Not bad for someone who isn't an opera singer. I like this guys voice a lot and he holds the ending notes very well. This is a very tough song, very tough. People should lighten up on this kid.
this was my favourite year of idol. i was rooting for damien all the way through so it was pretty awesome when he won. i remember this rendition floored me at the time. but then again pretty much all of his performances did.
well to you all that dont think this song is good i would pay to see him sing this to me he excelled every expectation i had of him. he should be very proud what he did with this song i agree he has a voice of an angel and i wish him well
Oh so did I...I definately got goosebumps I have over his last three performances, then grand final night when he sung the new release I was like WHOA he's just so good
Yes, even Damien admitted that he doesn't speak Italian and had never sung opera before - so it's not perfect in the classical sense... but he made it his style and it's perfect to me. He had one week to prepare a compulsory piece for the competition - when he usually sings rock/alternative - and it's better than others who practised much longer. He gave it his all and I loved it. I say, BRAVO DAMIEN!! You rocked the house!!!
Met this challenge head-on and then some. Ok - it wasnt TOTALLY flawless, but it came close to it and he made this his own. Definitely better than some of the "professional" versions I've heard and this with just a few days prep and no opera training. Brilliant. His expression at the end of the song is priceless!!
All you people commenting and wasting all our tiem y saying how bad it was go and get a life. Firstly it wasn't his choice to sing it the judges chose the song. And he's NOT an opera singer he's just got a awesome vocal range. He was singing it the best he could because he HAD TO. And unless you are an expert on Opera or can do better than keep your insultive opinions to yourself because we do not want to hear them
Pop music? i WATCHED the video you recomended tfondaro and the music is exactly the same. Mario sings that song like EVERY other classical singer i have ever heard, he has style yes but trained, typical and boring. this is someone who hasn't been trained to sing the part is having a go and doing a DAMN good job. good stuff damien, showing the world that even classical music can have a contemporary change just like all other music and sound good.
Back then I would have been teary eyed. But then I actually started watching operas and then when I do listen to pop singers trying to do opera, I have the same reaction as you. I mean he did his best and was forced to sing this aria and not in a language he understands. He did his best.
i feel sorry for ppl who insult him.. u guys are jokes.. its obvious that the song was 'given' to him.. he dint choose it.. plus the word tenor means 'to hold'.. and obviously he can hold his voice at a fairly high pitch..
People should wake up, this type of "entertainment" has one purpose, and one purpose alone...to make the already wealthy even wealthier. The Damian Leith's, and Paul Pott's come in way down the list in term's of their importance, and to those of you who say that it's their chance for fame.....what chance?.
I agree and like your sentiment. Personally, I don't give much of a fig for "technically good" singers - what makes a singer, in my view, is how the lyrics are communicated. Is it honest and true to the lyrics? Yes. That makes this a good rendition, and it's not half bad technically anyway, with that NATURAL, not forced, vibrato. (Damn, I hate it when popular music singers produce false vibrato - it's so tacky.)
I love Damien! Overly difficult song but he handled it well, can't understand the judges with their choices sometimes, had the same issue in Finnish Idol this year.. How is he doing these days? Is he still popular in Australia?
He only had six days to learn the song from scratch. Plus he had to work on another song as well. It's not perfect but for 6 days preparation in a style he had never done before it's pretty bloody good.
Marcia was a bit upset because she was grieving for Belinda Emmet and thanked Damien for it being appropriate and said it was well done, Kyle said it was a fantastic performance but hassled Damien about whether or not it's the sort of thing he'd release, to which Damien said no, he just performed it "for the challenge"
@apoc214 And you, my dear, are what the rest of us call an "opera snob". It's performing songs like Nesun Dorma on shows like Idol that opens up a whole new world of music to people (and kids) who wouldn't necessarily know about it. So just get over yourself. Also, this song was chosen FOR Damien. He didn't choose it. No, it's not perfect because he's not an opera singer but he gave it a smashing shot and won the comp. What have you accomplished lately?
fair balls to him. a brave choice of song. I dunno what he was doing last night tho, he sang three shite songs that no one had ever heard before. The winners single is a bag of shite too.
Too bad Paul Potts wasn't Australian! He'd have shown this guy a thing or two!! So when is someone going to sing this aria on "America's Got Talent"?? What's after that? The Apocalypse!!! I can't wait...
I think he has a great voice,,,but you re right on the fact that he DID hurried through the most momentous part of the song,,,,,,but come on! this is a difficult song! he only had a week to work on it! ooh well,,,that's my opinion,,, ;D
Can contestants from Australian Idol really get a chance to show what they've got on the market? I mean we know a lot of them were going nowhere and went passe ever since earning some title and gone. It is really 15 minutes fame, case in point on the AI scene!
