Another newspaper feature


http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/cel...86908-23181653/

Glad his sense of humour is coming out!

I will of course be watching to see Midge though possibly with ear plugs ready.
What Rolando Villazon (a trained tenor) is doing standing in the same room as Katherine Jenkins (a glorified choir girl who to my knowledge has never sung in an opera in ler life) is beyond me but at least Russell Watson isn't in it too.
The problem with things like this is they can take people with real talent and make them look stupid in an area in which they don't have any. Don't care if that happens to all the other 'celebrities', but hope Midge can pull it off!

i'll tell you what, Midge didn't let himself down, did he? Vanessa Mae, who is she? she should take violin lessons off Billy, cheeky bitch, well done Midge

i'll tell you what, Midge didn't let himself down, did he? Vanessa Mae, who is she? she should take violin lessons off Billy, cheeky bitch, well done Midge

I thought Midge did fantastically well - I'm no opera buff, but thought he was far better than the 1st guy on there - and we can easily forgive him for getting a few words wrong, it's one of his trademarks. Vanessa Mae's obviously trying to resurrect her flagging career, and the only way she can do it is by trying to be 'the nasty judge'. Bloody well done Midge - the 1st time I've ever voted on a reality show!!

So, what's the number if I want to vote?

Much as I love Midge and think he is a great singer I found it a little excruciating. Mind you so were all the others.
It doesn't help that opera should be sung on a big stage not in a small studio, but I just don't think Midge has got the larger than life over the top acting style that you can see in Rolando Villazon (who is a fantastic opera star).
Not sure you could descibe Vanessa Mae's career as flagging; anyway I thought all the judges were a bit soft on all the contestants if they were meant to be judging opera singing.

Midges performance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrHwvPCF8UM

Show 1 summary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CVVw7cgk6M

Oh, thank you so much for sharing this with us! GO TEAM MIDGE!!

I think our Midge did remarkably well considering the nature of operatics and the way he usually sings, well done!! I voted too, I'm currently watching the results programme, just hope he makes it to round 2!!

Someone axe Vanessa from the panel - please...

There is being a 'critic' and then theres being a battleaxe.

Vanessa is way off the mark with regards to Midge getting into role - that was way too harsh IMO. I thought he really, really, pulled off the role - I was surprised, and i think if he continued - vocally he will get stronger.

I wasn't convinced re Joe in role - I didnt get that - voice good but the performance just wasnt convincing IMO, he still looked the pop boy. I didnt like Mels voice and I didnt feel she pulled that character off. The biggest surprise for me was Cheryl - she did well - needs to sort a few tuning problems but its the first night - everyone should have some slack and a general confidence boost - the critics should play up their plus points while giving an honest nod to the areas that need improvement - and generally I think this was approach was offered to everyone - except Midge who seemed to get a good grilling from vanessa about what I thought was one of his strong points!!!

Oh I hate reality TV...... :

Well!!!! somewhat surprising Vanessa voted for Midge, he sang his heart out and got a great endorsement from Orlando, didn't think he deserved to go, but never mind, Midge you did yourself proud.

Oh dear I fear I sent bad vibes that contributed to Midge's going out.
Second performance was a lot better, though he's still not the Duke of Mantua for me (he's too damned nice)
Good news is that I now don't have to watch any more of it

Shame no-one gets to critique Katherine Jenkins' singing which was decidedly average (and she chose that Pussycat Doll over Midge - what was she thinking!!?)

What a farce!!!!!

Well I believe Rolando - he knows what he's talking about and he voted Midge, and finally Vanessa saw some sense.....and i have rather gone off Katherine Jenkins.

I dont see any capacity in miss pussycat doll's performance

Midge did SO MUCH better second time around!!!!

Note to self: Never watch reality TV again... i just end up wound up!

I agreed with judges ,thought Midge was the weakest of the four.

fuller summary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTNPRjsQkrs

and the judges vote

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn0ZBANR96c

Clearly she lost her mind!! Idiot,stupid woman!!

At least Vanessa showed slightly more intelligence second time around.

I just think reality TV is a total farce anyway. Poor Midge, he looked upset, he was really brave to give that a shot and to pull it off so much better under all the pressure of being in the bottom two.

Well done to Midge.

