“Music is home to me – always has been, and always will be”- P.P.
With sales of more than 5 million multi-platinum records and in excess of 600 concerts in the last 6 years under his belt, Paul Potts today releases his most diverse album yet – HOME through Sony Music Entertainment Australia. Paul will also be returning to Australia this May to promote HOME.
“I have a long standing affinity with Australia – it was one of the very first countries I visited after winning Britain’s Got Talent back in 2007,” says Paul. “I’m really excited to be returning back to Sydney in May and seeing everyone again.”
HOME is a collection of 14 songs and sees Paul embracing his love of music of all genres. Working with long-time musical director Chris Taylor, Paul has made a record without rules, one that celebrates the beauty of the song and the power of the voice.
Songs by Richard Marx, Spandau Ballet and George Harrison sit alongside pieces by Musumarra & Pintus, Chopin, and De Curtis & Furno. Sting’s ‘When We Dance’ is translated into Italian to become ‘Quando Balliam’; the familiar ‘Beyond The Sea’ is returned to the original French of Charles Trénet & Albert Lasry’s ‘La Mer’. Elsewhere he continues to challenge the concept of genre by performing songs by Foo Fighters, Guns N’ Roses and The Eagles whilst also relishing the operatic tours de force of Un Amore Così Grande and L’ora Dell’Addio.
“There are no rules saying what you must like – music connects with your very soul, and the genre is irrelevant,” explains Paul. “I wanted my choices on HOME to challenge the concept of the necessity of genre.”
The Bristol-born, Port Talbot-residing tenor, for whom singing has always been a haven and a source of joy, is living his dream. Socially awkward, bullied and taunted at school, singing in his local church choir proved to be a sanctuary from the playground abuse. Listening to La Boheme, aged 16, Paul fell in love

with opera, a romance that was to set him on a turbulent journey that would eventually lead to him performing on, and winning, the first series of Britain’s Got Talent in 2007.
Truly a life-changing event, he released his debut album ONE CHANCE that year, topped the charts in 13 countries (including the UK), appeared on Oprah (twice), brought Times Square to a standstill, announced a world tour and became a household name in cities from Seoul to New York and Sydney to Hamburg. Paul’s story has since inspired the Weinstein-produced Hollywood film ‘One Chance’ starring James Corden in the lead role, with Paul writing the accompanying autobiography.
But the story doesn’t end there. Paul is constantly touring, averaging 100 concerts each year. He has since released two further studio albums 2009’s PASSIONE and 2010’s ‘CINEMA PARADISO’ and a GREATEST HITS collection in 2013. After the release of the film-themed ‘CINEMA PARADISO’ he decided on a change of direction. “I have always felt very strongly that the divisions in music genres are artificial and often arbitrary. It’s often assumed that a rock fan will not like opera, and vice versa. At the end of the day it is all one thing: Music. This was my vision with HOME,” he explains.
The album opens with ‘Quando Balliam’– “’When We Dance’ has a real Latin flavour which made me decide to perform it in Italian. I loved the feel of the song on Sting’s SYMPHONICITIES album, in its broken down form with light percussion and subtle melodies.” A staple of Paul’s live set, ‘Non ti Scorda di Me’ talks of the passing of summer, before the simple beauty of ‘The Best Of Me’. “In today’s world, with all its conflicts, I think it is even more poignant that love can cross the divides,” Paul says of ‘Through The Barricades.’ “It’s a great track that I hope I have done justice to.”
Popularised as ‘Beyond The Sea’ by the likes of the Rat Pack and Robbie Williams, Paul has taken the song back to its original chanson ‘La Mer’ (the first time he has sung in French) saying “I think the lilt of the tune matches its original language better; its phrasing is intoxicating.” Another tour favourite ‘L’ora Dell’Addio’ has tenderness and power in equal measure while on ‘Something’ – “a great love song with a great feel” – Paul hits the highest note he has ever recorded (a top D flat). The simple and passionate ‘Tristezza’ is an arrangement by Paul and Chris (Taylor) based on Frederic Chopin Etude.
The power of ‘Un Amore Così Grande’ is followed by the beautifully tender ‘I’m Yours and ‘Il Mio Miracolo’ – both live favourites – before Paul’s recording of ‘Desperado.’ “You have to be careful with iconic songs, and I hope that I have done justice to this Eagles classic.” Paul continues to surprise with ‘November Rain’ – “I worked hard to give the song what it deserved. Guitarist Tim Maple has done a fantastic job with that epic guitar solo – I was insistent on keeping the longer of the two guitar solos in, and it sounds fantastic!” – before closing the album with the soothing ‘Home’.
“I love what I do and want to be able to continue for years to come”.
HOME tracklisting:
1 Quando Balliam’ (When We Dance)
2 Non ti Scordar di Me
3 The Best of Me
4 Through the Barricades
5 La Mer
6 L’ora dell’ Addio
7 Something
8 Tristezza
9 Un Amore Cosi Grande
10 I’m Yours
11 Il Mio Miracolo
12 Desperado
13 November Rain
14 Home
iTunes: http://smarturl.it/PP.Home.IT
Sanity: http://smarturl.it/PP.Home.SN
JB HIFI: http://smarturl.it/PPottsHome_JB
