(Daily Motion link)
48-year-old Susan Boyle always dreamed of becoming a professional singer. When she walked out on the stage of the TV show Britain's Got Talent, no one expected her to do well.
Miss Boyle told presenters Ant and Dec that she lived alone with just her cat Pebbles for company. She said: ‘I’ve never had a boyfriend. I’ve never even been kissed.’
She then stomped across the stage and began clumsily gyrating her hips towards the judges, prompting laughter from the audience.
But you can't always depend on first impressions. Link
Disagree re the talent. It's a good story, but that's some ugly-heavy vibrato, and joyless delivery. Most Scottish women sing better than that.
Everyone was so willing to laugh at this woman b/c of the way she looked and her little goofy act before she started singing. She was just having a good time up there and they had already written her off b/c of her appearance.
I'm glad she was able to shut all of them up.
Her vibrato does need a little bit of toning down, but she does have a nice voice.. sounds I dunno... youthful.
I once had a pastor tell me to exclude some folks from my choir because they "didn't look attractive". Riiiight. Like his big fat gut was a joy to behold.
I'd gladly have used Susan Boyle in any choir or music production I've ver directed. The vibrato and bits of bobbling a couple of notes are all things that can be dealt with via decent vocal coaching. The voice itself is a really nice instrument, and her delivery fit the song quite well. Notice the lyrics and her emotional connection via her "backstory". Well done, Suusan!
How many people really get discovered and go on to become professionals in their 40s? I dont think there would be an audience for her if she wins.
wonder how well some of our so called "stars" would do if they were forced to appear on stage with out makeup, hair done, and costuming??? they would never stand up to a lovely lady such as susan boyle. good on her
I believe she may have done a bit of "enhancing" her background story to get some 'sympathy' points. Kind of like that guy on 'American Idol' who was too old to actually be an official part of the show but did perform for the judges. He had a story about how his wife just died and whatnot.
And interesting the comments above about her looks. Sadly if you do not have the looks it will be hard to really be a huge star in entertainment. This is even if you have a great voice. Yes there are always exceptions but for the most part everything in the industry is based on looks.
Didn't you watch the Olympics? According to the Chinese (and 1.6 BILLION people should know) ONLY good looking people are allowed on TV.
As for her being off-key - I would say it was more an issue of out of range. The lowest note disappears. Even great singers have sounded strained (listen to Marvin Gaye sing Heard it on the Grapevine - the song was recorded out of his range on purpose)
Bottom line is - she can sing better than the average audience member and better than many a young popsie with the big record deals. With a little coaching she could do quite well.
I don't understand why people don't expect that someone who isn't attractive by societal standards can sing well. Most of the greatest blues singers and gospel singers aren't much to look at, but they're a pleasure to listen to.
Susan, you have my vote, you're a beautiful lady who deserves all the success that comes your way. I'll eagerlly await you first album.
1. Audience's screams. What you hear on tv is not necessarily what she hears - the stage speakers (usually you can see them on the edge of the stage floor) can amplify the music to lessen the audience noise.
2. Unknown entity. Nobody is truly unknown this day and age, but then if she was known, why only now did we hear about her. So just appearing in charity gigs and local talent shows should be enough for anyone? And nobody actually said "unknown".
3. Voice quality - not perfect of course but doing it there without professional training and experience takes a lot.
4. Back story - the Scotsman does back it up, and more, for what it's worth. But no one can ever fake that spunk.
5. Not judging the book by the cover. Yeah, let's dream but now it's still there. At least we have this to help smack some people's head not to judge the cat lady.
This is just beautiful.
You know, in the art world the artist that the critics loved to hate the most was Andrew Wyeth. It never stopped Andy.
Go Susan Go!
I am married with four children, and she still inspires me. Why ? Because she is a human being with charm, manners a sense of humour and the greatest God given voice a person can have.
So what if she's not sexy or sex symbol.
Women's greatest features are their talent, personality and intelligence.
Men feel threatened by that.Who needs men , when you have Genius.........
I just SOoooooooooooo admire her
Mairead
There are so many talented songwriter/singers who will never be heard or noticed because they just don't look the part....If American idol didn't have that damn age limit, I wonder how many others like Susan would be heard?
What a great start to a dreary, rainy morning. I can't wait for her first recording.