True he doesn't have an operatic voice. I thought he did a fair rendition but he is notRussell Watson. Having said that I love Damien and I love his voice.
@renilicious Also, it's not about what I accomplished lately. I murder Nessun dorma. Puccini is turning in his grave when I sing it. :) My point is that he's capable of an even better performance, if he had another song or time to properly prepare. My beef is that it seems that people behind these shows only know one aria and that's Nessun dorma. There's a gazillion of cool arias of all kinds, but everyone from Paul Potts onward sings Nessun dorma. Let's hear something else, pls.
@renilicious Why the hostility? I really like this clip. He has a great voice. He sings it really well. The english part kicks ass. The italian on the other hand, is ridiculous. And it's really a shame, because, if he did it all in english, it would have been great. Damien is great in this clip, but whoever came up with the great idea that he should learn Nessun dorma in a week should be kicked in the ass.
Don't be so picky Damo's not pretending to be Pavorotti or even David Hobson this is a popular version of Nessum Dorma- done by some other? pop star already. Yes it well open the door to classical music for those who have never been exposed to it. All the better for the real opera singers. Go Damo.
i agree mate, i dont see how he got a touch down, he only done better than the backup singers in the last 5-10seconds. Hes a good singer dont get me wrong but a touchdon from this performance for nessun dorma.....its a joke
what language is he singing in the first verse?!! it sounds like he's forgotten the words and is making up some combo of english and italian!! which is just massacring the the aria! 2nd why is he even singing this? it's like.. i don't know, i don't want to be mean but that's SO messed up!!! his voice is definitely, definitely great for other things but for opera? (especially Puccini, who only the very most robust singers can even think about handling) anyways...eek!!
This was judges choice? But why did they give him something he obviously couldn't do properly? Don't get me wrong, if he had no choice, he did the best anyone could expect of a non-classically trained singer, but why would they make him do nessun dorma? I guess it didn't matter in the end cos he won, but, seriously, he didn't do the song any credit, irrespective of how long he had on it.
You said it son...he's not an opera singer..indeed he's barely a singer- he proves this by having to to put the mic almost into his mouth in order to be heard...and this is an aria....not a "song", but being Australian I guess you can be forgiven for not knowing this.
i disagree with rosamondfc, i thought the performances were quite evenly matched, although im inclined to lean towards damien as i believe he is the better singer of the two.
check out Paul Potts in the UK talent contest, a humble, non arrogant, unassuming normal guy off the street who went on to win the competiton. (check audition first) This is weak and rubbish in comparison!
Best version of this song EVER.
What a brilliant voice...Thank you Damien .
Still brings tears to my eyes..............absolutely beautiful.
This brings still tears in my eyes. He is so good. Love him, Love him, Love him!!!!
Me too
He did a lot better than u could ever do.. he's awesome.. proud to call him our Australian Idol (even though he's Irish)
amazing... damien is a one of a kind
I've never been a fan of Idol, until i saw Damien sing, he's the only contesant to ever make me want to watch Idol. You are the beast Damien.
He's incredible. He's an even more incredible singing in person!
One of the best Idols ever!
This year's bunch won't even come close.
This made the hairs on my neck stand up - a real tingle. Beautiful.
Not bad for someone who isn't an opera singer. I like this guys voice a lot and he holds the ending notes very well. This is a very tough song, very tough. People should lighten up on this kid.
he learned the italian for this song in the week which i thought was amazing when i heard it first time
this was my favourite year of idol. i was rooting for damien all the way through so it was pretty awesome when he won. i remember this rendition floored me at the time. but then again pretty much all of his performances did.
That makes me teary everytime I see it. So beautiful!
well to you all that dont think this song is good i would pay to see him sing this to me he excelled every expectation i had of him.
he should be very proud what he did with this song i agree he has a voice of an angel and i wish him well
Damien I love you !!!! Its true his face says it all at the end - Bravo Bravo !!!
I like it is great and I I like all of your videos it is great
Glad he won the competition.....excellent
Bravo Bottswanna1000 couldn't have said it better. This is the first idol winner anywhere that the people will want to see in concert.
Oh so did I...I definately got goosebumps I have over his last three performances, then grand final night when he sung the new release I was like WHOA he's just so good
I loved it......
Beautiful voice
Awesome i love him
He absolutely blew me away last night!!
Pretty good for somebody who only had a few days to learn it. I enjoyed it anyway.
Yes, even Damien admitted that he doesn't speak Italian and had never sung opera before - so it's not perfect in the classical sense... but he made it his style and it's perfect to me. He had one week to prepare a compulsory piece for the competition - when he usually sings rock/alternative - and it's better than others who practised much longer. He gave it his all and I loved it.
