Arrrgh! I don't believe it. I didn't set the recorder and had to mute the TV to take a phone call earlier. Then I decided to type a post on another buzzjack forum. When I turned around again, I just caught the tail end of the interview.

 

Darius looked so serious and I was concerned but then he came out with the little jokey comment. Trying to melt into the background just isn't him at all.

 

Has Alex James dropped out?

 

 

Hello BT :D I also had a phone call just before the show started and had to cut the chat with my friend short (but not before telling her about the show tonight and asking her to vote for D!! ) Alex James was on 'Blur business' - he's certainly not promoting himself very much!

I thought Darius looked very tentative at first but once Ruth spoke to him he seemed to relax. Rolando looks like great fun - there are certainly a real mix of personalities involved with this show! :dance: I do so hope that D does well in this...... :cheer:

 

Julie

He looked great, a little nervous, but that was endearing - some lovely smiles and jokes with Rolanda, glad they spoke to him - ws worried he would be ignored.

There's a good article in the Daily Record today -

 

Darius Campbell: I've changed my name from Danesh because I feel so Scottish

 

Jan 15 2010 By John Dingwall

 

POPSTAR To Operastar contestant Darius Campbell will sing Nessun Dorma tonight as a tribute to his 78-year-old grandad who inspired his name change.

The Glasgow singer became a household name as Darius Danesh through stints on reality shows Popstars and Pop Idol.

But he recently ditched the family surname he inherited from his Iranian doctor dad, Booth.

 

Darius, 29, chose to become a Campbell - his mum Avril's maiden name - after an emotional visit to grandad Colin Campbell in a Paisley nursing home.

He revealed: "My real name is Darius Campbell-Danesh. On my credit card and passport, it has been Darius Campbell for the last two years.

"In the last five years, I have watched my dad go from a life or death scenario back to full health.

"I've taken on the responsibility of being effectively a stepfather to two young children. And I've reached a stage in my life where I ask, 'Who am I?'

"Before Christmas, I visited my grandad. He is originally from Greenock and he sang The Green Oak Tree to me. He sang it in such a way it brought tears to my eyes. He was in tears at the end of it, as well.

"He said to me, 'I am proud of you. No matter where you are in the world, you'll always be a Campbell. You'll always be a Scot and you'll always be my grandson'.

"At that point, I thought, 'I feel like Darius Campbell'. That's the name on my passport. It's the name on my credit card. Back in the day when I was introduced as Darius Danesh, I didn't ever have the choice. Someone at the studio in England dropped the Campbell without asking me.

"I am Scottish. I am proud of my heritage and I don't want to lose that.

"We live in a world that is becoming very Americanised. Everything is a bit of a jumble and knowing where you are from is very important.

"When I travel the world, I feel so deeply Scottish. When people know me as Darius Danesh, it doesn't reflect that I am Scottish. People say it's not a very Scottish name. But Darius Campbell reflects that I am Scottish."

 

Darius also dismissed the notion of a family feud over the name change after dad, Booth, reportedly fumed: "He should just keep it Danesh because everyone knows him as that."

The singer said: "I don't know where that quote came from. I spoke to my dad and he told me he didn't say that.

"My father is one of the most supportive people.

"He considered changing his name to Campbell when he first moved to Scotland 30 years ago because he felt like an adopted Scot.

"He is happy with the name change. I'm still Darius to him."

 

Tonight Darius becomes one of several singers taking part in ITV reality series Popstar To Operastar.

For 10 days, he has been put through his paces by Welsh opera diva Katherine Jenkins and Mexican tenor Rolando Villazon.

Darius is competing alongside Blur's Alex James, Bernie Nolan, McFly's Danny Jones, not-so-little Jimmy Osmond, Coronation Street's Kym Marsh, Marcella Detroit of Shakespeare's Sister and The Saturdays' Vanessa White.

In each show, they will have to impress Katherine and a panel of judges with their arias, the operatic term for a solo piece.

At the end of each week, the weakest performer on the show, which is hosted by Myleene Klass and Alan Titchmarsh, will be sent home.

Surveying a studio that features winding staircases that end in mid-air, Darius confessed he hopes to win the series and fulfil his dream of being an opera star. "The set is like a cross between Moulin Rouge and a David LaChapelle pop video. It is surreal and larger than life," he said.

"My first professional stage experience was in a Scottish Opera production when I was 12. I fell in love with the stage and with performance.

"Then I got a role in Carmen and had two performances in London at the Covent Garden Theatre. That was my first West End experience."

Darius says he has been working extremely hard since Christmas to make his opera dream come true.

"I've thrown myself into this," he admitted. "It's unlike anything I've done before.

"I've had to unlearn what I learned for my pop career and as a musical singer. The techniques for opera are completely different.

"Katherine and Rolando have been explaining to me what not to do. I'm singing in a different language and have had 10 days of rehearsal to do what opera singers learn in 10 years.

"I see this as revisiting an old ghost.

"When I was 14, I made the decision to study and go to university and then follow a career in pop.

"That was 15 years ago, so to get the chance to revisit something and retrain is magic. It is golden in a sense.

"I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't in my heart hope to win it. For 15 years, I have wondered how different my life would be if I trained with Scottish Opera to be an opera singer. It has been a love of my parents for many years.

