I was messing around watching television lately and ended up catching a British version of America's Got Talent (Britain's Got Talent).

I was just in time to catch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En0A8KGMgq8
Intrigued I investigated a bit and also found a video of this from the same show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA

Focus: When was the last time you were really blown away by a performance by someone you had underestimated? Have you ever surprised yourself with a performance in some sport of activity?

My "Jesus-Christ, you did that?" moment happened a few days ago.

I was in Guitar Center looking for a new guitar for my brother when this old gray-haired guy, probably about 65, walks in with his werewolf of a wife. I just wrote him off as a classical guitarist and went on harassing the salespeople. Next thing I know the guy grabs a $3000 Strat amps up and begins to play.

Then the walls came down. He played the entire Eruption solo fucking flawlessly. By half way through every person within earshot (including employees) was standing there watching this geriatric light the fretboard on fire.

Yea.. although I didn't think the singing is that great, I believe its a HUGE achievement for that little girl to be able to sing that well. I thought she had gone through puberty in like 2 secs. Pretty crazy.

There are some links in my profile so what I thought were some of the best performances in Britain's got talent. Go watch them! They are amazing.

Walking through the streets of Caenarfon in Wales, this busker was playing an orchestral harp in the street, he played greensleeves, and it was the single most memorable musical experience of my life. My emotions were just spinning as he played. Truly beautiful.

That's quite common here ^_^ That would be the spirit of the Welsh My friend busks, and once made over £100 in one night.

Aye, it's a beautiful country. Just a shame about the people.

Heh, joking, I have around a hundred family members living there:)

i just watched that video... and i couldnt believe that a 6 yr old girl can sing a sweet firm soprano ... the voice of an innocent is just so out of this world ...

as for the guy.. omg.... brilliant. xD put a tear on my face xD

I just read through this thread and realized we had 6 grammatically correct posts in a row. This might be the single most surprising revelation of my entire life.

^ That IS something to be suprised and blown away at! Something that surprised me was also Damon Scott + Bubbles (the guy with the monkey) that's in one of the links in my profile, was absolutely rubbish in the semi-finals of the show (it was on TV last night) but he still got through. So did the guy singing opera ^_^ He's Welsh, y'know...

Agreed, that guy was something else. He just opened his mouth and from out of nowhere this incredible voice issued forth.

This is a very good topic by the way.

I haven't seen any buskers in quite a while. I've seen two incredible ones, one was a gypsy (the style) violinist who played left handed. The other was a bag piper who was covering lots of different styles. I liked Crazy Train.

As regards the threads actual question, I've been surprised by a couple of the fencers I've met. When I started fencing I could judge if someone was good based on their level of fitness, but when I got older I fenced some people who had dropped fencing but were picking it back up. They were out of shape but incredible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR2KkA1JlFs&mode=related&search= I really don't have to say anything about this; she's simply phenomenal.

Hopchow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k36U4wwNFNE

That's Paul Pott's 2nd performance.

Lil conny is on tonight ^_^

I disapproved of Pott's second performance. I thought he was an amazing singer, and it must've sounded amazing in the vicinity itself, but through watching it on the TV; the music was too loud and drowned out the vocals. He did well to go through, but I just wish I could've heard it -_-

I hope Conny can sing something other than 'Somewhere over the Rainbow'. She is amazing, but I have the fear that perhaps she can just do the one song...<_<

For me, I was most blown away by 'Perfect Performance' by Huang YiDa (here on CR)...I'm pretty musical, and it takes a lot to really amaze me, but that one did it!!
Second place: I have a friend who's an opera singer, and I've been listening to her for ...well more years than I'm gonna admit here...she came home for a vacation, and gave her doctorate recital...man, she's improved. She blew me away. I was expecting a night of semi-torture, and a headache....but I was thoroughly entertained. (I may sing it, but I don't like to listen to opera...)

I'm gonna go listen to that six-year-old now.

btw...lol about the grammatical posts.

*edit: I stopped watching those types of shows, because most of the auditioners are soooo terrible....but, yeah, I'm with Simon (I usually am, but I'm nicer about it). She was fantastic. Is this show like America/Canadian Idol, where they go through intense training, and get eliminated, or is it pretty much a straight talent show? Cuz she could use the training...yes, I know she's good, and I know she's still young, but she also still needs training...by the best...