Susan Boyle performance on the reality TV show Britain's Got Talent has captured the attention of millions. Footage of the 47-year-old woman singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables has already surpassed 15 million views on YouTube. She has celebrity fans such as Drew Barrymore and Demi Moore praising her and reportedly an invitation from Oprah Winfrey to appear on her program. Broadway legend Patti LuPone, who popularized the song that Boyle sang, was brought to tears by Boyle's rendition when she viewed it on YouTube. Boyle, a volunteer church worker from Blackburn in western Scotland, who said she'd "never been kissed”, received a standing ovation from the audience for her shocking performance. Judge Piers Morgan described the performance as "the biggest surprise I've had in three years of this show."
Boyle's story is one of a classic underdog, a nonthreatening person who chased her dreams and managed to overcome the odds. Her age is part of the reason this success story has gained so much mainstream attention. A person pushing 50 is supposed to be winding down not peaking. Simon Cowell, one of the judges for Britain's Got Talent, is also a judge for American Idol which only auditions from applicants under the age of 30. Does that mean a 31-year-old or a 47-year-old cannot sing? Of course not. Does that mean a person over 30 could not succeed in the recording industry? Probably not. What it does show is the industry's (and possibly society's) bias toward youth and discrimination of people deemed to be too old to succeed.
While Boyle's age holds her back, it is her matronly looks that helped this story garner attention. Boyle told a British newspaper that she was bullied at school for her frizzy hair and for having learning difficulties. Her appearance on the Britain's Got Talent probably felt like she had been transported back to elementary school as even before she sang, Boyle was jeered and hissed at by the audience based purely on her appearance. The judges and the audience were heatless because they seemed to think Boyle was deluded to believe that she belonged on that stage because of course, MTV has taught us that only pretty people can sing.
The moral of the story is that you should not judge a book by its cover and that the audience and judges were wrong to assume that Boyle could not sing because of her appearance. The question remains what if Boyle was not as spectacular as she was? What if she really could not sing and was more like a deluded William Hung than a talented Paul Potts, the British show's 2007 winner? Would we have then been correct with our assumption that there is indeed a strong correlation between singing ability and looks? Would the callous treatment she received from the audience and judges be vilified as it is now? Are we shocked that a person of plain appearance is not sitting at home crying and wishing they were somebody else? Susan Boyle is proof that unlike what Hollywood would like you to believe, talent comes in all ages, shapes and sizes. Perhaps just as important, Boyle is also proof of society's shallowness.
the real question for me is whether or not her newfound fame makes her overall life a happy/successful one?
keep in mind she's unemployed and has never been even kissed (!!!). Even assuming that she makes a few million bucks, and is able to live off of her success for the rest of her life, do you know anyone who would trade places with her?
I say let her enjoy the success as much as she can. She earned it. That performance was incredible.
It's interesting to see the double standard between what we expect of male and female singers.
But a couple other thoughts came to mind when watching the clip. It appears as though the show intentionally neglected to pretty her up with hair and make-up as I would imagine they would have done for a younger, more attractive singer at that stage of the competition. It's as though they wanted to maximize the shock factor.
Also, hearing her story and listening to her speak before she started singing, I got the impression that she might have a mild developmental disability. Especially in light of the fact that she'd never been kissed. In her wikipedia article it says that her learning disability was a result of a complication during birth that resulted in her being deprived of oxygen so I'm guessing her 'learning disability' goes beyond something like ADD - not to mention the fact that her mother apparently had her at age 45.
So given the size of the deck that was stacked against her, I'm impressed that she even had the courage to perform like that in front of all those people after they so cruelly ridiculed her based on her appearance. In my opinion she was a star before she hit the first note.
that is an amazingly awesome clip...I agree with Simon Cowell though, it wasn't a surprise. Ugly people usually have the most talent. I know because I am one.
fallon did a skit trying to capture the reaction boyle's performance has been receiving. on a side note: i havent even watched a minute of his show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHwgCcj9UCU
Saw this a couple days ago. One of the most incredible things I've seen in a long time. I hope she enjoys her 15 minutes of fame.