Paul Potts: Horatio Alger in the Twenty-First Century

Posted on March 8, 2008
Filed Under Diversion, Excellence, General |

I’m a sucker for excellence, so that’s the theme of this Saturday morning diversion.

I caught the tail end of an interview on FOX news with an opera singer who’d apparently won the Britain’s Got Talent competition, the precursor to American Idol. I love opera, couldn’t imagine its appearance on AI, and the interview was of the “Aw, shucks, I can’t believe this is happening to me” genre, except it was genuine humility, not the Hollywood fabricated kind.

So I did some YouTubing. I found Paul Potts is his name, and found a video of his initial audition. It’s been viewed over 22 million times, so this isn’t exactly the first time it’s been posted. There is, however, a reason it’s been viewed 22 million times. Enjoy.

He ended up winning the competition, signed a multi-million dollar recording contract - his first CD has sold over 3 million copies - is on a tour of 13 countries and is now going to have a movie produced of his life.

I’ll leave it to each to decide how this relates to real estate…

Comments

5 Responses to “Paul Potts: Horatio Alger in the Twenty-First Century”

  1. Greg Swann on March 8th, 2008 6:10 pm

    Beautiful… Thank you.

  2. Paul Potts: Horatio Alger in the Twenty-First Century | The Long List of Odysseus Medal Nominees | Realtors and real estate, mortgages, lending, investments on March 8th, 2008 6:11 pm

    […] Paul Potts: Horatio Alger in the Twenty-First Century, by Jeff Kempe. […]

  3. Teri Lussier on March 8th, 2008 11:23 pm

    I saw the Fox interview this a.m. and I’m so glad he’s hitting the big time. I’ve been following this story for awhile now- it’s so wonderful.

    I can’t watch this without getting weepy. I love the crowd reaction, you can feel them getting completely swept away. I’m rambling… Of course this has to do with real estate! ;-)

  4. Jeff Kempe on March 9th, 2008 6:50 am

    Teri …

    I actually thought of you as I was posting it. I think you linked to Pavarotti’s Nessun Dorma at some point. To hear a cell-phone salesman sing it like that? How can it not bring the weeps?

  5. Teri L on March 9th, 2008 7:55 pm

    Yes, that was me- it was Placido Domingo’s version (I prefer Domingo’s voice, not sure why).

    I just read that Pott’s is a Welshman- that makes sense, doesn’t it? There is something in the water there that produces remarkable singers again and again.

    Okay, it’s not in the water, it’s in their bones. It’s in their constant pursuit of excellence, and the whole world is all the more richer because of it!

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