Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Paul Potts and Oprah
I'm pretty sure I linked to this before when I saw the story on a TV magazine show, but Oprah just had Paul Potts on her show celebrating YouTube success stories, so why not again link to this touching video?
Once again I was moved.
It is first the success of someone who had not had a chance to do what he was born to do, being given that chance and rising to the occasion. It was Paul's shy manner — and “then you did that” as Simon Callow said — the song of true worth. It was emblematic of the human spirit overflowing the cage of social status and received appearance, emerging from the depths, full bore, an instance opera is uniquely able to frame. It was the shots of the audience first shocked at the wonderful voice, then moved, then standing as one in an ovation. Like a movie come full to life. Better than a movie.