I say, BRAVO DAMIEN!!
You rocked the house!!!
Met this challenge head-on and then some. Ok - it wasnt TOTALLY flawless, but it came close to it and he made this his own. Definitely better than some of the "professional" versions I've heard and this with just a few days prep and no opera training. Brilliant. His expression at the end of the song is priceless!!
This was much much more challenging and WAY better delivered than Anthony's performance of The Prayer.
All you people commenting and wasting all our tiem y saying how bad it was go and get a life. Firstly it wasn't his choice to sing it the judges chose the song. And he's NOT an opera singer he's just got a awesome vocal range. He was singing it the best he could because he HAD TO. And unless you are an expert on Opera or can do better than keep your insultive opinions to yourself because we do not want to hear them
That look in his eyes was like, thank fuck I did it, and as someone who's performed this song I know what a massive task it is
im his biggest fan
He's very nice looking too :))
thumbs up to those watching this in 2017
Elizabeth Blackford 2019
very very well done for doing it only with one week notice!!
Of course added the fact that it isnt his usual style, he had to learn italian and the entire song in a few days. Damo is a legend!
I hope someone could do this on American Idol... HE SLAYED THIS SONG!
-N O T GOOD!!!! bad bad bad!!!!-
Were you listening geeze it was great.
This is "supposed to be" an operatic aria,,,,far beyond non singers,,,like this.
Pop music? i WATCHED the video you recomended tfondaro and the music is exactly the same. Mario sings that song like EVERY other classical singer i have ever heard, he has style yes but trained, typical and boring. this is someone who hasn't been trained to sing the part is having a go and doing a DAMN good job. good stuff damien, showing the world that even classical music can have a contemporary change just like all other music and sound good.
same dude.
This is how to do a cover
My mother told me, if you not have nothing good to say ,please do not say any thing.
oh well, regarding to classical training... When Russell Watson first came out with his album, The Voice, he wasn't classically trained either.
Lolololololololol came here after watching Pavarotti, Three Tenors and Corelli 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Back then I would have been teary eyed. But then I actually started watching operas and then when I do listen to pop singers trying to do opera, I have the same reaction as you. I mean he did his best and was forced to sing this aria and not in a language he understands. He did his best.
I mean your the best Damien.
i feel sorry for ppl who insult him..
u guys are jokes..
its obvious that the song was 'given' to him..
he dint choose it..
plus the word tenor means 'to hold'..
and obviously he can hold his voice at a fairly high pitch..
here's a thought... if you don't like it... don't listen to it!!! simple!!!
People should wake up, this type of "entertainment" has one purpose, and one purpose alone...to make the already wealthy even wealthier. The Damian Leith's, and Paul Pott's come in way down the list in term's of their importance, and to those of you who say that it's their chance for fame.....what chance?.
Go on dude. you sing it and put it on youtube
I agree and like your sentiment. Personally, I don't give much of a fig for "technically good" singers - what makes a singer, in my view, is how the lyrics are communicated. Is it honest and true to the lyrics? Yes. That makes this a good rendition, and it's not half bad technically anyway, with that NATURAL, not forced, vibrato. (Damn, I hate it when popular music singers produce false vibrato - it's so tacky.)
lol...no need to get angry
Its "vincero" in English, it means "I will win" and he did!
Oh god, he's fucking killing the classic...
i think this is better than paul potts first attempt
Bizarre.
I love Damien! Overly difficult song but he handled it well, can't understand the judges with their choices sometimes, had the same issue in Finnish Idol this year..
How is he doing these days? Is he still popular in Australia?
Thumbs up if you're watching this in 2012 !!!
He only had six days to learn the song from scratch. Plus he had to work on another song as well. It's not perfect but for 6 days preparation in a style he had never done before it's pretty bloody good.
Marcia was a bit upset because she was grieving for Belinda Emmet and thanked Damien for it being appropriate and said it was well done, Kyle said it was a fantastic performance but hassled Damien about whether or not it's the sort of thing he'd release, to which Damien said no, he just performed it "for the challenge"
and the studio burnt to the ground too
lol that's some truistic reasoning if i ever saw it
The man is not an opera singer. This was done in one week with everything else that he had going on.
hat trick in that it's his 3rd in a row...
Fair enough..I take back the Australian bit- I was a bit hot under the collar when I wrote it....but the rest is my honest opinion, and so it stays.
Oh my god.
This is....an atrocity.
Horrible, awful, a crime.
@apoc214 And you, my dear, are what the rest of us call an "opera snob". It's performing songs like Nesun Dorma on shows like Idol that opens up a whole new world of music to people (and kids) who wouldn't necessarily know about it. So just get over yourself. Also, this song was chosen FOR Damien. He didn't choose it. No, it's not perfect because he's not an opera singer but he gave it a smashing shot and won the comp. What have you accomplished lately?
