Paul Potts

On to Australia!

Posted 13th May 2009

After a week in New Zealand, it was time to fly over to another of our favourite places: Australia.  We were to begin in Melbourne with some interviews.  Melbourne was one of the most memorable parts of the tour last year with Hamer Hall being one of the best venues I did anywhere in the world for acoustics.
I did a number of different press, TV and radio interviews.  Australia has some of my favourite radio interviewers anywhere in the world with Richard Stubbs in Melbourne and Alan Jones in Sydney being two of the best interviewers I have ever come across.  Unfortunately I missed Alan on this trip to Australia due to ill health (here’s hoping you are getting back to normal strength, Alan I missed you!).

The day after the main day of interviews we had a rehearsal for next weeks final of Australia’s Got Talent and had the rest of the day free.  I had always fancied taking a trip on the building called The Edge.  It is a 1000 foot high building with a compartment that comes out with clear glass underneath.  Julz took some convincing to go on this as she tends to be quite scared of heights.  She did pluck up the courage and was brave enough to take the plunge. 

Paul on the viewing deck of The Edge, 1000 feet above the ground

There was quite a view from the top although it was quite a dull day but you could see that on a clear day see for miles!  We got on to the ride itself, and although Julz was still a little unsure, she did get on, and although she was still unsure about stepping on to the clear glass, she did get more comfortable with it.  As the compartment pushed itself back in, Julz remarked that she was disappointed that it wasn’t more scary!  I have to admit that this mystified me! 

The next day we were to head to Sydney, but not before I was to perform at a showcase at a mall on the outskirts of Melbourne.  I always enjoy performing in situations like this, because it brings music to the people where they are.  For me, some of what I was doing was the very first time that I had performed some of the tracks before a public audience, so that gave an extra edge to the performance.  I really enjoyed the performance, and there were quite a few people there.

Events like these also give me the opportunity to meet the people who make it possible to do what I love doing and to thank them personally.  This is really important to me, as I owe my future to those that buy my records and concert tickets.
 
After signing everyone’s CDs, it was time to get to the airport to get the next flight to Sydney.  Sydney is a truly cosmopolitan city, and one I always enjoy strolling around.  The last time I was here, I climbed the bridge.  I would have loved to have done it again, but the schedule was pretty packed, so I look forward to coming back early next year when I will try it again, possibly in evening light!

I did manage to get one or two walks out and about, around the harbour with its iconic sights of the harbour bridge and the Opera House.  The Wednesday (22nd) was to be a very day for me.  I had two songs to perform on Sunrise (Memory, and a song which has been discussed on nearly every radio interview this week:  Whiter Shade of Pale), and then a completely new experience for me:  I was to co-host a daytime show called The Morning Show.  This was quite nerve-wracking at first, and I managed to start reading some of my co-hosts’ lines on the auto-cue. I think I settled into it reasonably well after a while, and quite enjoyed it.  I got through to the end of the show and it was time to head back to Melbourne to perform on the final of Australia’s Got Talent. 

The set was very close to the design of the Britain’s Got Talent set, so it felt a bit like it did on the first time I had reached the semi finals on June 14th 2007.  I enjoyed my performance and that of the finalists.  I would like to offer my congratulations to Mark Vincent on his incredible performance and wish him and all of his fellow finalists all the best for their futures.  I think they all have bright futures ahead of them.
After clearing from the studios in Melbourne, it was time to take the next leg of our journey to Philadelphia.  Quite an extensive journey this was to be, and it was to complete the fith time I have been around the world!

Thank you to everyone in Australia for all your support.  It was great to be back, I look forward to returning very soon!

Paul x