Damien Leith - Nessun Dorma at Sydney Opera House

[babybooboo100]

what a disrespect of this song...he could only have been worse if he were chewing gum and filing his nails......sorry if you dont agree but as a person who owns over 300 different versions of this song i feel i know it better than most,his diction sucks,his pronunciation sucks,he isnt breathing right and he sounds like a wounded moose with its nuts caught in a bear trap....boooooooo hisssss get off the stage

[arpeggio1358]

Please, this isn't a song, it's an aria.

[tcbambridge]

Damien has a new single out!

Its called 'To Get To You', and its available to buy in Australia from September 25 2009.

If you want to hear the song in full and watch the video, just put 'Damien Leith To Get To You' the You Tube search.

The new album is called 'Remember June', and it is available to buy from October 9 2009.

Its a rockier sound, but he still has the same beautiful voice. Early reviews have been insanely good! Its great to hear new music from Damien again <3

[songtime12]

damien get some more cds done

your great.

[pengyit]

Damien has a great voice and feel for his music but the microphone technique could do with some improvement

kissing the mic is for amateur's and they are powerfull enough to hold at least a 20 cm away from the mouth so it can be seen

watch sarah brightman etc..

[officialjohnblunt]

Haters can say what they want to say about this guy sorry not sure what his name is or who he is. But the band and the backing singers are simly amazing. Great job.

[PS3NERD223]

some1 should msg me if they wnat 2 cybr.

youtube keeps taking down my strip tease videos tN

[serendipityI]

Let's get the facts:

It was a competition and he:

1. HAD to sing a song CHOSEN BY THE JUDGES.

2. wouldn't have chosen this song, it's not his style (rock/alternative).

3. doesn't speak Italian, and

4. never attempted opera before (bel canto singer - NO formal training)

5. was smart to sing in a lower key to suit his own wide vocal range.

6. had JUST ONE WEEK TO PREPARE.

What an amazing guy. He GAVE IT A GO and entertained so many people in the audience.

Damien Leith's was and STILL IS a star!

[arpeggio1358]

@serendipityI If the judges picked this for him, they did Leith a great injustice. This aria shouldn't be attempted by anyone other than an operatic tenor. Why on earth would the judges ask someone to sing something completely unsuited to his voice? It's so unfair to the singer to have him sing something that displays his voice so badly.

[griffoa]

Get a life dbrel! firstly, damien sang this song about a year before paul potts sang it to win britains got talent. Secondly, the idea of idol is that contestants take a song that has already been made popular, and transform this song to suit their own personal singing styles. In this case, damien took a song usually sung in opera and sang it in 'pop' style to give himself the best opportunity of succeeding in the competition. And as if he has 'destroyed the song' butterfieldm...not even!

[oclhie]

Lo proximo será una versión de "una furtiva lacrima" por Los chunguitos

[oclhie]

Qué es esto????

[energyandpower]

EL PEOR!!! Que porqueria!!! No canta italiano ni un carrizo!!! - 20

[dbrel]

OMG.. Can someone get me a barf bag!? WHAT was this guy thinking other than "the guy in England won a talent show with this".. He can't sing the real notes, can't pronounce the Italian even close to correctly, and tries (badly) to make this work as a pop song. Do these people on "Idol" have literally no taste!? Ugh...

[bgm12778]

He's a rock/pop singer singing a song the people asked him to sing. Listen to his voice like everyone else insteed of picking it to pieces, Better still send us all a link to your version of this song you fool.

[dbrel]

I listen carefully -- and I know what I hear. I am an educated listener, not just some guy who doesn't like this voice. When this guy has no career in 12 months, THEN you will get it. Look at some of the "American Idols" -- 3 have already lost their recording deals, including one from 2 seasons ago!

[Leavon]

Well its not utter crap but maybe there should be a reason that Opera and Pop culture don't mix. Snobbery has nothing to do with it I'm sure some people like this version, but for me I'm a traditionalist. If Damien wants to give this piece a shot as it was originally intended I'd probably give him a thumbs up but this version just isn't my cup of tea.

[butterfieldm]

Sang in a lower key because he couldn't reach the high notes. He Just desroyed this opera by singing it in a "pop" style and not an opera classical style.

[Jellona1987]

i think that ppl doesn't know who can really sing. every1 can scream to the microphone but all doesen't can sing... ok this is classic music and i understant that every1 doesn't like it but in classical music human need really tecnique. to sing u need tecknique and Damien own it. dot say anything if u dont know what do u speak.

