums and have a tour scheduled for early next year, when I will be returning to New Zealand."

Watched by 13.5 million people in the finals, his hauntingly beautiful rendition of Puccini's Nessun Dorma stunned the show's judges, including Simon Cowell, and audiences.

His performances soon found their way to YouTube, the internet video service, where many millions have viewed them.

And while Potts' album won't appeal to everyone -- it's not exactly rock 'n' roll or hardcore pop -- it's proving exceptionally popular with lovers of classical music and opera.

"Seven days after the final I began recording the album. The recording contract wasn't part of the prize, it was something that we were told might happen but there were no guarantees. I was very lucky," says a modest Potts.

One Chance includes Potts' version of Nessun Dorma and Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro), which he sang in the semi-final of Britain's Got Talent, alongside a Spanish version of My Way, which Paul admits was one of his more challenging choices, and a rendition of REM's Everybody Hurts sung in Italian (Ognuno Soffre).

"Opera is about singing other people's music. I can't compose so you won't see me coming out with my own songs. I once did a course that included composition when I was 16 and I was hopeless.

"The thing about music is that everyone's interpretations are different."

Potts' introduction to the world of classical music came at the age of six, when he joined music groups to escape being bullied at school. At 11, he saw the movie ET and was so touched by the soundtrack that he rushed out and bought the CD, and so his love of classical music was born.

His first performance of opera came at the age of 28 when he dressed up and performed as Pavarotti at a karaoke event.

Potts' journey to fame began in February of this year, when while working on his computer at home late one evening he came across the online application form for Britain's Got Talent. Hoping only for the opportunity to perform at the initial audition at Cardiff's Millennium Centre, he filled in the form. He hadn't sung in four years, and by the time he got up on stage at that first audition, Potts was extremely nervous.

"I hadn't sung for a long time, and you know when you have a best friend who you promise to stay in touch with but you don't, then when you see them again it's that feeling of awkwardness and guilt, that's how it was when I got up on stage.

"My voice was my best friend and I hadn't been in touch with it for a long time," explains Potts.

While Potts has no doubt experienced fame and increased fortune over the past months, he is determined to remain level headed and not to get carried away with his exposure.

"The whole process has been unreal. To be in New Zealand now is just mind-boggling. A few months ago I knew of New Zealand from watching Lord of the Rings and New Zealand wines, but I never dreamed I'd be here. I haven't made millions, but obviously we are more comfortable now. But we're still in the same house and have no plans to move on," says Potts.

Not long before arriving in New Zealand, Potts sang Land of Hope and Glory with Hayley Westenra at a concert in Woburn Abbey. "She is an absolutely charming person and is very down to earth with no pretences about her and no agenda," he says.

"I also want to remain the person who I am. No-one owes me a living; I know I have to work for it. I'm just me and I hope people enjoy my music as much as I enjoy performing."

Stephany

[Joe]

Hi all,

Paul Potts's CD "One Chance" will be released in the USA this Tuesday (September 18)

Joe