Paul Potts

I am beginning to love opera because of Paul Potts and Nessun Dorma. First you have to see this.



Paul Potts, a phone salesman from Bristol, England, joined Britain's Got Talent in 2007. It was the first season of the competition and Simon Cowell was one of the judges. Back in school, Potts was often bullied by schoolmates that he became an introvert and developed shyness in his adult years. During his audition in Cardiff, Wales on June 9, his rendition of an operatic aria entitled "Nessun Dorma" composed by Italian Giacomo Puccini brought thousands of audience in awe of his prowess. To me, it was such a jaw-dropping performance. This led him to garner the highest count of public votes.

So in June 19, 2007, performing the same piece, Paul Robert Potts became the winner of the first series of Britain's Got Talent.



It was Potts' adrenal tumor, surgery, bicycle accident, and financial difficulties that led him to join the singing contest in England. With his £35 Tesco suit, he set foot on stage for his audition, and with Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and Piers Morgan never imagining that they were already judging their victorious tenor. Potts' audition performance earned 32,200,000 views on YouTube.

Nessun Dorma, "none shall sleep tonight" in English, was composed for the final act of an opera entitled "Turandot". Famous opera singers have interpreted this song, such as Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo. I also heard this in the ending of the romance comedy "The Mirror Has Two Faces" starring Barbra Streisand and Jeff Bridges.


Now the great news is that Paul Potts is performing here on October 8 at the PICC Plenary Hall. My instincts are egging me to watch him but we'll see about that because just look at the prices.

Ticket Prices:
P4120.00
P3605.00
P2575.00
P1236.00
P772.50

Nevertheless, I am glad I found out about an extraordinary singing wonder. Paul Potts perhaps has changed the way I look at opera and a little more about life.

Leona Lewis

I can't believe my husband was playing this in the car yesterday. I've been forgetting to get this song in my music player.

Nonetheless, I now profess my insanity to this cut of Leona Lewis. It is interesting to note that Leona Lewis is a discovery of the wise Simon Cowell. The mentor found Leona in the third series of The X Factor UK in 2006.

"Bleeding Love", the second single in her album Spirit, was the biggest-selling single of 2007 in the United Kingdom, and number one in the US on April 5, 2008.

Here's Bleeding Love, plus the lyrics.



Closed off from love
I didn’t need the pain
Once or twice was enough
And it was all in vain
Time starts to pass
Before you know it you’re frozen

But something happened
For the very first time with you
My heart melts into the ground
Found something true
And everyone’s looking round
Thinking I’m going crazy

But I don’t care what they say
I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open

Trying hard not to hear
But they talk so loud
Their piercing sounds fill my ears
Try to fill me with doubt
Yet I know that the goal
Is to keep me from falling

But nothing’s greater
Than the rush that comes with your embrace
And in this world of loneliness
I see your face
Yet everyone around me
Thinks that I’m going crazy, maybe, maybe

But I don’t care what they say

I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I....

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open

And it’s draining all of me
Oh they find it hard to believe
I’ll be wearing these scars
For everyone to see

I don’t care what they say
I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I....

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open and I....

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love

American Idol Fever

March 7, 2008

My friends know for a fact that even before motherhood struck me, I was a chanteuse! Apparently a frustrated one. Hehe. I joined singing competitions in San Miguel where I was lucky enough to be a grand finalist for two consecutive years. I sang songs of Barbra Streisand and Gladys Knight and the Pips.

I also remember the time when I auditioned to sing in Hyatt many years ago with the piano accompaniment of the late Tito Rudy. That audition night was one of the best moments of my life, me on stage singing with passion and entertaining people who equally share my love for music.

So whenever I watch American Idol, I tend to focus on every aspect of the contestants' performances. My mentor in Hyatt taught me how best to project to the audience, exude confidence in what you are singing, and as Simon Cowell always puts it, choose the right songs.

Tonight the 16 contenders will be trimmed down to the final 12 of the season 7 competition. I find some contestants to be interesting like Carly Smithson, David Cook, Chikezie, Amanda Overmyer, Brooke White, and David Archuleta.

I hope my bets get to the final 12 tonight!