Paul Potts Brings Opera Back
‘Time to Say Goodbye’ Redux
Winning Britain’s Got Talent, Paul Potts has brought opera back into the spotlight with his performances of ‘Time to Say Goodbye’/Con te partirò and Nessun Dorma. Below are selections by Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman, Paul Potts, Pavarotti and others. There are many more versions out there. Skip through the TV show bits of the videos, just listen to the songs. Mesmerizing.
Paul Potts singing Nessun Dorma on Britain’s Got Talent
Paul Potts’ semi-final performance of Con te partirò
Paul Potts’ Final performance of Nessun Dorma
Paul Potts winning Britain’s Got Talent. Fast forward to the middle to hear Nessun Dorma, skip the rest
Pavarotti - Nessun Dorma
Fabio Armiliato - Cond: V. Gergiev - Nessun Dorma
Mario Del Monaco - Nessun Dorma
Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman - Con te partirò
Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman 2 - Con te partirò
Placido Domingo & Sarah Brightman -Con te partirò
Rinaldo Viana e Liriel - Con te partirò
Minako Honda & Akira Fuse - Con te partirò
Limor Shapira with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra - Time to say goodbye
Alis Bovarian & Marin Yonchev - Con te partirò
Drew Tretick - Con te partirò (sounds a bit like a mosquito singing)
Nicole Puga of Panama - Con te partirò
Angie Scandale singing the last minute of Con te partirò. Entire clip is expected to be on her website soon. Wait for the last note.
Haven’t had your fill? Sing along:
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Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partirò)
Quando sono solo
Sogno allorizzonte
E mancan le parole
Si lo so che non c? luce
In una stanza quando manca il sole
Se non ci sei tu con me, con me
Su le finestre
Mostra a tutti il mio cuore
Che hai accesso
Chiudi dentro me
La luce
Che hai incontrato per strada.
Con te partiro
Paesi che non ho mai
Veduto e vissuto con te
Adesso si li vivr?
Con te partiro
Su navi per mari
Che io lo so
No no non esistono pi?
Con te io li rivivro.
Quando sei lontana
Sogno allorizzonte
E mancan le parole
E io si lo so
Che sei con me con me
Tu mia luna tu sei qui con me
Mio sole tu sei qui con me,
Con me, con me, con me.
Con te partiro
Paesi che non ho mai
Veduto e vissuto con te
Adesso s? li vivr?
Con te partir?
Su navi per mari
Che io lo so
No no non esistono pi?
Con te io li rivivr?
Con te partir?
Su navi per mari
Che io lo so
No no non esistono pi?
Con te io li rivivr?
Con te partiro.
Io con te.
—
Update 24, June 2007
Read more about Nessun Dorma here, including the English lyrics and imagery analysis.
Update 31, July 2007
See also: Paul Potts Forum (Hat Tip to the Admin)
See also: Pavarotti’s Seventh Seal
Update: More Potts news here.
Stumble it!
I am enthrolled. Makes me want to dust off my voice lessons and try again. Can anyone suggest good parts for bass singers?
Well done, Paul. Good luck!
When you listen to pavarotti sing nessun dorma and even more so corelli who is the king in this aria,you realize what an ordinary voice paul potts has ,are you people all on opium out there open your bloody ears I sing this aria better than him I and I can prove it!!!
He doesnt have agreat voice he has a regular tenor voice nothing exceptional.I know my comments will be very popular out but so be it I dont care its the truth .
Larry, I feel sorry for you that you haven’t been ‘discovered’ if you are such a good performer. My sincere condolence 0:)
Paul Potts and Simon Cowell: Singing hyped emotion? H-umm?
As we reflect on Paul Potts, the newly discovered winner of “Britain’s Got Talent” [ BGT ] and his beautiful voice, we naturally reflect on our own values and life accomplishments. What gifts has God given us? Can the sun warmly shine on our faces? I cried and replayed videos several times to take in emotions of not only singer, but also judges, and audience. But my wonder had a gnawing knowing that did fit neatly into the ‘underdog to top performer’ story I heard in his storyline.
World wide delight from seeing Paul fully approved; perhaps after being de-valued for years, came as much for his humble slightly tousled persona, and as much for his ardent operatic singing. But, a charade that falsely elicits my true emotions seems a scam, especially if greedy.
I heard the story on video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA - from the opening set-up, “… the world of show biz seems a million miles away. Its Paul, a mobile phone salesman from South Wales.”. At 3.51 on the clip, Simon Cowell said, “I like shows where somebody isn’t a professional, has talent, isn’t aware of it, has a normal job, and then you see something else.”
Paul talked about his dream and that he lacked complete confidence. We can all identify. He sang. Magic. But, as Simon said, “… then you see something else.”, and like he said: I saw a former £8,000 prize [ about $16,000 U.S., now ] for Paul from Michael Barrymore’s TV talent show, and extended tutelage from operatic masters in Italy, four amateur opera productions, a concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and plans for a summer tour with them.
