OT - Susan Boyle video from Britian's Got Talent...TALK ABOUT AMAZING

susand

Active Member

Completely and utterly amazing...

The video clip is about 7 minutes long, so be sure to allow enough time to view to the end.

You can't judge a book by its cover...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Susan D

16 years ago

General

11 replies

Latest reply was from Laura

Kari

Veteran

(SusanD, this isn't a knock against your post, but toward the media spin around her story.)

I agree that she definitely has an amazing voice, but I'm pretty disgusted that every article or newscast about her I've come across focuses primarily on her appearance - the fact that she isn't young and is viewed as "frumpy" - and on the audience/judges' shock that someone with her appearance could have such a beautiful voice. I watched the video clip from the show and was appalled at how visibly rude and dismissive their reactions were.

I wish that her publicity was more due to discovering such an impressive talent from someone in a small village who had never really pursued her dream before, but nearly every news item I've read about only mentions this as a side issue and makes her appearance the main point. How sad is that?

It's no shock that we tend to make unfair and inaccurate assumptions based on appearance, but the judge/audience's obvious amazement that an average-looking person could have a beautiful voice is really taking things to extremes.

16 years ago

Ele

(website)

Active Member

Agreed, Kari. This story (about her appearance) was even on the news this morning here in London! Some papers are saying she needs a makeover if she want to be successful, and others are getting really angry in her defense, saying to leave her alone, that she should be judged on her talent, etc. It's a bit crazy, really.

I agree that the judges and audiences were quite rude to her- she didn't even look that bad! Clearly she made an effort to look nice for the show, with a pretty dress and high heels. She has lovely posture, too.

16 years ago

merry77

Active Member

I agree with all of you. She is a good singer, and it is sad that people have not appreciated her talent before. She said in an interview that even other members of her church choir where she's sang for years and years kind of dismissed her.

But the focus on her appearance and age drives me insane. If people would pay attention, there are talented singers all over the place. And I think the phenomenon behind Susan Boyle isn't that she's a rare talent, but that people expect good looks to accompany talent.

16 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I think it would be dishonest of the media to avoid talking about her appearance. That poor woman was being mocked before she uttered a single note. The audience was smirking and mocking her and the judges didn't seem to have much faith in her either. It wasn't because of where she came from or her lack of opportunity to realize her dream: it was because she wasn't young and pretty.

It's a bit ridiculous. Go to an opera and you'll see no shortage of not-so-young, not-so-attractive people who can still sing their way into heaven.

But really...there is no denying that was why people were being so awful to her, so the media hype, while annoying, is only reflecting the truth of what happened. People are shallow creatures, and she is certainly an unusual sight on a show like this.

The good news is that she proved everyone wrong, and the judges and audience stood corrected, and she has all the support she deserves.

I'm sure she'll be getting a makeover at some point, and I don't necessarily see anything bad about that. A little pampering goes a long way and I think she probably deserves it. But I think she could still be successful without it.

I still liked this story though. In the midst of all the bad news going around right now, it made me feel warm and fuzzy. Seeing another unemployed bushy-eyebrowed woman who lives with her cat attain so much success gives me some hope :p

16 years ago

merry77

Active Member

Maya, I completely agree that the media is reporting on the misdjudging by the judges and audience. I'm outraged that so many people could be so obssessed with appearances to think that someone who doesn't fit their ideas about looks cold have talent. That said, I think the media could do a better job of making it not only about her looks, even though that is very definitely a major element of the story.

When she gets that makeover, I'm sure there will be lots of flack about how people should embrace their looks as they are. I agree with you that a little pampering goes along way. When you watch makeover shows, like What Not to Wear, how many participants comment that they didn't feel like they deserved to look good? I think it's appalling that we are surrounded by people who don't think they're worth the effort, and most people are content to let it be that way.

A good makeover will embrace her for who she is and not try to make her into something else but will highlight her essence.

Your last paragraph, Maya, is why I think this story is such a sensation right now. And I hope that you will have your own warm-and-fuzzy feeling story soon.

16 years ago

Louise

Veteran

Wow that was a tearjearker- Simon Cowell looked like he was in love!

16 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Am I the only one that doesn't think her singing is as impressive as all the publicity and hub-bub about it? Okay, GIVEN, I only saw it on youtube and my computer speakers are lousy. I just can't help shaking the feeling this is all a big media set-up. Yes, she's good... but that good? I don't know.

Meanwhile, I am still very touched by the thought someone her age - which is my age - can have a dream and just go for it. That's the part of the story that melts my heart completely. She's got courage, and it has nothing to do with her looks or odds against her. It's all about ... going for what you want.