[aussieclark]

buddy you cant understand his accent or launguage CAUSE HE SPEAKING ITALIAN DUH

[eddyarias2]

Well obviously I know is Italian, from Turandot.

[bombers234]

not all of its in italian!! he is pretty good for an amuter!!! leave him alone

[eddyarias2]

Are you kidding me? This guy does not even deserve a single penny for this interpretation. This guy is crazy and should never attempt to sing this song ever again. Is just like a rapper trying to sing Ave Maria.

[jkilmon]

There is an embryonic trend to bring classical songs into pop music reinterpreted by fine singers like Leith "downscaled" for the pop audience. It is great. Of course he's not Pavarotti but you are letting your venue snobbery cloud your judgement. This is not thefirst time great verismo arias have been popularized and its a GOOD thing.

[eddyarias2]

I know is not the first time that an aria has been tried to be violated, Puccini would be enfuriated if he knew what they did to his masterpiece. A masterpiece should remain in its natural essence and never be changed. Such is this case as the national anthem sung in a rapper beat.

[jkilmon]

We will disagree. There was a time when Nessun Dorma was a "pop" song and every home had Caruso. We now live in an age when teens think Plato was Mickey Mouse's dog and listen to hideous, obscene music. If pop versionsof great aria bring some of this audience to masterpiece music, I am all for it.

[Lamarestaratranquila]

I really cannot hear him.. let alone understand his accent.

[cepiroth]

ps. this performance killed pavarotti

[cepiroth]

i like damien, but this is pretty much a disgrace to classical music, obviously the crows is none-the-wiser

[Liverbiscuits]

*melts* Damien Leith is wonderful. Great singing and performer.

[jctrock]

OMG HE sucked.. not his style... go back to singing, but not opera!

[Martinoraff]

The sounds you can hear in the background are Puccini, Adami, Simoni, Toscanini, Lauri-Volpi, Del Monaco, Corelli, Martinelli spinning in their graves.

Do these pop stars KNOW what the aria is about? Do they even care?

[Lamarestaratranquila]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, that was too funny

[natg900]

No... unfortunately, they don't. As much as I like him.. he didn't do it much justice. It was never meant to be a 'pop' song... Michael Bolton had an alright voice when he did this with Pavarotti but that's it.. even then, they should have just let Pavarotti do it on his own.. agree?

[stephpwall]

transposed down

unschooled unrecognizable

Italian language

...if this is the future I'm glad I'm an old man..........

[Liverbiscuits]

DAMO LEITH! :D *screams*

[vadz32]

Some of you people are so very, very dumb.

He doesn't need to sing this song like Pavorotti or Paul Potts now does he? He does it with his own style.

[MaxTheCrystalSkull]

I like the Damien Leith version,but for very different reasons from Paul Pstts. Damien's like "Puccini by the Lounge Lizards" (Hey..it's great to see so many nice folks from IOWA here tonight...Vincero, baby!). - but hey, it's still a pleasant thing to hear.

[sarahjane25]

Okay.. Why does no-one get this? Damien is NOT an opera singer, we all know that. He is simply an amazing singer who made a brilliant attempt at singing this song, even though it is not the type of song he is used to.

How many of you would be brave enough to try it??

YOU ARE INCREDIBLE DAMIEN! =D

[fabricio654321]

Esta obra no es para divertir , deverian de tener mas respeto, la interpretacion no es la correcta. Turandot es una hermosa opera, no la destruyamos por favor con tipicas interpretaciones semi romanticas. Este no es el sentido real de la obra, mejor busquen otro repertorio de segunda categoria.

[rolocgn]

Better someone told him the reason und the translation of this aria. To sing like Julio Iglesias may be ok - for teenagers and older ladies. But no titels like this, never. please.

[jjjarsy]

the start let him down a bit, the middle section wasnt half bad, but he totally screwed up the climax at the end, he did it way too fast...

[GENIUSKIDDO]

this is a disgrace to this music. come on.

[RounderJere]

this sucks bad.... see how wide his vowel was at the end...and he took it down like 3 keys too.... wut a loser

[llamasarefunny]

Damien is great, but he sings this a little too much like it is a pop song, rather than opera. Paul was fantastic. Goosebumpy

[cutho1]

man paul rocks. i luv him. i cried when i saw his clip on youtube. wow moving stuff. even after he sang it he didn't quite believe that it was good. paul himself doesn't realize just how good he is and that the beauty of it. i luv it

[Vampyrvm]

So bad ...