Argh, what a shame! OK so Midge wasn't the strongest, but neither was he the worst (that'd be Melody), I didn't think he deserved to go out first. Damn and blast - poor Midge, after all that work!

What a shame. Melody was far weaker IMHO. Well done Midge!

A couple of early press reactions

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s153/pops...-operastar.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/art...o=feeds-newsxml

bravo midge, you maybe out, but you know a world class tenor, was on your side, would of liked to of you seen you sing the impossible dream with my old pal rolly, but was not to be, xxxxx

Having heard several of Katherine Jenkins recordings I rate her very highly as a musician who knows what she is talking about & one of the top artists of her genre. I know I'm biased as I love her & her work, but I would love to have seen Lesley Garrett as a panellist.

Bang went my theory of Cheryl Baker going out first...I thought if nothing else she might come across as a bit ditsy in people's eyes regardless of how she sounded.

I didn't see the show so no idea how anyone sounded, but I just think back to Midge's 'Phantom Of The Opera'. Ok not strictly opera but I felt on that recording it was the wrong style of song for him to perform. As for Midge performing "Impossible Dream"...for me no. That takes a much stronger voice. If you've never heard it...listen to Brian Blessed's version. I doubt I will ever hear a more powerful/emotional version. Soft in places but strong where it needs to be. I know Sir Christopher Lee has recorded on a version on I think an album that came out in the last couple of years. Would be interesting to hear that as I have never heard his singing voice.

I don't believe she has ever sung in an opera, but she has sung operatic arias on her albums. To my mind that does qualify her as a valued panellist on this show.

Just read Midge was on 'loose Women'.

Midge was never going to get past the first stage when you think about the type of person who normally watches this type of programme. Below is part of a comment posted on the PopJustice forums:

"Cheryl's song was touching, but Melody's I thought had the harder song (and she sounded like she was struggling).  I'm glad Melody got through as I always have that WigWam song stuck in my head just because of her name.  Midge was a bit of a prat , I'm glad he has gone.  Joe is always lovely so will probably win, but I don't have a problem with this as a lot of people will feel bad for what happened to his record contract." 

This angers me, this attitude towards Midge. Yes in all honesty his voice is not suited to opera, but I thought he was a lot more interesting than Joe and vocally better than Melody. Cheryl surprised me.

Well at least he still has a career outwith this show and has more talent in his little pinkie than all of them (including the judges).

Rant over....

This thread is making interesting reading & I respect all the comments.

However can I make one observation. Vanessa Mae & Katherine Jenkins are coming in for a lot of criticism for whatever reason especially with regards to their experience. I'm surprised to read Vanessa is a judge as whilst she is classically trained...not opera trained. Not sure if Katherine is opera trained but as I mentioned previously she has sung operatic arias...including with Placido Domingo.

Besides listening to Midge, how many people on here have ever listened to a Vanessa Mae & or Katherine Jenkins album? I have. You can't really say Midge is better than Vanessa or Katherine musically...as they are obviously 3 different types of music genre.

Thanks for the mention. I managed to grab a recording from the "ITV+1" channel. Good 5 minute interview talking about PS2OS and quick plug for the new album at the end

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUkcCFjzrtw

Thanks David - superfast and efficient as ever, you star! ;D

I actually own a Vanessa Mae album and other classical style albums. Never been a fan of opera, as the singing hurts the old noggin.

I just don't think Midge was suited to this style of music, especially now that his voice is a lot older and whether we like it or not, the excesses of the past 20 odd years haven't helped. He is still a fantastic singer and I thought he held his own with the opera and I have to agree with Simon, I did enjoy the Scottishness coming through when he sang. Tis would probably have put a lot of people off though.

Looking on the Internet there have been a few sites where he was given a decent review, saying he shouldn't have been the first to go. But they seem to be from TV type sites or bloggers who are in the music business. They agree that Melody should have been the first to go.... I just think Katherine picked Midge as she knows he could handle it better. He appeared in good spirits and wasn't crying behind the scenes.....

Maybe the boys should do an aria on the new album as a hidden track, just to prove everyone wrong and show that Midge can pull it off.

Yes I know where you are coming from!! In small doses it's ok even though I have no idea what they are singing. Like Eurovision, I prefer the songs to be sung in the language they are meant to be sung in...not translated into English. Doesn't sound the same to me somehow.