Michael Ball (born Michael Ashley Ball, on 27 June 1962 in Bromsgrove, England) is a British actor and singer, best known for musical theatre roles such as Marius in Les Misérables, Alex in Aspects of Love, and Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Although born in England, Michael Ball is half Welsh, and says jokingly that he considers himself "Wenglish" and proud to be British [1]. He studied Drama at the Guildford School of Acting and graduated in 1984. His first major break was a star part in the production of The Pirates of Penzance at the Opera House, Manchester. Next came a brief stint in Rep. Cameron Mackintosh saw him and cast him as Marius in Les Misérables. Next came Raoul in the second casting of Phantom of the Opera, and Alex in Aspects of Love, both in London and on Broadway, and Giorgio in Stephen Sondheim's London production of Passion. Alone Together was Michael's one man show first performed at The Donmar Warehouse (which was reprised in 2004 for the Singular Sensations season at the Haymarket). In 2002 Michael took on the role of Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang which was largely considered his comeback role. In 2005, at 10 days' notice, he replaced Michael Crawford, who had to leave the show due to ill health, as Count Fosco in The Woman in White, and gave a popular and critically-acclaimed performance.
Other performances include singing at the BBC's St David's Day concert, at the Les Misérables Tenth Anniversary Concert in 1995, and the fiftieth birthday party of Andrew Lloyd Webber in 1998. He is a dramatic baritone known for his range, expression and power.
Michael is an accomplished concert artist and tours frequently around the UK. He has also performed concerts in Australia and America. Since reaching the top of the British charts with "Love Changes Everything" (from Aspects of Love) Michael had small successes with follow up singles but in the main he has concentrated on releasing albums, all of which achieved Gold status within weeks, and in the case of The Movies album in 1998, Platinium in 7 weeks{was released Oct 26th confirmed Platinium status in interview on 12 Dec}. Michael represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest 1992, singing the song "One Step Out of Time", which finished second.
Michael has also turned his hand to presenting both on TV and radio and has presented The National lottery, Children in Need and This Morning, and had his own series on TV and radio (Ball over Broadway on BBC Radio 2) (which is in its fourth season), The Greenroom, and several specials for BBC Radio 2 on subjects such as Nat King Cole, Cameron Mackintosh, and Cy Coleman.
In September 2005, Michael made his NYC Opera debut as Reginald Bunthorne in Gilbert and Sullivan's Patience with the New York City Opera.
In October 2005 Michael released his latest album "Music". The album went into the UK charts at number 11, and spent 10 weeks in the top 75. The album finished the year the 99th best selling album of 2005.
In November, 2005, Michael returned to Broadway as Count Fosco in The Woman in White, which transferred from London's West End. However, he was forced to leave the show due to a reported viral infection caused by the fat suit required for the role, which reportedly raised Ball's body temperature by several degrees during the show. The suit is also thought to have been the cause of Michael Crawford's premature departure from the show in London. The show closed early, in part due to the health problems of Ball and leading lady Maria Friedman.
Michael spent the first quarter of 2006 on complete vocal rest, following the illness that caused him the leave Woman In White on Broadway. By the middle of July, Michael had taken part in the Royals Court's celebratory performance of The Rocky Horror Show, recorded a new album (called "One Voice", due for release on 30 October 2006) and made a guest appearance on Julian Lloyd Webber's album "Unexpected song". Then came the summer concerts at Aberdeen, Bath, Southport, Oakley Hall and Cardiff. In August, Michael sat in for Michael Parkinson on his Radio 2 show. He was interviewed for Radio 3's "Stage and Screen" programme, and recorded a tribute to Anthony Newley at Hackney Empire, also for Radio 2. Michael then took part in 'Proms in the Park' in Singleton Park, Swansea. He sang two tracks from his forthcoming album, 'One Voice'; the title song and 'Hero'. Michael also sung show stoppers, 'This is the Moment', 'Anthem' and 'Love Changes Everything'. In November, Michael will be releasing a new DVD containing all the best songs from his 'Live in Concert' DVDs. They will be split into five sections: Musicals, Love Songs, Personal Favourites, Party Time and Unplugged. The DVD will also include a brand new "Unplugged" session which Michael has recorded with just 4 other musicians in the studio especially for this DVD. It will be released on November 20 2006. Six days later he will join Petula Clark in concert at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London. (In 2004, he co-starred with her in a production of Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard at the Cork Opera House in the Republic of Ireland, which was later broadcast by the BBC. Michael has lots of promotional activities coming up at the end of the year with the release of his new album 'One Voice'.