"They listen to Classic FM and their favourite singers are Placido Domingo and Andrea Bocelli. If I could win this, it would make my dad's year."

Darius first burst on to TV screens as the goatee-bearded, super-confident pop wannabe in 2002's Pop Idol.

These days, he splits his time between London and the Los Angeles home he shares with Canadian actress Natasha Henstridge and her two kids.

"But I spent Christmas and New Year in Scotland," he said. "Even though we had the harshest winter in years, there was nothing like being home.

"It made me appreciate it all the more because I have worked elsewhere. Scotland will always be my home.

"My dad had a successful operation before Christmas so we celebrated. It was important to be with my family.

"When Natasha's kids heard about Popstar To Operstar, they were really excited. I hope British TV accepts this type of show. It is completely new."

Popstar To Operastar is on ITV tonight at 9.00pm.

good article.

and it makes complete sense,

Thanks, delphi.

 

I wish they'd given him something else. Nessun Dorma has been done by Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

 

 

Great article. It was good to see Darius on tv on this morning too. What annoyed me was when it said that he shot to fame in Popstars - he did, but he has done so much more than that.

He shot to infamy on Popstars and even today there are people blogging that they will never forgive him.

He sang it so well. The judges recognised that it wasn't in the best of his range and thought he'd done really well. It was very good. I liked all the peices - just not how they were sung. All the contestants can sing (except maybe Alex) but we didn't see him. They said he was a bit unwell but it came over as he couldn't be bothered in an untransmitted tv programme. I just feel that if you agree to do something, you should do it wholeheartedly - not just the bits you want.

 

I don't think the judges would get rid of the worst if they generate most money. Darius was in a class of his own. I'm sure other people are saying the same of their artist but I wouldn't do that unless it were true. He looked really nervous - they all did. It isn't about who can sing opera though - it's about fan bases. Going by the increase in support for Darius once he had sung, I'm hoping that he's in there for a while.

 

I hope they stop- people shouting out while people are singing - it means you can't hear them well enough.

TONIGHT

 

Darius Campbell: I've changed my name from Danesh because I feel so Scottish

Full story: The Sunday Mail

 

POPSTAR To Operastar contestant Darius Campbell will sing Nessun Dorma tonight as a tribute to his 78-year-old grandad who inspired his name change.

 

I feel happier that he is singing a well known piece rather than a more obscure piece. I think the public will better relate to something they know well.

Edited January 15, 201015 yr by Bramley

Thats what is good about following Darius, I think we all have enough credibility to know when he is good etc, if he isnt I have no problem saying so, and it makes reports from you so much more meaningful than a blanket of OOH he was the best- I am sure some fan bases will be doing that regardless. - having said that, guess who will get my vote regardless..LOL so he better be trying hard!!!

who was shouting, perhaps some fans want to improve their artists vocals..by disguising them. Odd about Alex as I would hav thought of them all he would need ot have the most practise. will be interesting, having said that would be good if he couldnt take part so no one was voted off the first show - I do hate the thought of that, other shows have at least a couple of shows to actually get a feel for people, how can you follow someones journey if there are only six shows and someone goes each time!

 

I do hope they dont shout over singers on the TV show,

Edited January 15, 201015 yr by prettyinpink

He doesn't seem to exist except to insult in England.

he has had to work so hard to get the begrudging praise he has got - and then that was a suprise,

must be a habit the media has got into, likewise a lot of the GBP - hard to stop it after so long of bashing

It's all so fickle and exhausting . Look at the way he suddenly went from hero to the butt of jokes again when GWTW closed. He was still the guy they'd all been praising to the heavens - a guy who'd taken on the ghost of Clark Gable and succeeded in making Rhett Butler his own but that didn't matter. All that mattered was sticking it to Trevor Nunn and Darius got cut down instead.

I cant believe it, I missed him this morning yet again. Was rushing around to go to a funeral at 10am where they played Susan Boyles album. I think it was because the funeral was so early that I completely forgot. Hope I can see it somewhere. Nesssum Dorma, that is some task for someone who is not a tenor.Anyway will make up for it in voting tonite.Re the press, as baytree says it is as if he has done nothing since pop idol or popstars.

Thank you for the news and reviews, and for sharing your lovely photos Meg :)

I'm having my lunch just now but later I'll try to type up the articles in a couple of other Scottish papers.

 

 

don't think the judges would get rid of the worst if they generate most money. That's a terrible indictment on today's TV talent shows.

 

Katherine Jenkins has said she will be an honest judge.

Edited January 15, 201015 yr by Baytree

Thank you from me as well. If you say he was good Meg, then I know he really was. Loved the article from The Daily Record Rachel, put like that it does make sense. Enjoyed the interview as well.Glad he got to say a few words and show us that lovely smile. Thought he looked much better and more relaxed.

 

Listened to a general conversation in the hairdressers this morning and people didn't seem to rate the idea of the show and had no interest in watching it, so perhaps it will be a different type of audience that will tune it, and that might help Darius. Sue

I see Alex as a 'Jedwood'. Fun but not attempt at all towards opera other than the words.

I must admit I would have been suprised if a booming voice had eminated from Alex - but you never know.

I think his purpose has already been served. He's been able to try out the music he loves and get publicity for Blur's film and new album at the same time. he won't care if he goes out tonight.