Britain’s got class
This evening’s USA news carried a positive sporty for once. You may have already heard about the TV show called “Britain’s Got Talent”. It’s a broader concept to American Idol. It even has Simon Cowell as one of the “judges” … better known as color commentary.
In the “audition round” Paul Potts sheepishly walks on stage in a somewhat rumpled gray suit. When asked what he would do to demonstrate his talent, he said, “sing opera”. That left all three judges afraid. Needless, the anticipation of an “average Joe” wanting to sing opera had them preparing for something on the order of William Hung. The music started and Paul opened his mouth and everything stopped and listened. Before it even ended, the audience erupted.
To see and hear for yourself, click on the video above or check out this YouTube search.
What I was most impressed with was the audience, not just of blue hairs, but equally filled with teeners and twenty-something’s. They all exploded when they heard Paul sing. The shy mobile phone salesman had a dream and a voice and years of training. He now had his chance.
Paul wins some money, will get a recording contract and more important to Paul, he next performs for the Queen. Yes, Britain does have talent. And after seeing the audience, they have class too.
June 18th, 2007 at 19:40
It’s interesting you call it class. I have typically found Americans associate class with income level, where as in England class is something very different to the amount of money in the bank account. For example in America, Paris Hilton is considered high class, in England she would be considered very low class.
June 18th, 2007 at 20:07
I’m a bit “old school” or perhaps I am using the term “class” incorrectly. For me, I thought the audience’s openness and appreciation for a mobile phone salesman who could blow the roof off the joint by singing opera (not hip hop, not rock and roll, not top 40) was “real class”.
but that’s just my opinion.
BTW: I just edited the post in an attempt to embed a YouTube clip.
June 18th, 2007 at 20:29
Carl, I don’t know anyone that would call Paris Hilton classy. Trashy, but not classy.
As for Mr. Potts, I’ve rarely seen someone so deserving. That he got kids to cheer for opera speaks to his charisma and talent.
June 19th, 2007 at 09:24
I think the difference lies between the concepts of “classy” and “upper class.” Classy connotes natural dignity, generousity, sometimes even humility when the situation calls for it. Paul had all of those qualities.
In America rich people are considered upper class, but Paris Hilton is the antithesis of classy. (To my mind anyway.) But then my British friends used to tell me about the aristocratic family in their village who refused to pay bills and ran up huge debts with the local grocers and shopkeepers. Upper class, but not too classy.