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Triumph of the average-looking: Paul Potts
I apologize to all of those who may have already seen and heard about him before, but I only just got a chance to check out Paul Potts, the cellphone salesman and former supermarket shelf-stocker from Wales who won the Britain’s Got Talent show with a mind-boggling rendition of the Puccinia aria Nessun Dorma. Someone mentioned it at work last week, but I didn’t get a chance to see the video clips until now, and they are incredible.
Start with the semi-final performance, and then check out the winning performance (singing starts about 4 minutes in), and if you want to see more there’s a clip of Paul on NBC’s Today Show. There’s no question that a big part of what caught the public imagination about Paul is his underwhelming appearance — somewhat pudgy, with bad teeth — and his shy, unassuming personality, coupled with a tremendous operatic tenor voice.
There was some controversy when British newspapers reported that he took opera lessons and even performed for Pavarotti, and had performed with a local opera company. But Potts said he paid for those lessons out of his own pocket and that the opera company was volunteer. After being diagnosed with a benign tumour and fracturing his collarbone falling off his bike, he was deeply in debt and took a job at Carphone Warehouse.
Now he is $200,000 richer and will be performing for the Queen and the Royal Family at the annual Royal Variety show.
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With that said, the show itself here in the US is a sad commentary on what passes for entertainment. I wrote a post last week about my daughter's experience on the Chicago-in-LA audition show with her dance group. Piers Morgan should not be anywhere near children, and if he is, he should be gagged.
Paul Potts probably wouldn't have made the first cut on the US version. I am not bitter about our kids not making the cut -- I didn't expect them to-- but I am bitter about them being put through the verbal abuse and humiliation, and even more bitter that they didn't even earn more than a 2-second bit in the reject montage for their efforts.
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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? If we work hard, 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 and emotions from seeing Paul fully approved; perhaps after being de-valued for years, came as much for his humble slightly tousled persona in the show, 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.”
On the clip, Paul talked about his dream and how he had lacked confidence. Yes, we identify and all desire encouragement. 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 Potts 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 a guy who said his dream is to do what he feels he was born to do, and his feelings had always lacked confidence! Experience and prize money is confidence building. He had plenty since his birth and early identity. I saw a fellow who wore a humble jacket at the semi-finals, sans a tuxedo he knows well in opera, yet spiffed at the finals. But it is the voice! No. It is also the person’s words, too.
It is implied that people did not previously value his talent: an unknown without promotions. 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 17 video, set 1.30. They wanted his talent, and he chose not? Okay, he can negotiate! But, that seems strong-minded; and very confident! He refused pro-motions. We got e-motions: shy bullied kid; his best friend was his voice.
Paul went to New York to field NBC’s basic questions: “… and I know that you haven’t had formal training, so how did you learn to sing like this?”. He ignored their 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. As Simon said, “has talent, isn’t aware of it ….”. What worth to him are the masters who gave him lessons, on which he spent most of the £8,000 prize money? … and singers with whom he traveled the stage on the Italian operatic circuit, and London’s experiences? If humility means to be unassuming and common with other people, like its root ‘humus’, then earthy and unpretentious people do not cover their history of help from other people. Rather, Paul gives us wrong assumptions.
Critics comment that for operatic singers, Paul is okay; not extraordinary. I like his voice. It is good and memorable! But, what is extraordinary are the hyped emoted feelings. Some people might say, “that is how the show world sells!” 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 a shame to hope and faith in Horatio Alger type humanity; at public 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” or “Il Divo”, a popularized package of the operatic world, similar to the Three Singing Tenors. Producers package talent. He knows that world. 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 true emotions, meaning full; not half-full false ‘unknown underdog’ ‘discovered’. That half-full leaves me half-empty.
A contestant background video showed Paul in what appeared to be lush South Wales seaside, looking like a CD cover. If 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. 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 promotion’ person who did not disclose his full story, is miserly manipulation. A contestant who approaches their stage will be known: by producers: and in advance. They want to uncover upsetting persons, especially when the prize is the doorway to a further contract! They want 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 we act fairly, work hard and have talent, then hopefully we are rewarded. But, an ‘underdog’ ‘without confidence’ is hyped and yanks at more money. His ‘unknown’ is really sans full disclosure.
If Paul Potts fairly wins a competition to get a contract, then great! The Paul Potts NBC interview ended 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.
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I once had a friend like you. I said of her, "if someone gave her a million dollars, she would be happy for a moment then start trying to figure out what they were really up to. She would conclude that since wealth seems to destroy some people, her benefactor was just trying to destroy her."
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