[HOTJESSICA5]

Damien Leith a Irish dude who won australian idol even though he has a lovely voice i have 2 agree with evryone else paul potts was the best at this.i think damien should stick 2 the songs he is good at

[LordLampost]

This guy here is a great singer, he won Australian idol for a very good reason. However, I must agree with the good people here that Paul Potts version of Nessun Dorma was superior to this.

[jollywollydotcom]

Absolutely. Nessun Dorma is always moving, even if a chump like this sings it, because Puccini wrote it. Then there was that Kyle Sanchez dickwad who said he'd never heard of it!? Paul Potts sings it better than Damien. Pavarotti sang it better than them both - combined.

[logik101]

Sorry, but Paul Potts rocked my planet!

GO PAUL!!!!!!

[lyncch]

paul, paul, paul....

[drbendavidson]

its all about paul potts man!

[BlahBlahzzz]

haha i see everyone came here looking to see how good paul really is

ok this guy is good but paul is outstanding

off to check out pavarotti's version now

[atrox1]

paul!

[MightyTiny]

Must have been the first time the audience heard that song, because that was, without a doubt, the worst rendition of Nessun Dorma I've heard. For an amateur performance that blows this out of the water, search Paul Potts.

[xyz99223]

Who is this? He doesn't even compare to Paul.

[Blackmageviper]

fail.., paul is much better....

[feanian]

WAT THE FUK

Y Y DID HE DO THAT HE JUST RUINED THAT SONG

WATCH DA VIDEO OF paul potts SINGING ITS AMAZING

[kameraadcoenraad]

shite, watch this: watch?v=1k08yxu57NA

[sagarflute]

Im sorry but that was awful - ruined the song completely!

[frits1234567890]

hmm not bad for a beginner!

[barelyapianist]

why??????????????

this is actually very sad

[Unklebillybob]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Not your style.

[JPHolmberg]

an absolute abomination

[spongebobn0pants]

jacstar ur a flute.u havent a clue wat ur talking about, swear u were simon cowell.......

[jacstar]

He's not an Opera singer- he's a falsetto singer, so he did the best job he could. Of course he's no pavarotti but it's a hard song.

[bladderwort]

This rendition makes me want to vomit, quite frankly. I did not believe that anyone could so thoroughly ruin such a magnificent aria - to render it so badly is truly a talent in itself. He should never have attempted this piece in the first place. Shitty pop music strikes again, what can I say, besides, he should shoot himself for ever releasing this monstrosity upon the world.

[bliszor]

ridiculous

[erialm]

Well, obiously he would get flamed if he ever attempted this at La Scala or the Met. But for being a pop singer he did rather I must say. He also has some problems with the Italian. I'll take Corelli or del Monaco live on the opera stage over this guy anyday of the week.

[promthjr]

This is a joke, right ?

[rillifane]

Nice try but still a second rate voice and an interpretation of the piece suitable only for the audience of mass market morons who watch Idol.

[sarahjane25]

<3 <3 <3

[hotram1]

After seeing a few of his other performances I chose to watch this one because I am unfamiliar with this song. He did a remarkable job keeping true to his own voice and style. Pavarotti he ain't, nor should he be, considering this is "Idol" I thought the song was a good match for his voice. I liked it.

[kuntrygurl89]

This is my favorite version of this song. I can only take so much of the opera style. So this is perfect the way Damien sings. This songs proves why he's the Aussie Idol!

[kelbo61]

Are you kidding me? Good lord, Pavarotti's version has more passion in it than this kid could ever produce!!! This song is meant for a MAN!

[kuntrygurl89]

Actually, the YOUNG PRINCE in Turandot would be closer to Damien's age rather than Pavarotti. So that's why I like hearing him sing it. Every time I've been to see turandot, they have too old of a man as Calaf.

While I agree, he doesn't have enough emotion, I just like his voice for this song. Its a nice fresh young sound to the song.

[jj201]

great attempt. but no one can get the pipes that pavarotti got.

[choochooboi]

he have a nice tone but NEVER EVER SING PUCCINI LIKE THIS!

[ares7768]

i agree with that one!

[Zebelon1Hedlund]

Its not that bad, he sings with his style, no need to put that down....

[garinaj]

Damien in a fantastic singer/songwriter this was totally left of field for him, chosen by judges not him. I think he did a fantastic job as did a lot of others --

BTW you dont need to rude or offensive to get your point across - "Better to shut up to be thought a fool - rather than open you mouth and remove all doubt"

[dc6361]

How dare you bad mouth a truely great singer! This is HIS version of the song and i reckon he did a bloody good job. I would Like to see you's do a better job! And checkout the audience at the end... over 500 people loving the song against a couple of people who have the shits! Honestly, its a hard song... Good work Damien!

