NEWS
Jonathan Antoine release new album 'Going The Distance'
11 May 2020
If we need to remind ourselves… Jonathan Antoine became a global sensation at the age of just 17. Compared to the legendary operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti after his astounding audition on Britain’s Got Talent in 2012, the shy teenager’s life changed overnight. Music mogul Simon Cowell proclaimed him a future star. He wasn’t wrong.
Alongside his singing partner Charlotte Jaconelli, Jonathan came second in the show’s grand finale. The duo went on to release two albums, Together (2012) and Perhaps Love (2013), selling an impressive 250,000 copies and both reaching No.5 in the pop chart.
Jonathan’s success continued as a solo artist with Tenore (2014) and Believe (2016) both topping the classical charts.
Now, after working for almost 3 years to develop new repertoire and recording new music working with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, comes his incredibly personal new album Going the Distance – a recording to cement his position as one of the world’s best tenors. And, yes, he’s still only 25.
The album was produced by Grammy Award-winner Gregg Field, whos worked with everyone from Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald to Barbra Streisand and Andrea Bocelli.
With this fifth album, Jonathan has really found his voice. Eight years after his debut, he’s also now free to follow his own vision. Going the Distance realises a childhood idea to structure an album in three acts, like a musical, which tell the story of overcoming adversity to fulfil your dreams.
‘When I started, I was completely green,’ he says. ‘I didn’t know how the industry works or how a record is created. I followed instructions and, occasionally, felt it was to the detriment of performance or myself. You're not necessarily in control of your own destiny. You're at the mercy of many, many hands.
‘Going the Distance feels like me on a record. It’s not necessarily my story. It’s a story about anyone who feels downtrodden or disenfranchised. Most people feel like outsiders. We’re as flawed as each other and, if we come together, we're a little less of those flaws. We can make each other better than we can be individually.’
The album certainly inspired Jonathan. It marks the first time he’s recorded perhaps opera’s best-known aria, Nessun dorma from Puccini’s Turandot. It’s a song inextricably linked to the man he’s been likened to since the start, so committing the classic to the album for posterity was nerve-wracking.
‘I almost didn't want to record it because there are so many well done, exceptionally done, perfectly done versions,’ Jonathan explains. ‘Pavarotti’s from the Italia ’90 World Cup, the recording that skyrocketed the song, is unrivalled in my opinion. But at what other point in my life will I eventually decide I'm ready?’ he asks.
His version has been well received so far. ‘I have to see if my mum's crying. That's always a good sign,’ he grins. ‘On the first take, everyone in the studio… well, there were a lot of emotions. I was very pleased with the performance, but I’m my own worst critic. All I can do, when I listen, is pick it apart.’
The album kicks off with a trio of Disney classics. Go the Distance from Hercules could almost have been written for Jonathan after his own inspirational journey. ‘And I do think people should have theme tunes,’ he laughs. It’s followed by Can You Feel The Love Tonight? from The Lion King and Baby Mine from Bambi.
‘The Disney songs influenced my childhood immensely,’ he says. ‘I listened to them religiously. I watched The Lion King on repeat for three years straight.’
Act two comprises the iconic tracks Moon River, Summertime and Unchained Melody. There’s a gospel/soul version of John Denver’s hit Country Roads and a poignant Empty Chairs At Empty Tables from Les Misérables. It also features Compass (I Will Lead You Home) by songwriter extraordinaire Diane Warren.
‘We got really lucky,’ enthuses Jonathan of working with the Grammy award-winner whose hits include: Because You Loved Me (Celine Dion), How Do I Live (LeAnn Rimes) and I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing (Aerosmith). ‘Compass is about accepting yourself and others and our differences. And Diane rewrote some of the lyrics, so it fit even more perfectly into our theme.’
Jonathan’s musical journey, which concludes with the arias Amor ti vieta, Caruso and the showstopper Nessun dorma, certainly resonates with audiences. He debuted Going the Distance in two concerts in Toronto, Canada – recorded for a TV special set to be broadcast on PBS in the North America and worldwide this summer.
‘We had to edit down the crowd reactions as people stood up after every song,’ he grins. ‘If we aired that, people wouldn't believe it. It’s intensely gratifying.’
Not that he isn’t used to mind-blowing reactions. Jonathan’s BGT audition – in which he sung The Prayer – received 12 million views on YouTube in one night. It has now reached a staggering 123 million views. Jonathan admits Britain’s Got Talent not only changed his life but saved it.
