BGT - the best result for Jonathan and Charlotte

Let me make one thing clear from the start:  I am not a fan of Simon Cowell or his programmes, and the message they sometimes appear to put out.     I chose not to watch either BGT or XFactor and just catch up on the bits that appear interesting to me later on, and avoid Mr C's comments on the whole.

However I think I finally get BGT.  As the excellent young magician, Paul Dabek (who I had the pleasure to teach briefly a few years ago) tweeted "Dog act wins BGT maybe variety is really back!" (sic)

BGT this year came down, largely, to a choice between a great modern version of the old end of the pier act, the Dancing Dog, and someone who many years ago may have found themselves as part of an old freak show.   I use the word freak in its proper sense here of someone who is outside the normal biological expectations.   A lad of Jonathan's age should not naturally have that huge tenor voice, but what an instrument, and what potential he has. And I am not going to ignore his partner Charlotte here, who I feel has been overlooked in a lot of the comments I've heard recently.

And yet the dog won.  And I myself am delighted for a variety of reasons.   Firstly Pudsey is ridiculously cute, and the bond with his teenage owner and dance partner Ashleigh is clearly immense.   I have only just watched them this morning, and sat here, I don't mind admitting, with tears of joy streaming down my face.   If BGT has to exist, then this is exactly the sort of act that it is able to highlight - along with the wonderful Aquabatics.  And a big hands up to the BGT producers for undertaking to stage what is clearly not an easy act to put on.

But I digress - as ever.  This is The Very Vocal Blog, so why am I so happy that the singers did not win.  Simply because they are so young.   Their voices have got a lot of maturing to do; their bodies are not yet physiologically mature.   I was worried over the previous week that, were they to win BGT, the Cowell bandwagon would start to suck up the young singers, over publicise them and - more importantly - over-sing them.   

Clearly there are two very talented voices here.   Is Charlotte Jaconelli an extraordinary talent - that remains to be seen, but she has a clear, well produced soprano that is so much better than the "pop voice" moniker she has been given.   She doesn't sound truly operatic as she is singing next to the magical monstrosity of a voice that is being produced by her very close friend, Jonathan Antoine.  But she has a voice that is clearly at home singing light classical and theatre music, and, with the correct training, may develop a richer fuller tone should she chose to go down that path.   And the good news is she should now have time to make those decisions and get that advice and training.

As has Jonathan.   Let's be clear about this - this is an astonishing voice.  He has clearly (they both have) been taught very well, and any occasional sense of stress and push in the voice must, I'm sure, be down to nerves and adrenalin.  The vocal performances I've watched were not technically perfect, but they were thrilling and I never felt that the voice sounded over produced.  And yet it clearly is over produced for a 17 year old to have that voice.     This is a natural voice, and it needs to have the time to develop naturally.   

Hopefully without the full BGT / Cowell bandwagon pushing them out for appearances left right and centre both these singers can get on with doing what all talented young singers need to do - learn.   Learn technique, learn repertoire.   Yes, I've no doubt there will be an opportunity for a number for appearances and these should be good experiences.  Although, let's hope they're no asked to do too much outdoor singing, as the tendency always is to overproduce and force the voice, especially as the PA and foldback are not adequate.   But first and foremost these young singers now need to be embraced by one of our great singing institutions - not the arms of the press - and guided and moulded to help shape their new career. 

There are clearly issues to be faced.  According to an interview in the Telegraph (http://ow.ly/aWuWF ) he has left 6th form after "sort of a nervous breakdown".  The fact that, in the same article, the school in question released a statement saying that they have strong anti-bullying policy gives a clear idea what's going on.   He has issues with his weight, and I sit here as a man in my 40th year who, according to all statistics, needs to lose about 6 stone to be at my "ideal" weight.  I'll take 3, and that's what I'm now dealing with.   I really hope Jonathan finds the support he needs as, successfully dealing with those issues will only help to strengthen him vocally.   He now, thanks to Ashleigh and Pudsey, has the time to do that.

So I can't believe I am going to be finishing a blog entry in this way, but Well Done BGT - and therefore well done to the viewing public.  You got the right result.  A great old fashioned variety act, delivered with charm wit and panache, takes the spoils.   And a pair of very talented singers - one "freakishly" talented - get a measure of the fame that they might get at a later date, but also the time, I hope, to get on with the business of being young singers, and nurturing their talent so that it is around for the next 30-40 years, not just 3-4.