Charlotte, Jonathan and Us
A Duo Is Born?
Together Again!
They Can Only Get Better
"Just when you think things couldn't get any worse," so said Simon Cowell when a pair of youngsters walked on the stage of Britain's Got Talent.
"What's the act called," he asked.
"Charlotte and Jonathan," replies the young woman. The audience looks none too thrilled. A few questions are asked, and Simon remarks that the larger young man with long, curly hair doesn't say much.
The young man reveals that his size makes him a bit shy, and Charlotte says that she is kind of his protector.
Simon asks a simple question, "Do you think you could win?" Charlotte answers, "Yes, together"
:"All right, Good luck," Simon says, dismissing them as perhaps a pair of friends who did this on a whim.
The strains of The Prayer, a song made famous by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli, and Charlotte Church and Josh Groban comes up.
The audience is stunned by Jonathan's voice, as are the judges. When the two of them are done, the crowd and the quartet of judges are all on their feet. To no surprise, it's announced that they are through to the next round. Jonathan's voice is compared to Pavarotti's.
This should all sound a bit familiar, something similar happened a few years ago with Susan Boyle. There's another facet to this story, though, the friendship between these talented young people.
The world will want them to win. Shows like this, and American Idol, tend not to be cutthroat as Survivor, The Apprentice, or even The Biggest Loser. We will hope to see Jonathan's confidence in himself and his talent grow.
We'll also be asking, "Now what?" The two of them may have set a high standard, and choice of music will be important; Hollywood and Broadway provide sources, as does Classical music. I could them doing Wind Beneath My Wings, Say You--Say Me, or That's What Friends are For.
But I think the interest in these two, much like Susan Boyle, taps into something deeper. Our need for something uplifting, something positive. The exuberance that Charlotte and Jonathan showed after their performance reminds all of us of the joy of youth. We're all reminded of the power of dreams, and of friendship.
No matter what happens on the competition, Jonathan will at least be heard from again. I'll be hoping to see them win as a duo, though. This odd pairing might just be crazy enough to work.