Track listing:
1. Go the Distance
2. Can You Feel The Love Tonight?
3. Baby Mine
4. Compass (I Will Lead You Home)
5. Moon River
6. Summertime
7. Unchained Melody
8. Country Roads
9. Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
10. Amor ti vieta
11. Caruso
12. Nessun dorma
Twitter: @JonAntoine
Instagram: @JonAntoine
Facebook: @Jonathanantoinemusic
Alongside his singing partner Charlotte Jaconelli, Jonathan came second in the show’s grand finale. The duo went on to release two albums, Together (2012) and Perhaps Love (2013), selling an impressive 250,000 copies and both reaching No.5 in the pop chart.
Jonathan’s success continued as a solo artist with Tenore (2014) and Believe (2016) both topping the classical charts.
Now, after working for almost 3 years to develop new repertoire and recording new music working with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, comes his incredibly personal new album Going the Distance – a recording to cement his position as one of the world’s best tenors. And, yes, he’s still only 25.
The album was produced by Grammy Award-winner Gregg Field, whos worked with everyone from Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald to Barbra Streisand and Andrea Bocelli.
With this fifth album, Jonathan has really found his voice. Eight years after his debut, he’s also now free to follow his own vision. Going the Distance realises a childhood idea to structure an album in three acts, like a musical, which tell the story of overcoming adversity to fulfil your dreams.
‘When I started, I was completely green,’ he says. ‘I didn’t know how the industry works or how a record is created. I followed instructions and, occasionally, felt it was to the detriment of performance or myself. You're not necessarily in control of your own destiny. You're at the mercy of many, many hands.
‘Going the Distance feels like me on a record. It’s not necessarily my story. It’s a story about anyone who feels downtrodden or disenfranchised. Most people feel like outsiders. We’re as flawed as each other and, if we come together, we're a little less of those flaws. We can make each other better than we can be individually.’
The album certainly inspired Jonathan. It marks the first time he’s recorded perhaps opera’s best-known aria, Nessun dorma from Puccini’s Turandot. It’s a song inextricably linked to the man he’s been likened to since the start, so committing the classic to the album for posterity was nerve-wracking.
‘I almost didn't want to record it because there are so many well done, exceptionally done, perfectly done versions,’ Jonathan explains. ‘Pavarotti’s from the Italia ’90 World Cup, the recording that skyrocketed the song, is unrivalled in my opinion. But at what other point in my life will I eventually decide I'm ready?’ he asks.
His version has been well received so far. ‘I have to see if my mum's crying. That's always a good sign,’ he grins. ‘On the first take, everyone in the studio… well, there were a lot of emotions. I was very pleased with the performance, but I’m my own worst critic. All I can do, when I listen, is pick it apart.’
The album kicks off with a trio of Disney classics. Go the Distance from Hercules could almost have been written for Jonathan after his own inspirational journey. ‘And I do think people should have theme tunes,’ he laughs. It’s followed by Can You Feel The Love Tonight? from The Lion King and Baby Mine from Bambi.
‘The Disney songs influenced my childhood immensely,’ he says. ‘I listened to them religiously. I watched The Lion King on repeat for three years straight.’
Act two comprises the iconic tracks Moon River, Summertime and Unchained Melody. There’s a gospel/soul version of John Denver’s hit Country Roads and a poignant Empty Chairs At Empty Tables from Les Misérables. It also features Compass (I Will Lead You Home) by songwriter extraordinaire Diane Warren.
‘We got really lucky,’ enthuses Jonathan of working with the Grammy award-winner whose hits include: Because You Loved Me (Celine Dion), How Do I Live (LeAnn Rimes) and I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing (Aerosmith). ‘Compass is about accepting yourself and others and our differences. And Diane rewrote some of the lyrics, so it fit even more perfectly into our theme.’
Jonathan’s musical journey, which concludes with the arias Amor ti vieta, Caruso and the showstopper Nessun dorma, certainly resonates with audiences. He debuted Going the Distance in two concerts in Toronto, Canada – recorded for a TV special set to be broadcast on PBS in the North America and worldwide this summer.
‘We had to edit down the crowd reactions as people stood up after every song,’ he grins. ‘If we aired that, people wouldn't believe it. It’s intensely gratifying.’
Not that he isn’t used to mind-blowing reactions. Jonathan’s BGT audition – in which he sung The Prayer – received 12 million views on YouTube in one night. It has now reached a staggering 123 million views. Jonathan admits Britain’s Got Talent not only changed his life but saved it.
Track listing:
1. Go the Distance
2. Can You Feel The Love Tonight?
3. Baby Mine
4. Compass (I Will Lead You Home)
5. Moon River
6. Summertime
7. Unchained Melody
8. Country Roads
9. Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
10. Amor ti vieta
11. Caruso
12. Nessun dorma
Twitter: @JonAntoine
Instagram: @JonAntoine
Facebook: @Jonathanantoinemusic