She may be one of those rare individuals who may make a career out of her voice because it is that awesome. She might have one of those 'niche' albums with her singing different songs. I mean, any producer has to be nuts not to capitalize on this, seeing how so many around the world have been captivated by her. This could very well be one of those rare cases when the fans override what the executives think is marketable. Heck they gave William Hung an album right?
But as far as mainstream singing star in the likes of the American Idol singer Carrie Underwood? Not likely.
Since time began, women have been patronised by sexism. Women have been straightjacketed into conforming to the feminine ideal stereotype for far too long now.
This unreal expectation that women must look beautiful and hot in order to count as valuable, is quite frankly a fashist phenomenon. It's like Hitler saying that people only matter if they have blond hair and have a perfectly well crafted athletic physique.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the way Susan Boyd looks. In my view, she looks natural and unaffected. At least she doesn't look like like Girls Aloud, who pander to male chauvenism with their whorish look, and give women a bad image.
before television and music videos, the singers and groups had talent, but when you saw their pictures later, you think "what the hell?"
I'm rambling now. but win win for susan.
I love susan by the way!!
Susan has taught people a great lesson of persistence and hope, including me. This video really touched my heart and shows we should never give up to pursue our dreams. God bless you Susan for being such an inspiring and talented artist, because you are one of a kind!
Susan is an inspiration to all those who have a dream. Never let the negative comments of others rob you of you self-esteem or dreams. God Bless
You are a moron. Her name is Susan BOYLE, not Susan Boyd. That feminist bullshit is obnoxious. This woman is extraordinary, but who cares what her sex is?!?! Men AND women are stifled based on looks. Get over the whole "women are soooooo discriminated against unless they're perfect" bit. Maybe you just didn't have what it took. At least you got to be a petunia in your 1st grade play.
I live in New York and work in Broadway theater. I think that with a little training, she could have a great voice. I'm really rooting for her!
Kudos Susan,
Mike
I'm glad I hit a nerve with you.
Expected much the same when this frumpy gal trotted out. You "experts" may quibble about technical aspects of her performance, but it flat out gave me chills. I've seen some people with monster talent singing in different shows...and while I don't know enough about music, I can appreciate their talent. But I've never got goosebumps from watching someone sing before. Yeah, it was a setup...but there's no denying her talent. Pebbles gonna get some fresh fish tonight!
And listen to the last line of the song;
My life has killed the dream I dreamed.
It's a song of someone who knows suffering, who is suffering.
As to this lady's looks ... there are hundreds of stage performers who can sing well, but are not "beautiful" ... but you never hear of them, because our society is fixated on the cult of Youth and Beauty. It doesn't matter for Susan. She'll get image-fixers now ans within the year she'll have a record deal and the offer of several musicals.
Her voice has been trained, but never performed in a big venue with 4000 people. It's unnerving ... but did she do the job or what? She said, "I'm gonnae make that audience rock!" And she took them by the scruff of their stupid disbelieving necks and shook them! She was, as that idiot Morgan said, STUNNING!
If I weren't retired, I'd be hiring her yesterday because she has a strong and powerful delivery within a beautiful voice. Not perfect, but songs evolve with their performers ... no stage song is ever perfect!
I predict that win or not ... Susan Boyle's life, as Karen Carpenter might say, has only just begun!
To all the people suggesting makeovers please don't let the marketing people turn her into a clone of evryone else. We see enough artificiality......
Do you have a real name, or are the numbers just a cover up for your own inferiority feelings?
I think you are confusing me with yourself.
You sound very bitter.
As for myself,I have the best job in the world. I am an Opera Singer who sings Wagner, Monteverdi, Rossini and Beethoven at The Royal Opera House Covent Garden, and that is absolutely wonderful.
culture that mass media and the silicone-filled public whores of Hollywood are cramming down
pepople's throats, brainwashing all the dim-wits out there about what's supposed to be
'beautiful'. It's an insult in itself that someone as truly gifted as Susan should have had to
endure the insulting attitude of the crowd and the judges in the first place. The way she carried
herself, though, only shows the strength of her character. She has a certain childlike innocence
to her that is just as compelling as her absolutely enchanting voice and sweet face. She is so
completely artless and unassuming it's like a precious breath of fresh air in this society
bombarded with all the posing, pretentious 'artists' on MTV who can't say or do anything
authentic for 5 minutes to save their lives.