Obvious. Amateur talent needs training and experience. That is worthy! But my emotions are dialed into this guy who said his dream is to do what he feels he was born to do, and his struggle was with confidence! Prize money with experience in the craft seems confidence building. I saw a fellow who wore a humble jacket at his first audition before TV cameras, sans a tuxedo he knows well in opera, yet spiffed at the finals. But, his voice! Wait. A voice is the spoken word, too.
It was implied that he was an unknown without sponsors. On the British TV interview after Paul won BGT, he was clear, “You know, I’ve not taken up promotions before because people wanted me to change who I was, and I’m determined to be true to myself, because at the end of the day ….”, http://www.myspace.com/paul_potts - June 18 video, set 1.30. They wanted his talent, and he chose not? Okay, he can hold out! But, that seems strong and very confident! He refused pro-motions and we got e-motions: shy bullied kid; his best friend was his voice.
In part, there seems a true innocence. Did Paul get hijacked by Simon’s production people in his talent search company? Paul’s disclosure at the same June 18 video above, set at 0.23 near the tape ending [ reverse countdown ] is in response to the interviewer’s statement, “Don‘t forget where you had started.” Paul responded, “Well, actually, I actually sent you ( the TV station ) a tape. I actually this [ ? - a tape ? ]. And basically the letter I got back was uh, ‘Sorry. We’ve already booked the artists for the rest of the season.’” Note: 1. Paul seemed forthright and open, and 2. He had not given up on his dream, but had been aggressively marketing himself. The Simon Cowell production company machine does not seem to match that same story toward us, the public who votes. Paul seems to allow the ruse.
He was flown to New York to field key questions form NBC’s Today Show USA , like: “… and I know that you haven’t had formal training, so how did you learn to sing like this?”. He ignored the wrong assumption and said, “Umm, I’ve just always sung - just always sung. My voice has always been my best friend.”, June 21 video at 2.53; same site above. Endearing. DEAR ME! As Simon said, “has talent, isn’t aware of it ….”.
Humility means to be common and unpretentious, like its root ‘humus’. People who are ‘earthy’ do not cover over their experiences, help, and friends. Paul promotes ‘underdog’ and ‘unconfident’ assumptions. To Paul, what worth is his history about master teachers who gave him lessons, on which he spent most of the £8,000 prize money, and stage singers with whom he traveled the Italian operatic circuit http://www.bathopera.co.uk/Pas.....phies.htm, and London’s operatic experience, with more having been planned? The same question about his experience was asked again on the NBC update of June 28 video at 1.10; http://www.myspace.com/paul_potts. Paul’s same endearing answer was given again. The reality seems that he was savvy to market outside-the-opera-box, in a talent search, marketing as an Unknown Unconfident Underdog. Three U’s emoted via U-tube feels like an emotional scrub in a U-tub.
Critics comment that Paul is okay for an operatic singer; not extraordinary. I like his voice. Paul Potts should have ‘Passion’ for a middle name. His voice is memorable. What is extraordinary, though, are hyped emoted feelings. Some people might say, “That is how the show world sells! Everyone is Packaged.” No! Not here! Not with true emotions of people around the world, teary eyed for the underdog; not in this case of contestants’ climbing the ranks on rungs of public votes: and the public paying to vote by telephone! Purity of spirit should remain pure, not a sham that brings shame to hope and faith in a Horatio Alger type humanity; done at our expense. I enjoy world-class music, but not world-class charades and emoted stories, for profit! What is the Paul and Simon story?
British Simon Cowell spent 2 years forming “Four Tenors” called “Il Divo”, a popular package of the operatic world, similar to the Three Singing Tenors. Producer-scouts know their world, like Indian scouts of yore with ear to ground, listening for distant buffalo runs. The public stampede matters. Simon knows the operatic world. He owns his talent search company, produces, and packages talent. He knows that both talent and emotion sell. Did he tweak our emotions through set-up stories to launch a Paul Potts’ Premier CD; with Simon producing more mogul money? I like full emotions and full disclosures; not half-full false ‘unconfident’ ‘unknown’ ‘underdog’. Half-full leaves me half-empty.
