I swear, when I first saw the Youtube video being sent around a couple of weeks ago of this guy performing on the British version of the popular American talent show, I thought his name was Pol Pot, just like the (thankfully) now deceased mass murdering Prime Minister of Cambodia. I really should have my hearing checked.
And I will also admit that when I first saw the video (you can view it here), I thought it was a joke. I mean Paul Potts went on the television show “Britain’s Got Talent” to sing opera. He hardly looked like an opera singer with his unassuming self. The fact that he was a mobile phone salesman in real life only added to the joke. So I watched the video and he opened his mouth – it was incredible. You could see the mouth of judge Simon Cowell dropping a bit. Judge Amanda Holden seemed to be taking deep breathes. Even Piers Morgan looked stunned. Paul had the richest voice. I was still waiting for the big joke as I watched him finish singing in this beautiful voice and the camera cut to the judges. Okay, here comes the punch line now I though. But no, there was no punch line – Paul Potts was for real! The audience leapt to their feet. Simon Cowell clapped – Yes, that Simon Cowell! I don’t think I’ve ever seen him clap for any performer. He also said the performance was a “complete breath of fresh air.”
To make a long story short, Paul won the competition, beating out English bookmaker favorite Connie Talbot. Paul won 100,000 pounds in the competition, which he plans to spend part of to fix his deformed teeth and thus help improve his self-confidence. The 36-year-old opera singer went back to his job at the mobile phone store as he waits to begin work on his first album.
I loved that an unlikely guy like Paul won this competition. It gave me chills when he sang and he was exactly what this type of show should be about – they took an every day guy with an extraordinary talent and gave him a chance to live his dream. If you haven’t seen the video, you really should give it a look – this guy was incredible.