Susan Boyle: her dream comes true

Post by **vison** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 11:42 pm

Sweet lady, lovely voice. Great story.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

More:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI2DxkrgpgQ

Post by **River** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 1:58 am

That voice just blows me away. It still does. I can't believe it took so long for her to come out of the shadows.

Post by **sauronsfinger** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 1:51 pm

The first time I saw this story on TV I actually wiped away a few tears. What a tremendous tale. This is the stuff that dreams are made of.

Post by **Elentári** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 3:15 pm

What a voice - absolutely mesmerizing

Age-old lesson about books and covers....

Post by **WampusCat** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 6:02 pm

I read the stories about her before seeing the video. Well, that's nice, I thought.

Yesterday I watched it and was surprised at how deeply it touched me. Now I can't get the song out of my head. But it was not only the music or her clear, lovely voice. It was the look on her face. Her confidence that her dream was worth pursuing and that dreams can come true.

I want some of that.

Post by **Elentári** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 6:24 pm

Here's the full story from a British newspaper for those who are interested:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/ar ... g-now.html

Sat Apr 18, 2009 6:56 pm

The story is almost too perfect to be true. So much so, that no one could possibly make it up, because no one would believe that it was true. Truly amazing (come to think of it, I would love to hear her sing "Amazing Grace").

Post by **sauronsfinger** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 12:12 am

Reading the link that Elentári provided was almost as enjoyable as seeing the clip on Youtube. This is simply a wonderful story that appeals to the optimist in all of us. I especially enjoyed the part of the story where she attended Easter services at the local church and the entire congregation gave her a standing ovation as she entered. It is amazing how the very simply things we teach little five year children seem to be lessons we all need to relearn every few years. "Don't judge a book by its cover" not being the least of them.

Post by **vison** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 3:27 am

This is a common comment: don't judge a book by its cover.

So, okay? Why was it so astonishing that this rather plain Scotchwoman with a frumpy hairdo could actually sing? I might have been surprised if she'd done a Britney Spears turn, or got down and did some break dancing, but quite frankly she seems like the kind of regular middle-aged woman who sings in the church choir all her life and never goes out looking for fame and fortune. A better voice than the common run, yes. A beautiful voice, in fact. But I'm a little weary of people going gaga over her looks - she's just an ordinary woman and looks like one. Big deal.

I hope she gets what she wants, whatever it is. If she records an album of songs like "Cry Me a River", I would buy it.

Post by **Holbytla** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 3:35 am

I think it had more to do with her age and her having no experience.
I would be suspicious of a 47 year old who never sang.
And no she didn't look the part either, but she has a great voice and stage presence.

Post by **vison** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 3:46 am

She is said to have said she doesn't want a makeover. Well, I take that with a grain of salt. She doesn't have to go all Hollywood.

She's not ugly, she actually looks like my aunty Ann did at that age. But I know darn well if someone had offered me aunty a swell hairdo and a couple of new dresses, she would have jumped at it.

But she couldn't sing worth beans.

Post by **ToshoftheWuffingas** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:31 pm

I would like to point out that the newspaper quoted, The Daily Mail, has spent the last 30 years or so employing columnists who specialise in criticising women for their looks. I didn't read the newspaper article but wouldn't be surprised by a gobsmacking display of hypocricy.

I only saw a brief, heavily edited clip. Susan Boyle was singing beautifully with a lot of cuts to the judges faces looking approving. People who watched the programme said that beforehand they were snide and dismissive. Afterwards they were patronising.
Public entertainment in the UK has gone downhill and is quite depressing. I wish her well but fear the worst.

Post by **Elentári** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:39 pm

If it sets your mind at ease, Tosh, I'm most certainly not a "Daily Wail" reader.

Post by **Cerin** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:14 pm

vison wrote:So, okay? Why was it so astonishing that this rather plain Scotchwoman with a frumpy hairdo could actually sing?

