Discovering Paul Potts

For those of you who have read other articles of mine, it comes as no surprise to be reminded that I am not a TV watcher - having mostly given up the habit by 1991. I must admit, as a result, I´m sometimes out of sync with less dramatic (let´s say war and general mayhem) world happenings….events that, for whatever reason, did not - but should have grabbed my attention as I browsed the Internet or watched selected on-line video clips. In some things, particularly in the entertainment field, I can end up several years behind the times. Such is the case with my recent discovery of the astounding operatic voice of Paul Potts. Mr. Potts came to world attention in 2007 when he won the talent competition on a UK TV show called "Britton´s Got Talent". His aspiration to be an opera singer was insured by his unexpectedly thrilling performance of Puccini´s "Nessum Dorma". By the end of 2007, his first commercially released CD "One Chance" had sold over two million copes in the UK. He became a household word for those not strict adherents of other forms of sound sometimes passed off as "music" in our present day culture. He has recently released a second CD titled "Passione" and it´s estimated that by the end of 2009, his personal worth will exceed five million British Pounds. Before 07, Mr. Potts worked as a manager in a South Wales cellphone warehouse while privately nursing his dream of being a great operatic tenor. His tenacity and willingness to take a chance paid off not only for him but for the thousands of adoring fans who have clamored to hear more of his wonderful voice.

Discovering Paul was an overwhelming thrill. While I´ve not been a devoted fan of opera, many of the male tenors have stayed in my view and in my collection of classical CDs. Certainly, till now, no-one has come close to the power and emotion of Nessum Dorma (from the opera Turandot) as sung by Luciano Pavarotti. I never thought I would be privileged to hear another singer approach the performance of the greatest Italian tenor of our age. Not till Mr. Potts. And it´s not that he is as good as or better than Pavarotti, it´s that he brings to this piece and his other music as well, a subtle wholeness, a smoothing sweetness even when his voice is blasting out and holding some impossibly long high note. As the title of his second CD suggests, he brings a quite passion to his music. One can feel the full range of emotion behind his voice, supporting it and easily bringing one to chills or even tears.

But beyond all the laudable things one can say about Mr. Potts´ voice and delivery, I think of how very fortunate the rest of us are to still find in our midst a talent such as his. His very existence helps renew my soul, like having dust blown away by a refreshing sea breeze. And, if I dare going closer into the deep end of hyperbole, he renews my belief in the goodness of humanity and humanity´s right to a place in the universe. There are, of course, many talented people on the planet. I know we are all grateful for this reality. People who bring us face-to-face with the beauty of the senses, from painting, to sculpture, to poetry and to music in all it´s forms. What would the world be like without Mr. Potts and those of his kind? Where would beauty reside if it were not for all the solitary hours spent in practice by orchestra musicians, concert pianists, writers, painters, singers and all the others who share their talents to create a world that has something more to offer than death, war and disease? How drab and colorless would it all be? Too bleak,I suppose,to even consider without the thought of escape.

So,I´m thankful for and to Mr. Potts. No,I don´t lament that I did not discover him sooner. I am however, simply glad to have found him at all. And what is possibly even more exciting is to know there are other Mr. Potts´ out there just waiting to be "discovered". It´s finding treasures such as him that reinforce my time in front of the window on the world we call the World Wide Web.

I look forward to receiving his two CDs that I´ve ordered and sharing his voice with those close to me. If his name is not familiar to you and you are not put off by male operatic tenors, then do yourself a favor and go to his website and see him in his initial 2007 performance on YouTube. You won´t regret spending the time. I promise.