STATUS: I’ve got another submission going out this week. Pretty soon I’ll be done for the holiday season.
What’s playing on the iPod right now? I PUT A SPELL ON YOU by Bryan Ferry
Sometimes a video comes along and you just realize that anything is possible—especially in publishing when all you ever seem to hear is NO.
And this video I’m going to share doesn’t actually have anything to do with publishing but it does have to do with dreams so I wanted to share. I actually cried when I watched it so Kleenex alert.
And if you want to know more about the career this moment launched, here’s a link:
http://www.paulpottsopera.org/index.html
Ah, Paul Potts.
I followed his progress via You Tube. That first video is truly a story to itself, isn’t it? A rather frowsy fellow with a jacket a bit too big and a slightly rumpled shirt. The looks of the panelists when he announces his intention to sing opera, the absolute silence of the audience as the opening instrumental strains set the stage.
It’s a bit of a shame that the aria was condensed so, but the audience reaction grows with Paul’s final crescendo and they are on their feet cheering as he has just a bit of a waver in that final line but steps up and brings the pitch in…
And then, although they cheer, he stands there, waiting, with a look on his face that says he’s ready to be sent home. When he isn’t, you can see the glint of tears as he takes his bow. He walks a little straighter as he leaves the stage. His shoulders are back and his chin is a bit higher.
I don’t know if Paul has what it takes to make it as a professional opera performer, but he has plenty of what it takes to try, and that is something we can all hope we have enough of.
Love this clip.
I loved this one, and I cried, too.
Eva Gale
Wow!!! It brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderful success story. Not only did I watch this clip but the clip where he won the whole competition and for the first time in my life, I didn’t mind opera singing. Truly talented. He gives me all kinds of hope!
This brought to tears to my eyes and my husband to his feet (from where he sat watching TV while I listened to this on my computer.)
Beautiful voice and such a wonderful story of perserverance and hope. Thank you for sharing.
Just when you think reality shows can’t sink any lower, one of them goes and does something wonderful.
Bravo, Paul Potts!
You should have put the Kleenex alert before the video… Good thing I’ve got a box right beside the monitor.
OK, now I’m heading over to YouTube.
On the subject of dreams, at least this fellow had a voice that could justify his dreams. It gets downright painful when the dreams are delusional.
I love…love…LOVE this video. (I’ve seen it before.)
And I love that you posted it. I’ve never thought of the whole writing/dream thing and used this as an example of that dream.
But my favorite YouTube is this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4qNMRu1X-E
I’ve loved this video ever since I first saw it. Love that moment when the whole audience is propelled out of their seats. Love when the cynical judges can’t stop smiling.
Oh my gosh…I just sobbed.
Donna
You mean someone got on AI who doesn’t sing rock/pop cloned-style music? Inconceivable.
(“You keep usin’ zat word. I do not zink it means wha’ you zink it means.”)
Wow! I’d never seen any of that and had no idea! The whole thing brought tears to my eyes — what an amazing story! Thanks for sharing!
He’s actually going to be performing in Downtown Toronto (at First Canadian Place) on Thursday (15th) at noon.
I can’t wait to see him.
So inspiring.
Are you expecting hear back on that newest submission before Thanksgiving, or the publishing world’s X-Mas break?
Thanks!
(Just curious.)
Wow. Thank you for posting this. I didn’t think I liked opera until I saw this, and it made me teary eyed and gave me chills. I just hopped to Amazon and with oneclick bought his CD, which looks wonderful…and has Silent Night and another Christmas song on as bonus tracks.
🙂 Pam
Anonymous, this isn’t on AI, its on “Britains got talent”, the british versiono f America’s Got talent”.
I’ve seen this vid probably a dozen times but I stop EVERY time i come across it and watch again. He’s AMAZING. I guess he’s sold over a million albums since. yay!!
speaking of anything being possible, some writers don’t think it is anymore with the current state of the short story. i have to agree with edmonson here. but what can be done about it? isn’t a career in short stories the way to get the attentions of an agent? i don’t know how it will work, if it no longer pays / nobody reads….
Great video and yes, dreams can come true, but sometimes it seems they never will, especially if you are a writer.
I watched many of the American Idol shows because I was thrilled to see others attain their dreams; I celebrated with them and was so happy to see their joy, but also there was always a bit of sadness in that I had not seen mine come to pass.
“It’s not your turn, yet,” my wife would say and it would console me for a little while, maybe a few days, but after that I would slip back into that agonizing longing for the one thing I want most right now – authorship.
There is one truth to all of this and that is to never give up your dreams and one day they will come true no matter how impossible they seem to be. My father always taught me to reach for the stars even if you couldn’t touch them. I’m always reaching.
Oh my gosh. Kleenex alert is right! Please, please don’t let this be a hoax. Let it be true. How on earth did he learn to sing like that?
There was a truck driver a few years ago with a similar story, though, and as I recall he had quite a career.
Like other commenters, I’ve seen this before, but still watch it every time it pops up.
Paul went on to win Britain’s Got Talent and has a CD out. His music is on my iPod every day or so. It reminds me that anything is possible. And I keep writing.
That was incredible! Paul Potts has a magnificent voice and I’m so glad he got this chance. 😀 Thanks for posting this.
Angie
Thanks for sharing. Yes, Kleenex came in handy.
How can you NOT cry at Nessun Dorma?
(Unless I’m singing it. Well, you cry then as well, but you also pray for death.)
I remember seeing him win the whole thing. What a Cinderella story.
Thanks for that video. It’s a keeper.
(I wish they didn’t tag on the cheesy Aerosmith song and the end, though. And was that JK Rowling operating the tape machine? ; ) )
Wow! Thanks for posting this, I never saw it before. Definitely brought tears to my eyes.
It reminded me of an old Harry Chapman song Mr. Tanner http://www.harrychapin.com/music/tanner.shtml I’m glad to see Paul’s reception was better.
That is truly the most moving thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Thank you.
I’ve seen this several times now and am moved by it each time. How fantastic that Paul won the whole thing. And isn’t it nice to Simon being…nice?
Kristin,
Thank you for pointing out this beautiful moment of human and artistic triumph.
Every time I feel down about my own abilities and prospects I come to your blog for inspiration and information. You have never let me down.
Thank you, truly.
Heather R.
I don’t even have to watch the video. I can guess you’re talking about the opera singer guy. My husband was watching Oprah last week (I know, go figure, but he was home and bored) and called me down to watch the clip of the Opera guy on a British talent show. It blew me away.
Yss, I saw that. Its pretty amazing!! And kleenex moments indeed. For the very first time I understood the passion for opera some people have.
Oooh, thank you for posting this! I’ve seen it before, but as someone else above said, I’ve got to stop and watch it again every time it’s mentioned.
It’s great to be reminded that there is such beauty in the world, and occasionally the whole jaded lot of us is forced to stop and take notice.
Thanks for the (slightly watery) smile. 🙂