My Mum has recently discovered Russell Watson who is a classical singer from the north of England. He does have a great voice and often sings more recent songs with the classical tone to them ... such as Ultravox's 'Vienna'.

Has anyone heard of him? is anyone a fan? It seems he is very popular in England, heard of in Australia and America and thought of as a god in New Zealand

He is a very good singer but he has never had the 'training' that the classical singers have had. They are inclined to view him as middle of the road and look down their noses at him a wee bit but he is very popular in Britain.
OK I will admit it-I own one of his CDs! However I don't think he is in the same class as the Three Tenors but he has carved his own niche. Good luck to him.

He sings the theme song for the series "Enterprise", and he was on Larry King a few months ago.

He's a Man Utd. supporter.

LOL Wez!! You've got your prioities straight!

He's in Australia at the moment on a promotion tour (Australians may have seen him perform at the Allan Border medal) and my Mum went down to Sydney last weekened to get every RW thing she owned signed. Apparently he's a really nice bloke and spent a time with Mum chatting and signing stuff (although she brought a bottle of wine as a bribe ).

She will swear she is not a groupie.

Yes, and the day she says she isn't a Tiger supporter we'll believe her!

By the way, I've said it a million times around here, but I personally do not understand what people have against opera singers singing popular songs...
For me a voice is a voice, a gift from higher beings, and Bocelli is one of them who has it...I don't care if he sings with Britney Spears, doesn't matter to me that he's blind and people keep on harping about how that's how he became popular...I still love his voice.
I suspect that Russell Watson possesses this rare talent too...

But this should be another subject for a thread...

Good on you, Bruyere - my thoughts exactly. A great voice is a great voice - and his is extra grouse (I love that word). His music is constantly on my stereo - pop and classical. He is also very personable - seems to love meeting people, and always has time for everyone. I am No 1 Russell fan in Australia and should be employed as his promotions officer. (lol)
I met him on Saturday - and who should also be there but Michael Parkinson. Star spotting day for sure.
I haven't read a lot of FT threads, but would love to have seen the one about opera singers shouldn't sing popular songs. Why on earth not? Purist opera lovers can be elitist, I think.
I was also thinking - if Russell was performing somewhere within commuting distance, and the Tigers were also playing within the same distance - which event would I go to?
And at this minute, I really don't know.
Copago - what do you think?
UTT
Tigergran

I think he may be Michael Balls love child

Who is Michael Balls, Tryst?

Tigergran, Oh. My. God. Did you just compare a Tigers game to a Russell concert? This is indeed serious, folks! And I can't believe she said the word 'grouse' ... what is the world coming too?

Yes, who on earth is Michael Balls. And Copago, I just don't know where "grouse" came from either. Just seemed the right word to use at the time.
Copago really doesn't appreciate Russell's talent - her education is sadly lacking. Anyone remember Howard Jones (lol)
And I do hope I NEVER have to choose between Russell and the Tigers.
Anyone remember Sophie's Choice. Well, Tigergran's Choice .......

Regards
Tigergran

There should have been an apostrophe in Michael Ball's.
Michael Ball is one great UK singer. He can sing anything from opera to love songs and he's quite tasty. So cut the cackle folks!

Sorry about the omition of the apostrophe in Balls (that sounds painful) thankyou for the explanation Teallach and Tigergran theres nothing wrong with Howard Jones

Quote:

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theres nothing wrong with Howard Jones

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Thankyou so much, Tryst!! She's going back to the eighties when I was madly in love with Howard Jones, but I'm here to tell you that I didn't do half the things about HJ as Tigergran does about RW!! Plus I had the excuse of being a teenage girl ... we were supposed to do those things!

What do mean, Copago? All I do is go to concerts to watch a grouse singer (couldn't help myself) ... good to have the program and CDs signed - they will be worth a fortune one day. (Just think about my Johnny O'Keefe signed photograph that I have been offered money for)
And when I have crossed (and not in the near future I hope)(now, let's start a John Edward post) - guess who will benefit from my will? Well, guess who would have until this post. I must contact the solicitor on Monday!!!
And Michael Ball sounds like my kind of singer - will have to check him out.
UTT