It has been announced that Ball will be taking the lead role in Kismet in June/July 2007 for the ENOdetails can be found on the English National Opera website.There will also be a tour but exact dates are not known yet{Michael confirmed this during his Stage and screen interview}.
He is currently sitting in for Johnnie Walker on his Sunday afternoon BBC Radio 2 show.
Take my Breath away
Michael Ball Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How strong the power of love can be
Sometimes you just take my breath away
You watch my love grow like a child
Sometimes gentle and sometimes wild
Sometimes you just take my breath away
It's too good to slip by
It's too good to lose
Just to use
I'm gonna stand on a mountain top
And tell the news
That you take my breath away
Your beauty is there in all I see
And when I feel your eyes on me
Don't you know you just take my breath away
Say my life is yours, my heart will be
Singing for you eternally
Don't you know you just take my breath away
Don't you know you just
Don't you know you just
Don't you know you just
Take my breath away
Sometimes it amazes me
How strong the power of love can be
Sometimes you just take my breath away
In Michael Ball's song Take My Breath Away the singer expresses their admiration for someone who has such a strong impact on their life that they are simply in awe of their presence. The power of love is depicted as being overwhelming and able to leave the singer breathless. The lyrics describe how this love is not something that can be easily dismissed or taken for granted, but rather it is a force that is too good to be lost or used just for temporary pleasure. The singer compares their love to a growing child, sometimes wild and sometimes gentle.
The song appears to have a personal and emotional connection with the singer, creating an honest interpretation of their feelings. The song exhibits the strength and the impact of love on human psychology. The singer perceives the love existing inside his partner as something audacious and powerful - something that can take his breath away. It also exhibits the singer's loyalty and devotion to the love relationship, continuing to cherish their love perpetually.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes it amazes me
Occasionally, I am surprised by the strength of love
How strong the power of love can be
Love is often very potent and influential
Sometimes you just take my breath away
At times, you leave me awestruck
You watch my love grow like a child
You observe my love for you flourish like a developing infant
Sometimes gentle and sometimes wild
Occasionally, it's calming and other times it's ferocious
It's too good to slip by
This feeling is too exemplary to ignore
It's too good to lose
I wouldn't want to let such a great feeling go
It's too good to be there
This sensation is too exceptional to only exist, and not be acknowledged
Just to use
I wouldn't want to take advantage of this love, but rather cherish it
I'm gonna stand on a mountain top
I will make a bold statement for all to hear
And tell the news
I will broadcast my feelings
That you take my breath away
To announce that you consistently leave me breathless
Your beauty is there in all I see
Your attractiveness is within everything I glance at
And when I feel your eyes on me
When you gaze upon me in adoration
Don't you know you just take my breath away
You should know that you frequently blow me away
Say my life is yours, my heart will be
My entire existence belongs to you, my heart will continue to love
Singing for you eternally
My love for you will continue forever
Don't you know you just take my breath away
You should understand that you continuously leave me astounded
Don't you know you just
You should be aware that you
Don't you know you just
You should be cognizant that you
Don't you know you just
You should know that you
Take my breath away
Continuously leave me breathless
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CLAIRE HAMILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Maguire
on Wherever You Are
This song was probably written by Graham Gouldman and Andrew Gold