Written By: JJ and LG



AN EVENING UPDATE - SEBASTIEN’S SPEECH

The concert so far had been an even bigger success then they had even imagined. There was not a spare seat in the field. Cheers and screams were emerging from the crowd so loud they could be heard by the guys backstage. All of the Divos had been deeply touched by just how much the fans had put into make this night the huge success it already was. Sebastien especially was thankful that this night was going to be the hit they wanted. Most importantly and the reason Sebastien had come up with the idea in the first place was because it would more than benefit his kids, his little angels out there, from AMTM. Taking a distant second chair, was the benefit to them as performers; advancing their career to a destination bigger than they could ever have dreamed. He knew also that this night would bring him closer to his fans, as the speech he had prepared made him cry every time he rehearsed it...hoping the fans would be touched as well.

Sebastien had planned on talking to them on a one on one level, a level just for him and everyone out there that had supported this cause and care. David Carlos and Urs knew that Sebastien had to do this speech on his own… it was his idea, his baby. It would be Sebastien, the fans and all watching on TV or listening on the radio that would connect tonight… needed to connect tonight, even though it was the whole of IL DIVO that made it work. The song one of the artists had been performing was about to come to the end, the time had come; it was time to make the speech. Sebastien hugged Dori and gives her a kiss. She smiles at him to let him know how proud she is of the effort he has put in to making this concert work. He knows, he smiles back, and an unspoken bond of love and passion flows from between their eyes. As he walked toward the curtain, Carlos and Cyd stood to Dori’s left, Urs and Siobhan her right, and David and Suzie stood quietly behind her, each Divo lightly touching her shoulders as his footsteps faded away from her.

As Sebastien walked out to the stage, he was thinking only one thing; this was the most important speech he would ever make in his life. The stage lights had dimmed to darkness. A lone spotlight followed him to the edge of the stage as he sat down. Allowing his eyes to adjust a moment, he smiled at them before starting to speak. “Good morning to everyone on the other side of the world. Thank you for welcoming us into your home and your heart as we come together tonight in support of a charity very close to my heart, AMTM. It has been our pleasure to entertain you. Tonight, another thank you goes out to the many amazing stars we have on this stage with us here and around the world. We hope you have enjoyed a concert unlike anything ever done before. We have opened our hearts here on stage and we hope that you will now open yours in support of children and elderly. Together and only together, will we continue to raise awareness of the struggle of those supported by AMTM. For those who have just joined us, on the big screen behind me, we have shown you a small fraction of the enormous struggles these children and elderly suffer everyday. We are the lucky ones and tonight, with your help, we hope to make them the lucky ones as well. Please support the effort to bring them a better life and future. As most of you already know, I was recently married and am now the proud father of my 2 precious daughters - my beautiful twins. Carlos to has his little girl too, and his new wife. We give them our love and know that no matter what, they will always be provided for in the future. But what about the kids of AMTM; where is their love and support? Well, I…we… wish to provide them that love and support tonight. To do that, we need your help. We see on our visits to Nepal and Africa the struggles and pain they suffer and now you can see it too. Just look at the faces of these children who have next to nothing. Still, they have hope and faith that one day they too may have what other kids in the world have, a loving home, food to eat, and bed to sleep in, and most of all, love. It is sometimes easy to forget with our own struggles in life that these innocent little children and elderly are out there suffering. We, with our own eyes, during the trips we have taken to both Nepal and Africa, have seen the devastation of the living conditions and the healthcare of these poor souls who are weak with hunger and starved of love.”

He took a moment then to stop speaking and look out over the crowds. As his eyes slowly scanned the faces in the quiet darkness, he felt his words had touched the lives of many people; with every beat of his heart pounding steadily in his chest, he prayed that the people in the audience tonight would take it home in their hearts. All of the information he had provided them in his speech, by the pictures, by those that have given so much already, would encourage others by donating and sponsoring in the future. He himself was crying and as he gathered his emotions to start speaking again. The camera man working with them captured the audience in full view. In the calm evening twilight, whether man or woman, not a soul that was sitting there had a dry eye.