I think she gave the impression of being one of those people who are a bit 'off' (which is explained by the fact that she has led a very reclusive life as a result of her disability), and I think that's what people were reacting to. People like this are rather cruelly featured in the early audition phase of 'American Idol', and it often turns out that these people can't sing at all, can't even marginally carry a tune, yet they seem to believe that they sing well, which is perhaps another manifestation of whatever emotional or mental state results in the evident lack of awareness with regard to personal presentation. So I'm speculating that this is what people may have been expecting when she opened her mouth, and that's what they meant by being so surprised.

I think that first rising note is one of the most beautiful I've ever heard. Her voice is so resonant!

I hadn't been familiar with the song, and I listened to a bunch of other performances on youtube. There were some more dramatic and some more sensitive interpretations, but I don't think anyone matched her for sheer beauty of tone, and no one hit that opening note in such stunning fashion.

Post by **Pearly Di** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:36 pm

Elentári wrote:If it sets your mind at ease, Tosh, I'm most certainly not a "Daily Wail" reader.

Daily Wail, LOL.

Cerin wrote:I think she gave the impression of being one of those people who are a bit 'off' (which is explained by the fact that she has led a very reclusive life as a result of her disability), and I think that's what people were reacting to. People like this are rather cruelly featured in the early audition phase of 'American Idol', and it often turns out that these people can't sing at all, can't even marginally carry a tune, yet they seem to believe that they sing well, which is perhaps another manifestation of whatever emotional or mental state results in the evident lack of awareness with regard to personal presentation. So I'm speculating that this is what people may have been expecting when she opened her mouth, and that's what they meant by being so surprised.

I agree a lot with Cerin here.

There were undoubtedly some in the audience who were reacting to Susan's plain appearance, and shame on them, but actually there are a lot of very self-deluded people who turn up for these talent contests and some of them are plain, like Susan, or nice-looking. Unfortunately, the self-deluded types make for great car crash TV. Ouch. But that explains the reactions of Cowell and Co, because they have seen some really deluded people in the past.

I loved their responses when she began singing.

There were some more dramatic and some more sensitive interpretations, but I don't think anyone matched her for sheer beauty of tone, and no one hit that opening note in such stunning fashion.

Oh, her opening note was good. Very good. But she seemed to be reaching a bit in the higher notes.

To be absolutely honest, Paul Potts knocked me out more.

But, it's a great story, and she undoubtedly has a great voice.

I just hope they don't turn her into a media circus ... and that the good lady has the wit and presence of mind to resist that happening.

Post by **WampusCat** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:35 pm

You know, I've worked in the media for 31 years, and I've yet to be invited to the media circus. No elephants. No trapeze acts.

I have seen a few clowns around the office, though.

Post by **Elmtree** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:50 pm

My daughter and I had the same reaction when watching... was this a set up? She sings SO well that I'm having difficulty believing no one noticed before. Cinderella stories make good TV too. Just how "real" is this show? I have no idea, I've never seen it before.

If it's genuine, it's a wonderful story. And genuine or not, she has a beautiful voice.

Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:10 pm

I really can't believe that it was a set up, simply because if it was widely known before this that she had such a great voice, it would have, well, been widely known that she had such a great voice.

I love your signature, Elm. How many people actually use their signature text to actually sign their posts?

Post by **Primula Baggins** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:28 pm

I am pretty sure that it was a setup to a limited extent. Someone associated with the show must have heard her sing, at some point in the process. Anyone running a show like that one would make sure that someone on staff was well aware of any big surprises among the contestants, so that those could be covered with special care (audience reaction shots, etc.).

I don't think the judges had any idea, because their public gobsmacking has huge entertainment value. Same for the audience. Both surprises were genuine. I just don't think everyone associated with the show was surprised.

Post by **WampusCat** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 5:31 am

I agree. Apparently it was known in her town that she could sing. She regularly sang in her church choir and at karaoke night in the local pub. But the reactions on the show seem authentic.