One of the world's great mysteries is:
"Why do some people have glorious success and others, even more talented or good looking, fail?
The judges in the earliest rounds of Britain's TV talent show, Got Talent obviously found the dichotomy between Boyle's appearance and her voice to be a great gimmick. The publicity the show has received since they released her late stage audition is priceless. No offense to Miss Boyle; I sincerely hope that she "laughs all the way to the bank." And I hope and pray that she has trustworthy people looking after her interests. Too many performers discover too late that their earnings have disappeared down via their helpful agents and handlers.
It's said that talent isn't enough. You have to want fame and success more than anything, plus have charisma and luck. I don't know what will happen to Miss Boyle, but in the meantime, let's enjoy her singing:
7 comments:
I do believe much of the attention and success Susan Boyle is getting is because of the dichotomy of her physical appearance and age. But also because of one song in particular that she sang: "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables. Everytime I read it described as a love song I go crazy.
Les Miserable is basically a pop opera, with all of the powerful emotions of a classical opera.
In this song, a young mother sings about an older man who took her innocence in his stride (very polite and poetic way to phrase it).
In any event, the young mother cannot afford to care for her little daughter and sends her to live with two evil innkeepers. Then they blackmail the mother for more money. As she reads the blackmail letter at the factory she works for her "secret" illegitimate child is revealed and a fight ensues.
The young mother is fired and her fate almost doomed from that moment on. When I saw Les Miserable, I broke down crying myself, knowing what happens to her after this song.
The song ends with "Now life has killed the dream I dreamed." Hearing it so beautifully sung by a woman of Susan's age...it's heartbreaking.
Les Miserables songs are very very powerful. I cried my eyes out listening to the Harel Skaat Hebrew version of Empty Chairs at Empty Tables from Les Miz on You Tube.
Your empty chair post and photo made me think about it again and I watched the video. Cried my eyes out again. The song is powerful and emotional--all the more so in Hebrew, about a soldier haunting my memories of his slain commrades and the hopes and dreams they had before going to war. Positively haunting. You can listen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiKia8bAICE
But to go back on topic...I do hope Susan Boyle isn't being set up as a novelty. That would just be too cruel. In opera appearance isn't a factor at all--especially age or weight. I would hope it would be the same in pop music.
BTW: I believe Harel Skaat won an Israeli talent TV show too.
For all of his mean-spiritedness on American Idol he does recognize genuine talent. He supported Reuben Studdard, who weighed close to 300 pounds because his voice was just fantastic.
I think he's singing a great talent in Susan Boyle as well.
Perhaps popular culture isn't always shallow.
Simon Cowell that is.
Great finds!
The only judge on AI worth listening to is Cowell. He's "nasty", but he's helping people who need to be realistic get out of a business they shouldn't be in - and he recognizes talent in ways others do not. Watch the 10-year old Shaheen from Britain's Got Talent from this year and see what Cowell does.
Keli, I really hope Boyle isn't hurt by all this.
Jennifer Hudson didn't even get first prize if I'm not mistaken. She's amazing.
Ezzie, long time, yes, let's see what happens.
You're right Ezzie. Simon can be nasty but he does recognize talent and when he does I've noticed that he ignores the superficial stuff. The new judge seems pretty on the money, too.
Paula? She's in a world alllll of her own lol. Randy? I'm tired of hearing, "it was just awe-ight, dog." I wish he would learn to talk and say "alright."
Jennifer Hudson is an amazing singer. If a singer is among the top three or four they're almost quaranteed a recording contract.
Hope that happens with Susan Boyle. She could sell a lot of records but I see her also as a star of the stage, even to the US and Broadway. Her talent is too great to be wasted.
Keli, a voice is not the only ingredient for Broadway success. You need unbelievable physical stamina. As I wrote earlier, I sincerely hope that Boyle has people protecting her.
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