an underdog concurs

June 28, 2007 at 6:24 PM

I have determined after much research, experimentation and consideration that the two most addictive things outside of chocolate (*eats a rasberry marilla truffle*) that are readily available to man and woman alike are facebook and youtube. Facebook allows you to delve back into your imagination and to take part in pretend mud fights, hugs, cookie baking, or ball playing. Wait. I actually did all of that when I was a little kid! Why am I now pretending to do those things? Why is it such a bad thing for a "grown up" to eat raw cookie dough or to roll around in the mud with a pal when it's raining out? Youtube on the other hand seems to be an incredible resource in many regards. Musicians, artists, photographers and people of all colors, shapes and sizes are able to use it and share through it. Not to mention I can get my Ellen Degeneres highlights commercial free!! As some of you who are avid youtuber's you will have noticed some of the homepage changes. At the top of the page there now is a "currently being watched" row of videos that changes periodically as well as the "featured videos". I had logged on to look for a Brahms piece and instead this hugely adorable smile, missing two teeth was staring at me. Without even thinking my hand moved the mouse over to the smiling child and went "click". On came this British show called, "Britain's Got Talent". I was psyched up for it to be cheesy and really not that great as what little I had seen of "America's Got Talent" I had been rather unimpressed with many of the performances and the judges seemed very incompetent. I was imedietly expecting something horrific. This little 6 year old, Conny was adorable and she sang so well for her age! I was very impressed and the judges, even the usually sarcastic and condescending Simon Cowell were rewarding of the child's efforts! Not a "reality" or star search fan in general, my curiosity was peaked. So, I started clicking on the side menu of other "Britain's Got Talent" and found some pretty impressive acts but one in particular stood out to me. Paul Potts. Here was a guy who was completely normal in that he had self-confidence issues and wasn't entirely comfortable with who he is but he knew he loved to sing opera. He seemed so shy, nervous and scared yet he went through with the audition. He was amazing! He got to come back and sing again in the semi-finals and wouldn't you know it, he won the competition. It made me so happy to see that someone who had a genuine talent that had never been cultivated or encouraged outside of doing it in his home for his own enjoyment was in that one moment, at the first audition given the feedback needed to drive that person to the next level. He wasn't an adorable little 6 year old with a huge smile, he wasn't the group of breakdancers, he wasn't a glass tossing bartender, he was an ordinary guy with a shy, hesitant smile who's personality and being came to life the moment he began to sing. Congratulations, Paul! You deserve it.

From Linda Lerskier
Posted on June 28, 2007 at 7:14 PM

Paul Potts sang the Nessun Dorma again in New York a week or so ago. He seems like quite a likable fellow. I'm glad for him. Sure beats selling phones! ;)

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an underdog concurs

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