From the BBC:
A 47-year-old church volunteer from West Lothian has become an unlikely overnight singing sensation with millions watching her perform online.
Susan Boyle, from Blackburn, stunned judges on ITV's Britain's Got Talent with her performance of I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables on Saturday.
Since then Hollywood actress Demi Moore has joined the legions of fans who have voiced their support on the internet.
Ms Boyle has now become the bookies' favourite to win the talent show.
Ms Boyle, who told viewers she had "never been kissed", said she had always wanted to be a singer.
She said: "I entered the competition because I wanted to have a chance at my singing."
Susan is feisty and completely natural. She charmed me before she began singing. To watch the reversal of attitudes of the cynical judges to her comments, followed by their reactions once she started singing, makes the video worth viewing. I hope Susan wins.
MadPriest, do let us know if you spot Susan Boyle while you're in Scotland.
Embedding is disabled, but you can view the video here.
H/T to Oyster at Your Right Hand Thief, although he is the world's worst cynic and makes sport of Susan.
All Right! If you want to hear Susan Boyle's version of "Cry Me a River", from a charity CD made in 1999, listen to it at The Daily Record. You won't be sorry. Thanks to Susan S. in the comments for the link.
Wow!! That's all I can say. What a talent.
ReplyDeleteShe's a folk hero, always the best kind.
ReplyDeleteI'll buy her CD just at the thought of her living in luxury for the remainder of her days.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite comment had to be Simon's: "Susan, I knew the minute you walked on this stage..."
I've watched the video about 5 times now. KJ, that WAS good on Simon's part. An excellent way to eat humble pie. She's wonderful. What a woman!
ReplyDeleteI saw the actual programme.
ReplyDeleteThe show specialises in showing auditions of totally deluded people and I saw this woman and said to Susan that we really should stop watching things like this because they're only designed to poke fun at completely unsuitable people.... and then she began to sing....
It was incredible!
Lovin' the Scottish spinster. She was completely amazing.
ReplyDeleteSo why does the American version have an age limit? It's a good thing she lives over there or we would have never had the pleasure.
Simply the best...I think we all know her, she´s always given us a hand with the coffee hour and works her behind off at the ECW Thriftshop (Scottish branch) every Tuesday! Horrah Susan Boyle (I wonder what she will look like at her next appearance...bet they streamline the ¨look¨ but don´t touch the essence of her pure Soul)!
ReplyDeleteErika, it's the same here but for the age limit, as Missy says. I don't watch.
ReplyDeleteLeo, her ittle hip-shaking routine was mahvelous, don't you think, dahling?
It's true, we all know her!!! She serves punch and pours tea at Coffee Hours and receptions, make sandwiches for the Bishop's triennial visit. Arranges flowers for the altar, and hoovers the chancel carpet.
ReplyDeleteIn my case she is also a cousin, an aunt or a grandmother. I would imagine she has never dieted, been to a gym, counted calories, plucked her eyebrows or worn very much makeup.
She isn't ugly, she's 47 and probably cuts her own hair with a pair of manicure scissors.
She has the voice of an angel, the stage presence of an Elaine Paige and I hope she glories in low deferred attention and fame she has acheieved.
low is a typo and should be "long" sheesh you wash the dishes and then you can do nothing with your fingers!
ReplyDeleteI didn't think she was ugly at all--and her dress was quite lovely.
ReplyDeleteNow if she got those eyebrows done and her hair "streamlined" she would really knock out the cynics.
How delightful that Gerry and Leonardo know her--I can see her pouring tea.
Gerry, I worked that out, love.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, we all know Susan or someone like her. I was quite taken with her before she sang a note. I knew the judges would roll their eyes, but I liked her from the beginning.
I plucked my eyebrows in an attempt to look like the "afters" in Glamour magazine. But I am/was Susan and we both found that we had value. (Except that I got kicked out of the childrens' choir because they worried thatI might actually sing) Blessings on her.
ReplyDeleteThis is Susan Boyle's first recording, made in 1999 for a charity record. You won't believe how good it sounds. Sorry that you will have to copy and paste, but you will be glad you did. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2009/04/16/exclusive-susan-boyle-s-first-ever-song-release-revealed-listen-to-it-here-86908-21283564/
ReplyDeleteI loved the performance, I loved her guts, and I loved Simon's look!!
ReplyDeleteThat is one HUGE point for those of us who are not of the "beautiful people" crowd!! (I loved that audience and their willingness to see real talent and love it!!!! Fantastic!)
The build up was a bit of a giveaway - she was either to become one of the best 'joke' contestants or to be impressive indeed. Still interesting to note who does and doesn't watch this stuff.
ReplyDeleteSusan looks and behaves like nearly everyone I know --- although admittedly little premium is placed on glamor in small-town Iowa. Fewer of us are that self-assured, however, and I'll bet none of us can sing like that. Wow!
ReplyDeleteInteresting that so much of the commentary out there is based on an impression that this performance is a step toward fulfillment in an unfulfilled life when Susan herself suggests otherwise. Confidence built on a life well-lived shines in that performance.
The lesson may be that there really are angels among us and that we'd see and hear more of them if we had the good sense needed to pay attention.
Susan is the average person we meet every day. As Frank says, she seemed not at all like a pining, frustrated spinster, but rather a happy, upbeat person, who seemed not to care a fig about the cynical poses of the judges.
ReplyDeleteFrank, welcome to my humble blog. I have friends who either are or were farm folks from Iowa.
Doof! I was being a bit obtuse.
ReplyDeleteFrank I like your point--and absolutely agree.
TheMe
ReplyDeleteSome of us watch it because our teenagers do and we don't like to live in a culturally seggregated household :-)
Sure she sings great, ...but could definitely use a makeover!!
ReplyDeleteMy anxiety in all of this is that Susan Boyle is seen, at best, as the exception - and that "the popular kids" still won't get it.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and I have both blogged on this. Mine is at http://simplemassingpriest.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-hope-shes-wrong-im-afraid-shes-right.html and links to hers.
David, she could fix her appearance some, and she probably will for her next performance, or maybe not. I loved her anyway.
ReplyDeleteMalcolm, I'll have a look at your post and your daughter's.
We live in a mixed up world that has all the priorities wrong. I loved Susan before she even sang, but I'm an odd one.
Mimi
ReplyDeleteI think we all loved her as soon as we saw her - but we didn't think she could sing!
Simply going by epxerience, people who do have a genuine talent and who want to perform in public tend to take care with their appearance.
It's not a hard and fast rule, of course, as this lady shows, but it's general enough for all of us to have been genuinely surprised by her.
You're welcome Mimi!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to respond to this post but was afraid Mimi would BAN ME FOREVER!!
ReplyDeleteMimi,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, I misremembered the source of the comment about Susan Boyle's attractiveness. I should not have implied that you made it. You quite definitely didn't.
Gerry, I never thought that you implied that. I was referring to your type.
ReplyDelete