I meant in a row !!
fair balls to him. a brave choice of song. I dunno what he was doing last night tho, he sang three shite songs that no one had ever heard before. The winners single is a bag of shite too.
Too bad Paul Potts wasn't Australian! He'd have shown this guy a thing or two!! So when is someone going to sing this aria on "America's Got Talent"?? What's after that? The Apocalypse!!! I can't wait...
I think he has a great voice,,,but you re right on the fact that he DID hurried through the most momentous part of the song,,,,,,but come on! this is a difficult song! he only had a week to work on it! ooh well,,,that's my opinion,,, ;D
this is better than pauls version
Yeh he really made disco work for him....pffffff :-) I must admit everything else has been great though...Split Enz song especially...
Fantastic performance. Can't surpass Pavarotti's but excellent nonetheless.
He sounds abit weak at the higher notes... @.@, but very nice!!!!!! A very refreshing change from all the covered classical singers. =)
Wish they'd ditch Holden and get someone with a triple-digit IQ.
Can contestants from Australian Idol really get a chance to show what they've got on the market? I mean we know a lot of them were going nowhere and went passe ever since earning some title and gone. It is really 15 minutes fame, case in point on the AI scene!
That shit was horrible!W!
True he doesn't have an operatic voice. I thought he did a fair rendition but he is notRussell Watson. Having said that I love Damien and I love his voice.
well stupid people have a right to an opinion too, so even Silver can say his piece.
@renilicious Also, it's not about what I accomplished lately. I murder Nessun dorma. Puccini is turning in his grave when I sing it. :) My point is that he's capable of an even better performance, if he had another song or time to properly prepare. My beef is that it seems that people behind these shows only know one aria and that's Nessun dorma. There's a gazillion of cool arias of all kinds, but everyone from Paul Potts onward sings Nessun dorma. Let's hear something else, pls.
@renilicious Why the hostility? I really like this clip. He has a great voice. He sings it really well. The english part kicks ass. The italian on the other hand, is ridiculous. And it's really a shame, because, if he did it all in english, it would have been great. Damien is great in this clip, but whoever came up with the great idea that he should learn Nessun dorma in a week should be kicked in the ass.
Don't be so picky Damo's not pretending to be Pavorotti or even David Hobson this is a popular version of Nessum Dorma- done by some other? pop star already. Yes it well open the door to classical music for those who have never been exposed to it. All the better for the real opera singers. Go Damo.
i agree mate, i dont see how he got a touch down, he only done better than the backup singers in the last 5-10seconds. Hes a good singer dont get me wrong but a touchdon from this performance for nessun dorma.....its a joke
first half really stupid and avarege but the ending was great!
I like he singing, nice voice, smoth tone, but it is not ophera it is nessun dorma turned into pop song.
pft..
what language is he singing in the first verse?!! it sounds like he's forgotten the words and is making up some combo of english and italian!! which is just massacring the the aria! 2nd why is he even singing this? it's like.. i don't know, i don't want to be mean but that's SO messed up!!! his voice is definitely, definitely great for other things but for opera? (especially Puccini, who only the very most robust singers can even think about handling) anyways...eek!!
This was judges choice? But why did they give him something he obviously couldn't do properly? Don't get me wrong, if he had no choice, he did the best anyone could expect of a non-classically trained singer, but why would they make him do nessun dorma? I guess it didn't matter in the end cos he won, but, seriously, he didn't do the song any credit, irrespective of how long he had on it.
It's beautiful, but not the same. I guess actually watching Turandot, this song requires a stronger voice
You said it son...he's not an opera singer..indeed he's barely a singer- he proves this by having to to put the mic almost into his mouth in order to be heard...and this is an aria....not a "song", but being Australian I guess you can be forgiven for not knowing this.
come on man,you should be singing opera like,what's that..you don't even now the lyrics,jesus...stay home and close the door
This is lowered a minor 3rd... that's cheating!!!
Yeah..Not as good as I thought it would be. It was a great vocal without a doubt. But it was such a so-what performance.
Weak performance for that genre but I have to admit, the man can sing
Un insulto para Puccini
In your arse you whining sook. You wouldn't know talent if it smacked you in the mouth.
i disagree with rosamondfc, i thought the performances were quite evenly matched, although im inclined to lean towards damien as i believe he is the better singer of the two.
Shit
di sicuro il maestro PUCCINI si rivolterà nella tomba ,VERGOGNA
check out Paul Potts in the UK talent contest, a humble, non arrogant, unassuming normal guy off the street who went on to win the competiton. (check audition first)
This is weak and rubbish in comparison!