Before you watch this, think about what your life was like during the years between your 5th and 15th birthday.
The piece he is singing is an Italian song - "Nella Fantasia" ("In My Fantasy") with music by Ennio Morricone. You can read more about the young man here.
Keep a box of tissues handy; there's a reason this video has almost
Reposted from 2011 to celebrate Ennio Morricone finally being awarded a well-deserved (and long-overdue) Academy Award.
Hm. Maybe I have a heart of ice, but I wasn't that impressed. If you leave aside the heartrending backstory, he's an okay singer. Not spectacular, he was off pitch a couple of times and with that much reverb in the sound system anyone will sound good.
ReplyDeleteI still teared up, though.
"When you think about it, it takes people's domestic tragedies and turns them into qualifications."
ReplyDelete-- Sean Lock (about X Factor)
@Mel V.--have to concur, but I didn't even tear up, so my heart must be made of stone. The formula for these videos, whatever country's "Got Talent" is featured, is unpleasantly and cheesily exploitative (and as you say, the reverb would make anyone sound pretty good--was the same with Paul Potts). Cheers to Choi for making himself some good luck from other folks' gullibility, though. If it leaves them feeling good, and Choi in a better situation, no harm, no foul, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteI'm not an expert, but just imagine what this kid could do with some real professional training. I doubt that even the best professional singers would do half as well with the background, and lack of training, of this kid. Get him into some musical schooling.
ReplyDeletehave to agree with Mel V. Discourse has the power to shape one's perceptions and media discourse is no exception.. and so here we are all touched n in tears.. but HEY the other critical n matured self of mine tells me to analyse it critically and see how easily we are influenced by language (and lo music too)!!
ReplyDeleteOf couse it's manipulative; that's what television producers are in business for. Nobody does it better than the cinema, but I still go to movies to have my angers/fears/sympathies stimulated.
ReplyDeleteThe important part of this video is whether the backstory is true; from the brief search I did, a fact check determined his bio was accurate
The only thing causing me to feel like I was about to tear up was watching the women start crying. The story itself would not make me cry.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a bunch of heartless cads. "I watched a video with a bunch of homeless people being kicked in the stomach, but you know what? I felt nothing because...I mean the cameras really add to the emotion and anyone can look good kicking someone on video...chuck norris does it all the time".
ReplyDeleteAs if any country picks their most popular singers by song alone. Give me a break. The most talented singers in your country will probably never top a chart because it takes something else other than voice.
It's not because "domestic tragedies turn in to qualifications" it's because seeing someone over come everything to do well is more impressive than somoene who's had everything handed to them as a gift when they accomplish the same goals. It should be obvious why.
yes, thank you for saying this
Deletei agree with fellow anonymous above Of course he wasn't perfect, but he has a lovely tone and with proper lessons, hard work and dedication (which I'm sure he has in spades) he will be able to improve greatly.
ReplyDeleteI agree with anonymous. Few people would survive what he has and be able to make it to the show. He deserves to be happy and with the training that any average singers get he will be amazing. God Bless him.
ReplyDelete