Paul Potts

[CK]

I think a lot of you have heard of this Britain Got Talent winner.  Just wondering what you think about him.  He is definitely quite talented, but some people are comparing him with tenors like Pavarotti, Domingo,  Corelli etc.  Think he's gonna go somewhere with his singing carear?

[Lethevich]

IMO:

1. I have only heard him sing a few pops songs/arias, but from those he seems to have an OK voice, which could maybe be improved with training.

2. I don't think the voice sounds special and doubt that even with training he could be "great". His popularity is due to zeitgeist, or because his TV audiences (to be blunt) are ignorant of better singers.

3. His career seems soley based on the "sing one or two arias and pop covers to people in football stadiums over a low quality PA system" direction, which makes the above points irrelevent, as it's unlikely that he will ever be able to be judged by the same measure as any other serious singer (opera performances, lieder recitals).

When Pavarotti did this, he had already proven what a good voice he had, so people could listen to his previous recordings and enjoy them, while ignoring his later money-making nonsense. Potts does not have that first stage of his career (I doubt any of his amateur opera performances were either recorded or accomplished), and he is most likely not good enough to flourish in those mediums.

Once he loses popularity, he will probably make more money recording pop albums which sell less than his debut, than performing full operas with what is probably a quite "average" voice. This is a negative view, but I have seen three or four mediocre singers being raved about after singing Nessun Dorma on these pop star finding TV shows, and they come across as rejects from the classical world more than anything else...

[Xenophanes]

I'm not that impressed with his vocal accomplishments.  I've listened to the free cuts of his CD on Amazon.com and his technique just doesn't seem secure enough, though  with more vocal training he should be able to improve.  But he's already 37 and if he hasn't practiced and kept up his voice, I wonder if he really has the determination to succeed. I've seen some fairly minor professional tenors who have much more secure voices than his. As well, I'm not convinced he really has the vocal stamina for opera.  I think he will be able to do local productions.

Have a listen to the free snatches on Amazon.com and see for yourself:

http://www.amazon.com/Chance-Bonus-Tracks-Paul-Potts/dp/B000UAE87Q/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-7564307-3333512?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1194233124&sr=1-1

[CK]

Thanks for the link.  He voice does seem a bit insecure.

But I think the photograph looks way better than him in person lol.

[Mark]

What Lethe said.

[Tsaraslondon]

Having listened to some of the clips on Amazon, I'd say it's a very small voice, not in the class of even some of the lesser known singers in some of the smaller opera companies at present touring the UK. He doesn't seem to have much breath control and, as others have pointed out, the voice isn't very securely placed. With  training it might become a reasonable instrument, but, at 37, I doubt he'd ever be able to have a career in opera. Another Russell Watson or Andrea Bocelli, I'd say. No doubt the marketing men will have a field day, and make as much money out of him as possible. I find this whole exercise extremely cynical and dispiriting.

[Xenophanes]

We heard that Paul Potts was going to be on Oprah this evening, so my wife made sure we heard it.  The program was about YouTube and had guests who had done some of the more popular YouTube clips, Potts being one.  He sang Nessun Dorma, not very securely at first, and I think he's trying to put out more volume and interpret more, but is not really up to it.

Well, his CD is said to have sold a million, so he should have money. He seems like a real nice guy and I wish him well, but I don't think he will have a big opera or concert career.  I hope he manages his money well and provides for his future.