[Catalyztic]

fuck all of you for bad mouthing aussies just because you don't like the way one guy sings a bloody song get over yourselves you can tell he's not an opera singer and it demonstrated that his voice can reach further than most pop artists.. stuff all you who think that aussies are shit cause you don't like him. I can name many other countries who do shit stuff as well accept that he had a go and you don't like it and get over it ffs

[jnavag54]

THE WORS OF THE WORST, it was the first time that Nessun dorma was performed in Autralia? Obviusly who never listen opera can clap?, but he can kill caruso with this performance

[jnavag54]

OPERA is an art, Nessun doma can not be singed on english, and you need voice, even drunk i sing it better NO ONE CAN DO IT WORST, NO CULTURE,NO VOICE,some one give him a gun to shoot himself

[CossacksChampion]

This song is a number too big for that guy !

[drini27]

Australia, so poor Culturaly...so Bad.

Really to feel sorry for your sick ignorance and your non musical sence!

Feel absolutelly dreadful.

Fuck of music suckers.

[figicos]

cambia, cambia, pazzerello che sei...

[LucianoKraCore]

clear example of... "TALKING"..

[wittest]

sorry folks, this is just incredibly bad

[ErnestoPetti]

ahah yes to bad and not in the right key

[HotChocolat384]

Dude...this kind of sucks. I think i'm going to watch the Pavarotti, Domingo and Carrera versions of this on YouTube.

[211123436]

fuck that sucks. Can all u teeny boopers get over the fact he was australian idol which somehow makes him popular for 5 minutes and listen to a real voice sing that song. his was weak as piss. DO u like guys like music or just like the image channel 10 gives u of it.

[jerova]

melbboidoc, i completely agree with you.

gosh he is so amazing!

[melbboidoc]

i think the reason he won is because he isnt like anyone else. when i heard jess sing i saw whitney, celine, mariah and christina- shes just a standard make diva...brilliant but not original enough.

[pm4eva]

omg i was in the opera house and wen he sang this evry1 got goosebumps! at the end evry1 stood up and applauded for about 5mins!!! SO HAPPY HE WON!!!

[the1dave1]

Hmm... they arent the correct lyrics and its a few keys lower compared to Pavarotti... its good but the technical difficulty is not as near as Pavarotti by a mile.

[TrillyD]

umm, Pavarotti = trained Opera singer, which D is not! This is the best his two performances of this song. Absolutely thrilling!

[ravengrace]

He didn't write this first single off the album Skogs. It was written by one of Sony's people. I hope they allow him to do a lot of his own stuff rather than forcing mediocrity on the poor guy.

[wrx54]

God he is good loved him from the start

[bonafidesupercrazy]

I think Jess should have won, because she needs more guidance than Damien and fits the "pop" role better. If Damien had lost, he would have more control over the kind of music he sings. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt though, and hope they let him sing Jeff Buckley type songs. He was great at them.

[ryj62]

amen

[worldeleven2003]

gay, not another Ronan Keating boyzone

[isahar]

jealous?

[tatiana113]

gay?! you have no idea what you are talking about. although ronan keating is a good singer, he could have never nailed this song.

[johnlryan]

I'm from Ireland but live in London so haven't seen any of the show, thanks to everyone who has uploaded the clips to youtube!!

[fntruths06]

Lord that's a tough song to sing. Even the Pavarotti has failed to nail this song on occasion. Well done Damien.

[ravengrace]

What a star. I hope Sony BMG know what they've got on their hands, and they don't try to push a round peg in a square hole. The voice of an angel,  and charisma as well. Finally, an Idol worthy of our attention and support.

[eza555]

This is/was amazing.

[bluekerry]

wow damien is the best idol by far...

love this song!!!

[jerova]

I am constantly teased about watching these Idol shows on youtube by my husband. But, this performance floored him. Absolutely amazing! I get a lump in my throat every time I hear it. Outstanding! Totally brilliat!

[CaptainLegless]

Absolutely bloody brilliant!! At last an Autralian Idol who can sing!!

[dededom]

Damien Leith - Australian Idol 2006 Winner

The whole House erupted at the end of this and leapt to their feet and gave him a huge standing ovation. You just knew he should be the winner, and it was confirmed minutes later.