Also, for all the ageists out there, 47 is not the end of a human being's life,for lord's sake.
What is it with this twisted, diseased, facist notion that after your twenties,
you're supposed to live under a hole, pretending to be half dead? If Susan lives to be 90,which
is actually lower than the new life-average of people these days, she's only at the midpoint of
her journey. She has every right to pursue any dream she may have and I'm sure everyone who has
half a brain will recognize the magic in her. Just one 3minute song and she has touched millions.
And she achieved that by actually SINGING-without demeaning herself by filling herself up with
silicone and writhing around in public in her underwear-which is what a real SINGER, by
definition, is SUPPOSED TO DO.
This woman is glorious.It isn't difficult to see that there will be no shortage of people who
will buy her albums and watch her perform. I,for one,will make sure to buy every single
album she ever records.
GO SUSAN GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! YOU ARE SIMPLY MAGICAL. NEVER CHANGE.
And his comment was perfectly reasonable. Men and women are judged based on their looks. It's time to stop separating people out by gender, as you did in your comment, and concentrate on them as people. If you insist on perpetuating the old notion that women are victims, then women will continue to be victims.
And whoever said Ethel Merman was ugly should look at her younger pictures. She wasn't Igor.
BEAUTIFUL FACE
BEAUTIFUL SOUL
we need more people like this
we need truckloads of people like this
Thank you. I wish you my very best and will wait anxiously for your next performanaces.
Charles from NYC
The Dorks who claim to hear problems I present a challenge. Identify the notes you claim were off. I'll make it easy for you. Staarting at middle C going up two octaves and going down two octaves identify the note or notes you believe were off pitch. Should be easy for you armchair jockeys, just tell us which measure and be sure you know the key in which she is singing. You couch experts might want to identify the difference betweewn her legaato and vibrato. English/scottish be aware that vibrato is not a lack of ability it is a tool of the voice and has been so for three hundred yearss. If you are offended by vibrato ina voice try telling that to evert Opera singer in the world ansd see what theey have to tell you.
As for the people who claim she has altered her life story to get votes. Dont vote, no one wants your vote anyway, you clearly have a jaundiced view of the world.
I applaud this woman for her heart, her hope, her joy of life despite the braying jackasses and I for one will look for every opportunity to hear her speak, sing and hopefully teach us how to be nicer to one another.
Congratulations Miss Boyle you are a star in more ways than one!
The Dorks who claim to hear problems I present a challenge. Identify the notes you claim were off. I’ll make it easy for you. Starting at middle C going up two octaves and going down two octaves identify the note or notes you believe were off pitch. Should be easy for you armchair jockeys, just tell us which measure and be sure you know the key in which she is singing. You couch experts might want to identify the difference betweewn her legato and vibrato. English/Scottish be aware that vibrato is not a lack of ability it is a tool of the voice and has been so for three hundred yearss. If you are offended by vibrato in a voice try telling that to every Opera singer in the world and see what they have to tell you.
As for the people who claim she has altered her life story to get votes. Dont vote, no one wants your vote anyway, you clearly have a jaundiced view of the world.
I applaud this woman for her heart, her hope, her joy of life despite the braying jackasses and I for one will look for every opportunity to hear her speak, sing and hopefully teach us how to be nicer to one another.
Congratulations Miss Boyle you are a star in more ways than one!
You are dead wrong when you say that society judges men and women equally when it comes to looks.
Women are victimised more when it comes to appearances, and I am not the one who is perpetuating that fact. Society does a splendid job all by itself.
Paul Potts is a classic example of this.
Did he get as many laughs and sniggers from the audience before he sang as Susan Boyle did?
No way.
Another very good example about how society manipulates women into conforming to the steretype of
The Perfect Feminine Ideal is the size zero culture,
which is exclusively aimed at submitting women to fit into a certain image.
You don't have to be Einstein to know that the size zero culture is aimed at Hollywood actressess and Skinny Supermodels to set an example to women to look
emaciated and ill like they do, in order to conform to this obscene and unatural feminine ideal.
Hollywood actresses like Cate Blanchet and Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt are always complaining about how wrong this size zero culture is, because this sends out dangerous messages to girls who starve themselves into a state of annorexia nerosa they can meassure up to society'sunatural expectation of perfect womanhood.
