Paul Potts: Triumph of the Human Spirit
In June of 2007, a mobile phone salesman with over $30,000 in debt flipped a coin and decided to enter “Britain’s Got Talent”, the UK’s version of American Idol. This humble man who was terribly self concious of his bad teeth strode out onto the stage and did this:
IF you made it through that clip without goosebumps and tears, see what his appearance in Round Two was like:
What did it mean to win? In the scant two months since his appearance on tv, Paul Potts has:
- Paid off his debt (which was due to several illnesses)
- Has been scheduled to sing for the Queen of England
- Recorded and released THE TOP SELLING ALBUM in Britain
- Travelled to the US, Australia, New Zealand, and all over europe
- Set up a very nice website (www.paulpottsuk.com)
- Oh, and he fixed his teeth too
But, more importantly than these amazing achievements, Potts has forever changed the world of opera. At a time when the stage is darkened as Pavarotti faces pancreatic cancer, Potts burst on the scene bringing freshness and vitality to this music. Wearing a $35 suit on a pop music show, Potts introduced opera to a new generation and upended the notion of opera being the exclusive domain of the rich. With a scant few months of formal training, Potts is now being compared to the greatest tenors of all time. His wife Julie Ann puts it simply “I was always trying to get him to believe in himself”.
It’s a lesson to all of us: Believe in the beauty of your dreams.
