Nessun Dorma

[flynn]

Sorry, I hope no-one minds if I start a seperate nessun Dorma thread. it's just that... well last night I thought YES! He did it (phew) but it wasnt until today when I downloaded the mp3 and just listened to it several times that I truly understood how spectacular it was. Without my nerves getting in the way, and now that I'm actually breathing while he's performing - I totally got what he did with this!

Seriously - This performance isnt getting enough attention - anywhere!!! Someone on a popular unofficial Idol forum actually called it "cringe-worthy"!!! What's up with that?

It was brilliant. It would have been respectable for an opera singer to sing it like that but for an Irish acoustic singer to come at it in just a few days and do THAT with it is pure genius.

There are sweet gentle tones at the beginning, then the English bit sounds very Presley, then he breaks into a glorious full-on tenor in that middle bit after the choir does their bit. (and the audience goes nuts - even they appreciated how BIG that was).

I would buy a recorded version of this in a heart-beat.

AND he did it all without using his best vocal weapon - that mind-blowing falsetto.

I can only assume that all those people who rabbitted on about him not having a strong/good voice other than the falsetto are too scared to compliment him for singing opera coz they look like total fu.... erm..... ahem ..... idiots.

Okay then. If you're still with me - sorry for such a long rave but I just cant stop playing this and I'm so totally blown away.

I was never that fussed about Anthony Callea's performance of The Prayer (like many others seem to be) but in any case, this completely shatters Calleas greatest moment.

[lindy]

Flynn. I was at the studio and be assured it stopped the house. No one wanted to cheer at first as we could not believe what we were hearing, Damien's mum was crying and Eileen was grinning from ear to ear with tears in her eyes. Mark Holden had his hands half way into the air and his eyes closed. Before Damien was finished he leaned over to Marsha and said this is really good. I swear as I was sitting right beside Mark, watching him for signs. I knew he would give him a touchdown about a third into the song, he was so moved. I think Damien even surprised himself with that performance and it was a difficult piece not only the scale of the song but the diction and the reputation. I am learning Spanish and understand the difficulties of getting words right and he did so well.

I could not cry as I was beyond that, I had passed into the next zone and had to force myself out so I could cheer. I couldn't go to sleep last night for hours it was absolutely inspiring. I am now sitting here feeling lucky but sick with worry and will vote more when I get home. I hope people other than you great people on this site saw that performance for what it was....truly great

[Selestial]

I agree lindy, and I am so envious you got to hear it LIVE!!!!! I was at home, beer in hand, anxiously waiting through "Diesel the humping husky" knowing he'd be first off. And I was so moved I was breathless.

[Mi chiamano Kami]

I agree. I'm a big fan of Anthony and never thought anything could come close to The Prayer, but Nessun Dorma did it for for me. I have listened to the mp3 many times and watched the video back and it just blows me away like it did the first time, that he could actually do that. I'm more picky than most about that song because I know it so well and have such a connection to it, and I have to smile at some of his Italian (not that I know the language fluently myself), but it reminds me even more strongly that this is not a man who has been singing opera all his life, and unlike Anthony who I believe had heard and sung The Prayer many times before, this was all very rushed for Damien. If he can take the roof off with one week's preparation, imagine what he could do with all the time he needs!

Before I even saw the performance I was applauding his bravery; now I'm just stunned by his brilliance. It's starting to make me really angry that others are talking him down because he's not Pavarotti (I doubt the people who say that own even a single one of his records!) and are claiming he was just trying to replicate the 'Callea moment'.

Yes, I think he was inspired by Anthony. I felt something big was going on in his head when he was watching him perform last Monday, but rather than, 'I need to emulate this,' I think it was more, 'This is the top of the game, and that's where I need to go to win this.' Or at least, 'I should show what I can do before the end of this competition.' And my goodness, he showed us what he could do.

I, too, couldn't cry because I was too surprised and impressed, although my mother I think did enough for the both of us. I would definitely buy it if it were recorded. I at least hope we get to hear it recorded, if not as a single (putting it out in the public eye so much might just be bait for narrow minds) then at least as a bonus track or B-side, as Guy did with Climb Every Mountain. My mother has been talking about the performance ever since it happened and she made me realise part of why it was so great - somehow, Damien managed to convey it as a love song rather than just the famous aria it's always been. The tone of his voice was lovely and so strong - a lesser singer would have been swamped in the orchestra which was maybe a little too loud, but he rose above it. I was blown away by the strength of his notes. This is a man who has not had formal singing lessons! Anthony has had years and years of training to get where he is vocally.

And oh, goodness... that last, 'Vincerò'! That has officially become my favourite word in the Italian language now. ;D

[simonjackson]

Many of the senior members of The Idol Craze consider Damo's version worthy of their top 10 idol list.....now that's what I call impressive!!
Btw, I include "Wicked Game and Nessun Dorma" in my own incomplete top 10 list.

[irishrokit]

He did an excellent job and all those that said he can't sing can eat their words. Although it seems a few still just can't admit it

Is it true he didn't know any Italian before learning that song? I thought it was a bit of an odd song choice though. An Irish man singing in Italian in Australia ;D

[shimmery]

I don't understand anyone not LOVING Damien's Nessun Dorma. He absolutely melted that song into his own and I think he surprised himself he could do that too!!!

I saw some of the threads on the OS saying oh it's not the technical way to sing it blah blah - ah - this isn't an Opera contest!!! We are looking at an untrained voice creating MAGIC and I find Damien's version much preferable to the bellowing opera versions. I could listen to his version all day and so many people today were saying how they loved it - even on Channel 10 news tonight they were chatting on air about how magnificent Damien's version was!

[simonjackson]

shimmery said:

I don't understand anyone not LOVING Damien's Nessun Dorma. He absolutely melted that song into his own and I think he surprised himself he could do that too!!!

I was shaking my head and literally laughing at how good Damien was....it's one of the best idol performances ever IMO.
People can always find something to criticize, and snobs/purists can't shut up at times.

I wouldn't worry too much about Damo, he put himself on the map with a hat-trick of Touchdowns....and as someone else on this forum said....GET READY FOR DAMO'S WORLD DOMINATION....LOLOLOLOL

[flynn]

LOL people in the Official Idol forum who carry on about it not being opera wouldnt know opera if it jumped up and bit them anyway. Their just "jeluz" that he was so damn good so theyre looking for a way to bring him down. Imagine what would happen if their fave - whoever it is - attempted something similar. Hee hee. Eeeeek! Sorry no disrespect to the contestants - coz they'd have more sense than to even try - I just find the behaviour of many "Idol Fans" so ridiculous!!

This was as close to opera as a non-operatic singer gets And for those of us who find opera a tad boring - this was WAY better!!!

[spygirl]

Hi everyone,

I am so so so upset I actually missed Damien singing on Sunday night. I know its probably a no no but if anyone can let me know where I can get a video of it. I've been kicking my husband about it .... his fault we were home at 7.45pm!!!!!!!!

[mozaic]

Hey spygirl You can get the mp3 and the video of Nessum Dorma here www.behindidol.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=89

[flynn]

spygirl - I sent you a PM

[mozaic]

oh, spygirl, I find that the mp3s actually have better sound quality than the videos, so I like to download both