There is no way that men are under the same pressure n to conform to certain codes of beauty as women are, and that is why you have so many people championing Susan Boyle,who despite having a great voice, has a natural and mature beauty, which millions of women would be honoured emmulate.
2) People go under the knife to have a nose like hers.
3) She is a natural and real woman, not a anorexic
boy toy.
4) Most of us have eyebrows like hers before waxing.
5) Why do we associate singlehood and loneliness with
companion animals, particularly cats? Many married
people and families live with cats. Is this the
ugly head of misogyny rising up again?
6) People over 40 have begun successful careers: Yes,
even in show business.
7) Watch and see Susan's transformation.
I'm SICK and tired beyond reason seeing ONLY "beautiful" people get opportunities in pop culture and entertainment.
That woman shoved it ALL up their collective asses. Left 'em speechless and with mouths agape. Absolutely STUNNING voice!! I couldn't be more proud of her and what she represents for ordinary people. Talent should NEVER be overlooked because someone isn't hip or pretty to look at.
Patsy Cline wasn't beautiful and her singing puts chills up my spine. This woman had the same effect.
At first, I thought it was a joke -- that someone had flipped a switch and played a pre-recorded session of a classically trained singer....when I realized it was really her - I was astounded. NOT because I didn't believe a great voice could come out of her...but that ANYONE could sound that amazing without it being pre-recorded!
Even more amazing was that she seemed SURPRISED by all the accolades.
How does a talent such as hers go unnoticed for 47 years?????????
I guess people are too friggin' blinded by Britney types and angry rappers with their pants dropped to their knees.....
Does it EVER occur to people that "looks" are all based on luck? It's a roll of the genetic dice.
It's our SOULS that count...and only YOU can decide how beautiful your soul will or will not be...that's what truly shines.
People that have a negative comment for the good thing around us, like this talented lady, are the ones that are raising the bullies in this society.
I do sing and I think she is awesome.
She can easily be part of the Celtic Women, hopefully you know who are them.
Men and women are judged on their looks throughout their entire lives. That's not something Hollywood invented.
And you yourself bring out the word "victimize" again. A little hyperbole, there. Who is victimizing women? Men? How about other women? That audience was full of judgmental women as well as judgmental men.
I loved listening to this woman and seeing what she had accomplished.I've not been able to listen(even after 30 playings)without crying.She is an inspiration..may she continue what she has started.
I will have to look for a CD of her in the future.
You are so very right in all that you say, and believe me it is not just your opinion, but what you say is FACT. There is not one woman on this planet who has not experienced everything you write on this blog.
Ted
You're dead wrong yet again. It is Women who, are mostly judged on their looks, not their entire lives, but when youth fades.
Cosmetic companies earn millions by feeding off women's insecurities as they age.
The thousand pound a jar firming creams on the market are aimed at women and not at men,creating the false illusion that a sixty something woman can miraculously regenerate her youthful complexion by using their expensive products. What a load of...........
Incidentally, I think Susan Boyle should be a model for face creams, as she has the most amasingly beautiful skin.
Ted
You would do well to concider those millions of families who have wives, daughters , mothers and sisters who suffer from an eating disorder just to conform to the size zero culure; the hospitals are overflowing with their misery but you dodge that subject very conspicuously in your blog. I think it is because you very clearly know nothing about it. anorexia and bulimia are eating diseases that afflict women more than men, because they are judged more on their looks than men. It is a modern day plague which is exacerbated by the media. Women are victimized and bullied by this sexist phenomenon much more than men are. The top fashion houses of Europe are teeming with size zero models, who flog their skimpy overblown price taged fashions on us. Most women have a full figure, and it is the strong women who refuse to allow themselves to be bullied into submission by the Diors and Channels., and Versaces.
Ted, explain, if you can, why it is women rather than men who are targeted by this size zero culture, if as you claim men and women are judged the sameon looks, if you want to be nitpicking on words.
If you make a convincing argument for that, you'll be a first. Of course Hollywood did not invent looks discrimination, but with the invention of more and more technically advanced and sophisticated media communication, of which Hollywood is only a part, society has, over the last century, been able to use those sophisticated tools to exploit and victimize women, especially in a tasteless, sexual content, which is offensive and abhorrent to women.
