by Mike Balines

Here’s a script from one of class 90’s homies, Felix Antero, that I haven’t seen and probably half of the class, for over 17 years now. I just learned he was on vacation in the Philippines early this year. I was in Manila last week of March and it’s just now that we got hold of each through the Internet.

I was so inspired by the subject of his email, Paul Potts that I was also compelled to write. Here’s a link to my blog.

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This afternoon, I got back from a late lunch with a client/friend and
the day was promising to be slower than usual. I still have some
errands to run and I badly need to seriously hit the books for my
summer Criminal Law class. Lately though, I’ve simply been
languishing in this undesirable sub-optimal mental state — a big no-
no in law school — and this afternoon, I just didn’t feel like
shaking off the lethargy. I browsed the Internet and downloaded all
my emails, business and personal, then read an article there, an
email here.

Then, sipping my soda, I clicked on a friend’s forwarded link – a
Youtube clip.

Turned out this one was about this guy named Paul Potts auditioning
for a British reality TV show, Britain’s Got Talent. A Carphone
Warehouse sales guy, Paul Potts has horrible teeth, a rotund figure,
a droopy look, and a generally forgettable face you won’t normally
see on TV unless the show is called Extreme Makeover. If not for the
familiar face of Simon Cowell on the judges’ table, the title of the
clip (Nessun Dorma), and the faint, shy smile on his lips, I thought
for a while I was supposed to be entertained by a standup comic.

Then the guy started singing.

I froze, my jaw dropped, and the hair on my forearms stood up. I
couldn’t believe it! The guy can sing – man, oh man, the guy can
sing! By the end of the clip, the audience was giving him a standing
ovation – which only means that I wasn’t alone in my shock.

But was my and the audience’s reaction really just about Paul Potts’
singing? Of course not! Nothing this great is that simple!

Much more than his singing, it’s his story and his face, two
inseparable aspects to the multi-faceted person that is Paul Potts.
For his is the story of a seemingly less-than-average guy just trying
to earn a living, and struggling at it. His is a face with all the
scars of pain and rejection and bullying and insecurities — all too
visible that you can almost vicariously feel them.

Much more than his singing, it’s your inner self cheering for the
guy. For his is a life that was changing with every note of the aria
he was hitting. Watching him, you see talent like a sunflower
blossoming in your very eyes! Or a cat who just realized he’s a
tiger after all, ecstatic that he is now being unleashed! Or a
stallion galloping for the first time and finding his stride!
Completely moved but speechless and alone in my office, my heart was
racing, my adrenaline pumping, my eyes watering. Un-freaking-
believable!

Much more than his singing, it’s the message he was conveying. A
message too precious that it can only be vocalized through his
music. A message of hope, a message of strength. A message about
not allowing others to rip your soul, about not relinquishing your
dreams. A damn powerful message, I think.

Shet, I’m getting overly sentimental. But this Paul Potts – man, you
just have to watch him if you haven’t yet. Here are the links:

Link1; Link2

Regards,
Felix Antero