Susan Boyle Boils Over!

When I saw this photo in one of the British Tabloids, The Sun, earlier in the week, I cringed and chose to ignore it.

I figured it was the beginning of the end of the fairy tale that was Susan Boyle. Tonight it proved to be so. She placed second in the Britain's Got Talent competition that she was favored to win.

I have a few thoughts on why. One, she chose to sing the same song that launched her. I don't follow this competition enough to know if that is a regular practice or not, but I think showing a range might have been better.

Of far more importance, however, are the tirades that made world wide press. Here is this 47 year old spinster that had never been kissed, paying homage to her late mother by entering the competition and member of her church's choir letting go in a couple of very public tirades with liberal use of the "F" word. Ahhhh, Susan.

Okay. Not every one can handle the onslaught of pressure that sudden fame brings. I understand that. The language, though, I think, was the image breaker. It indicates she might not be quite what we wanted to think.

Wanted to think. I dreamed a dream - and it became a nightmare. I watched the announcement of the winners. She was gracious, but somehow the final flash of thigh seemed less than spontaneous and maybe a bit tawdry.

I'm sure she will reap riches from her experience. She may not have the physical attributes for stardom but she can, indeed, sing. I wish her well as her life goes on.

For me, though, I'll never view her in quite the same way. It's that "F" word. It shattered the illusion.

Beauty Is In The Ears Of The Beholder

There are times I think it would be great to hearken back to the time before television. The time when family sat around the radio and listened to the likes of Jack Benny and Fred Allen with wonder. The time before you had any idea of what those who so entertained you looked like. If we could do that maybe the phenomenal success of Susan Boyle wouldn't be so surprising!

I've been browsing through all the reports on this latest subject of media hype. I find it interesting, as was the case with Paul Potts, she was not without some musical training and experience. Never-the-less, she's seemingly come out of no where and is being fawned over by celebrities and and talk show hosts ad nauseam. She has a voice. You bet she does and we're so "surprised". Some articles have even suggested it's bad for for aspiring performers to see the likes of Miss Boyle and Mr. Potts gain such sudden success because they will be less inclined to put in the hard work necessary should an American Idol or Britain's Got Talent not come along. I think not. As I mentioned, both Boyle and Potts earned their time in the limelight.

What I don't give a whit about is how the media types and the likes of Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore are drooling over her. I care very much that both took advantage of an opportunity presented and withstood the arched eyebrows and rolling eyes with dignity. They believed in themselves and their dream. Because of their belief in themselves we've been the fortunate ones. We get to share the gift.

Making the rounds is a suggestion that Simon has had his hand in Miss Boyle's success. Maybe, though I doubt he would do anything to jeopardize the vehicle that has made him rich and famous unto himself.

As far as the question as to whether or not Miss Boyle can really sing, I suggest you listen to a demo tape she made ten years ago.

Go ahead. Close your eyes and pretend it's the radio. Miss Boyle's got talent. Undeniably beautiful talent.

Simon Sez

I cannot imagine there is anyone reading this who hasn't by this time heard the name Susan Boyle. She has been all over the news in celebration of her stunning performance on Britains Got Talent.

I love it when Snarky Simon, his fellow judges and the sneering audience get their socks knocked off. Such was the case with Susan's rendition of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Mis.

I wanted to embed the video for you but there wasn't a single version of her performance on You Tube that didn't have the embedding feature disabled. I've done the next best thing I could think of and supplied the link for you and you can take it from there. It's well worth the trip. It brought me to tears.

In 2007 there was another such time with a young man who wanted nothing more than to sing opera. Paul Potts. Another socks knocker. This link will take you to his performance.

I find it rather pleasant to post about two rather ordinary people with extraordinary talent getting their due. On this day of tea parties around our country protesting our tax and spending programs, I'd prefer to follow the British tradition and sip from a cup with pinkie extended, and proclaim "Well done, wot?"