Paul’s ‘unknown’ enigma is really sans ‘full disclosure’. What we know is a hyped ‘underdog’ ‘low confidence’ story, and it yanks at more money. If he acts fairly, works hard and has talent, then he hopefully will reap reward. Paul was elected as a Liberal Democrat councillor, the council’s youngest member in Bristol. He won their Eastville election in March 1996. That would have hopefully reaped him confidence. His friend is his voice? http://www.bristolwest-libdems.....00338.html
As BGT showcases this 36 year old mature amateur singer, then perhaps the last drop of bloody money can be wrung from innocence. Not his innocence. Ours. A contestant background video showed Paul in what appeared to be lush South Wales seaside, looking like a CD cover. Simon Cowell’s announcement at the final show that Paul Potts would be recording an album the next week was lucid business-linkage to the world. But to link our common emotions for hope in challenges, and our faith in people and love of life: to a ‘confident’ ‘hold-out promotional’ person who did not disclose his full story, is miserly manipulation. A contestant who approaches their show stage will be known: by producers: and in advance. Why? Producers want to uncover upsetting persons, especially when the prize is the doorway to a contract! They want to develop lead-in pieces about a contestant’s character and history! I want a good spirit that is fair to the closing of Nessun dorma!: Vincerò! Vincerò! Vincerò!, I shall win! I shall win! I shall win!
If Paul Potts fairly wins a competition to get a contract, then great! The June 21 NBC interview ended at 0.20 with a transition piece to NBC’s next show segment. Its topic was ironically poignant: “Greed in America: why some people will do anything in search of easy money.”. Emotion was hyped, then E-motioned by U-tube. We cried. Why? Good voice, and hyped! Perhaps disclosures of Paul and Simon were not as lyrically full as some New York city namesakes, but they might have much in common with another June 21 item from MSNBC: “Martha Stewart on grilled chicken done right” at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19054369/ . Someone, turn up the heat to grill them about “disclosure”, in this case! The sound of money echoes in my deeply emoted feelings, and charades are shallow sales.
wow…dang it…I’m gonna have to change my recent post about Paul Potts…
I still like him though. But thanks for the info SSH. He could’ve easily told his story of never quite breaking through, the surgery, the broken collar-bone just as he was about to get a breakthrough as “his story,” along with the bullying in childhood….and I think it would’ve been just as good of a “hype creator.”
To SSH,
Sir,
As one who happened onto the ‘Paul Potts Phenomenon’ by accident just after his first televised audition and subsequently followed every new video event on the way to his current star status I feel that I am at least as qualified as you think you are to expound on this ever growing saga. I admit to having read every posting on every site that comes up when typing in Paul Potts and hitting the search button and I also must say that I have responded to a few of the blathering idiots who for reasons known only to themselves just don’t get the real picture of this worldwide phenomenom. Since you obviously have put some considerable thought into your posting I will not dismiss you out of hand as just so much wasted space. What I will do is give my alternative take on what has already taken place and will likely continue to take place for Paul Potts.
In the digital age of the instant candid cameras beaming events of interest worldwide via the Internet to a constantly searching public we find ourselves overwhelmed by a flood of images that for the most part are viewed and shortly replaced by another, then another and on and on ad infinitum to soon be forgotten. But once in a while something appears on the screen before us that stops us cold and grabs us emotionally and does not let go. The jaw drops and soon the tears begin to flow as we take in every second of the video playing on the screen. We are not crying because the audience, the judges and producers are crying in the video. We are crying because Paul is crying through his song. Untold years of emotional setbacks come flooding out of his voice and into our ears and we get it instantly. We have the same emotions within us and they find an instant bond with the sound of that voice. Ten other tenors sing that same song (Nessun Dorma) and do nothing. Paul Potts sings it and 13 million hits are made to the video site worldwide. Simon Cowell is not the pilot of this rocket ship. The worldwide public is piloting this ship. Simon Cowell is just along for the ride and is smart enough to provide the necessary accessory tools and just get out of the way. Paul provides the rest from within and that is something that cannot be fabricated out of thin air. People who, like yourself, are overwhelmingly disappointed with life are unable to enter into what has happened these last 8 weeks or so and subsequently post ever so much ignorance for us to read. For that I am sorry. The best advice I can give you is to just get out of the way like Simon did and let this jugurnaut pass you by on its way into the history books.
Simon Cowell spent 2 years forming the ‘Four Tenors’ but the worldwide public has formed ‘Paul Potts’ in 8 weeks thanks to the Internet. Those who complain that he has taken the cheap road to instant fame just don’t get it. There is nothing instant about Paul. His life experience of ups and downs are his dues and they were paid in full. He now has used his ‘One Chance’ to speak to the world and we answered with 200,000 buys in two weeks in the U.K. alone. As Pierce said, he deserved to win ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and he deserves to go straight to #1 on the album charts. He deserves his worldwide tour and he deserves more albums to come. We are buying what Paul Potts is and will continue to buy as long as he remains what he is. I received mine in the mail from Amazon USA today and based on what I heard from these ten songs this is the best money I ever spent on any music pop, classical or anything else. This is not high class calculated advertising at work. This is a grass roots worldwide emotional bonding of artist and fan on a scale never experienced before. I believe that we have seen just the beginning of one of the great life stories to have ever been played out live on the candid camera of the Internet and the end is nowhere in sight.
David Francis
North Carolina, USA