A classic example of this is how Young Women are used sexually to sell cars, by sprawling their bits all over billboard posters. I never see men being used like that.
With this technically advanced media, also comes the freedom to exploit women in other manifestations.
How many times do women need to go into telephone kiosks to make a quick call, only to see degrading and disgusting pictures of naked women and young girls, NOT MEN, plastered around every corner of the booth.
The only reason why women are judgmental about other women's looks these days is because of the media pressure placed mostly on them.
A woman's natural inclination is to side with other women; the suffragette movement surely teaches us that.
Women are desperately trying to change the current culture's climate, but it is going at an alarmingly slow pace.
Women know all to well, that ageism is also something that affects them more than men.
The real reason why Hillary Clinton lost to obuma is because the American people preferred having a young male for President as opposed to a 60 something woman.
Men would not have felt so threatened by a young and very beautiful female candidate, as men like the notion or fantasy of being in control when they pick a woman for a position. A woman who appeals to their sexual desires has much more of a chance than one which does not. Men are like children, they like the fantasy of playing the knights in shining armour to a steretypical beauty in distress.
Men generally don't like the notion of a middle aged woman running their affairs or their country.
Although Susan Boyle is a singer and not a politician, society needs women like her, because she represents most women's needs, to be appreciated not for her glamorous, fabricated barbie doll size zero looks, but because she is more like the way most women are.
NORMAL.
Can I suggest that perhaps you take a step back and laugh a little. No-one is saying you are wrong in what you say. I understand where you are coming from. However, Ted did not say anything that was incorrect or wrong or insulting, he said and I quote (with some paraphrase of my own and apologies to Ted): "...It is time to stop perpetrating the old notion that women are victims...and treat them as people.....otherwise they will always be victims" Thanks Ted, you are an angel from Heaven. Now, Hannah, what Ted said is true. We are NOT victims, but if we constantly think of ourselves as victims, then we will be treated as victims. Because 'victims' always put out 'Victim' type vibes and hence bring the victimisation on themselves. We as women have NEVER been victims! What women did throughout history as they do now, they do of their own freewill --- certainly social mores had a bearing on their choices. Now, Hannah, before you write another word, try changing the word Victim to Challenge. What we had was certainly discrimination but we saw it as a 'CHALLENGE.' A challenge that my generation of women set about CHALLENGING! We challenged everything from the men's right to dominate certain professions, trades, the so-called Glass-ceiling and positions, to their right to be paid 30percent more and we won! We won so that women today have the opportunities that we did not. As Mothers we brought our sons up to be more enlightened towards women. Frankly, we enjoyed challenging the 'establishment'. We enjoyed being the first to do something. We enjoyed breaking down barriers. BUT without the assistance of many,many Men folk, we may well not have done it. Today, certainly there is the trend for skinny emaciated models and actors - no-one twists their arms to be skinny-- they starve themselves of their own free-will. They have a voice, they can always CHALLENGE the trend/system by refusing! I have already said how I think men, women, children alike are judged all the time and it is certainly NOT simply when youth fades-- some women are far prettier at 60 than at 20 while some men are simply not superbly handsome until they reach their 50's, 60's and beyond. As to your comments re the current USA President V Clinton I think you are dead wrong! Age had nothing to do with it. Hilary is 'yesterday's lady' --- the world has moved forward. Forgive for my next comment, I do not mean to offend, but whether ladies like it or not, sex or the implication thereof, is what makes the world go around --- it sells everything from cars to swimsuits, to houses, to pantyhose. Without it, the world would simply stop! And to use it is not exploitation of anybody or anyone. It is simply a fact of life --- you sing Opera --- one of the sexiest operas I can think of right now is 'Lowingrin" (?Spelling) by Wagner --- in fact the Overture to the (I think) final Act and the Bridal Chorus just about spell it out in neon signs! And that was written in the 1800's! In short, what I am trying to say in a long-winded manner is step back and laugh! Enjoy the journey of life, laugh at the sexy dames drawn on telephone walls, better still ignore them and don't bite so hard when a man puts forward his point of view. Oh, and be careful in repeating someone, be precise and if you are not going to be precise, give an explanation for using other words --- these blogs are wonderful but you don't know who is behind the comments --- it could be a lawyer, a Judge, a Doctor, it could be anyone. Just an opinion.