‘A Helluva Ride’- But No Free Lunch for Paul Potts
Britain’s newest classical singing sensation, Paul Potts, winner of
ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent is having a bit of a rough ride lately.
It as been ‘discovered’ that Paul has had classical training, has
sung for Pavarotti and has sung in operas before.
So what?
Many performers will tell you it takes years to become an overnight
success. Paul Potts knows that well. He’s living his dream, but it
didn’t come easy. In fact, he’s living many people’s dream – perhaps
that’s why so many are keen to indulge in the favourite British
pastime – the put-down.
Paul Potts wowed the judges – and you know already that Simon
Cowell’s not easy to wow! You could see the eye-roll from twenty
paces as Paul Potts shambled into the audition room without an ounce
of self-confidence and nervously announced he was to sing some
opera. Then he opened his mouth – and we all listened. Not with
sneers, not with a passing interest in a curio – but with admiration
for the pure talent that Paul Potts possessed. This boy’s certainly
got soul – and a romantic one at that!
This was Paul Potts’ big chance to show the world what he was made
of – and boy did he show us! He truly became a world-wide sensation
when his YouTube clip got over a million hits.
Speaking to The Observer, the singer denied allegations that he was
a professional singer.
'I have never worked as a professional singer. I have poured
everything I could earn into a few lessons, but everyone taking part
in this television show has had some training,' he said yesterday.
Too right they have – most of them anyway. Do you think that
children’s dance routine’s spring out of nowhere – or do you think
perhaps a professional – paid – dance teacher may have had just a
teensy little hand in it?
What Paul Potts did was buy singing lessons. He was so good on one
course he was asked to sing for Pavarotti – a great honour, but
unpaid – the same as his appearances with operatic societies have
been unpaid.
'It has been a helluva ride, “ Paul Potts told the Observer.
His former singing teacher, Ian Comboy, told The Observer he regards
Paul Potts's voice as 'amazingly authentic'.
We all recognized that talent and that’s why those of us who wanted
to – voted for him. If we thought he’d never had a singing lesson in
his life and that that breathing technique and pitch-perfect
performance came without work, then more fool us. Doesn’t it mean
MORE knowing that Paul Potts had to strive for it?.