As for her appearances, I think it's all very silly because there are tons of so-so looking people with voices of angels who've made it big. I agree with Kari that they should not be making such a big deal about this part of her story. I do think she looks comfortable in her skin, which I admire immensely. I admire this about people whether they are fashion forward and pulled together (like Angie or Michele Obama), or not. It's the attitude.

I do hope she fulfills her dream of singing for the Queen.

16 years ago

merry77

Active Member

Shiny, I think part of the magic is that she chose an awesome song She is a good singer, but not the best by far. But the fact that she could be unshaken and sing so clearly immediately after being so blatantly ridiculed in front of her mockers is definitely a testament to how comfortable with herself she is.

16 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I know what you mean Merry. I think there is a certain stigma associated with caring about your appearance, especially here in by-the-bootstraps America. Some people wear sloppy clothes, messy hair, and the bags under their eyes as some kind of self-righteous badge of honor ("I don't have time to worry about how I look! I am much too giving, hardworking, and sacrificing to deal with such trivial and shallow matters!"). People who do pay attention to their appearance are often judged as shallow, vain, selfish, arrogant, etc. I remember a few moms here talking about how the other moms at daycare/preschool/wherever would make some negative remarks regarding their put togetherness. I chalked it up to jealousy. But this attitude does seem to give a lot of moms and other women a complex.

Speaking from the perspective of a daughter, I would love my mother to spend more money on herself and feel comfortable and confident. I wish she could have been more of a style role model for me. Unfortunately she is just like those WNTW people. She doesn't think she deserves it and she is so unhappy with her body and her appearance that she doesn't even think the effort would be worth it. I can't help but believe some of that has rubbed on me. She is a busty apple and hates her body, so what am I supposed to make of my own? For this reason, I think self-maintenance is not actually just about you.

As for Ms. Boyle, I agree she'll get some backlash if she gets a makeover. If it's just some new clothes, a bit of makeup, eyebrow grooming, and a haircut, I think that's great. That is just enhancing who she is, not changing her. If it gets to the point of plastic surgery or dramatic weight loss (beyond just getting in shape), then I think a backlash might be justified. I don't know though. If she now has the means to do whatever she can to make her feel better about herself, I don't see anything wrong with that. She still seems like a positive, confident woman, which is VERY admirable considering where she came from.

Seems to me like women get ridiculed when they try to look good and when they don't try to look good. The only way we can win is to be natural perfect beauties. Screw that! I want her to just do whatever makes her happy.

16 years ago

medusa

Veteran

I have a slightly more cynical take on this: clearly Ms. Boyle was set up for exactly this type of media attention. This TV show has tryouts of some kind, right? This means that the judges already knew (before she performed) that she could sing well. The way they mocked her before she sang, looked amazed while she sang, and said surprised things after she sang was an act. It really makes me angry: the judges went out of their way to make fun of her before she sang, to create a fake story of their "shock" and "surprise".

Here's a link to a news story with this quote, which partially confirms my cynicism:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/medi.....got-talent
There has been some help behind the scenes. Clifford admits Cowell was raving about Boyle weeks before her audition even aired and his support - and that of others connected with the show, which also has a hit American spin-off involving many of the same people - meant audiences sat up and listened. "People had their cards marked," Clifford says. "There was no question people were on to her. Simon [Cowell] was talking to me about her weeks ago. He said you have got to see the first episode. As soon as I saw it I could see it had all the ingredients."

I agree with the comments above that she is not awful looking. I think people are suprised by her appearance for two reasons. First, she has gray hair, something women who appear in public almost never have (unless they are playing the old granny role in a film). Second, she hasn't been coached on how to speak in public, so she has self-deprecating, girlish, giggly mannerisms that clash with how we think older women are supposed to act. This combination of appearance and way of speaking is really rare in women who appear in public.

In the end, I think that she'll benefit from being portrayed as the ugly duckling with the beautiful voice. It's not a fair portrayal at all, but it has made her story huge in the news and will likely open up opportunities for her as a singer.

16 years ago

Laura

(website)

Veteran

What an intelligent discussion ... you've all made me think.

I did feel that the clip was heavily edited to manipulate emotions, but I could be wrong. I'd like to believe that I am wrong, anyway!

She really is a great singer, not just good, and not just better than average. And her interpretation of the song is brilliant. It was an amazing song choice which is a huge part of the game on shows like this.

What this illustrates to me (as a writer) is the power of this particular story line, which we see over and over, that of the underdog, the ugly duckling, the late-in-life comeback. So many great books and movies have carried this story line. It still resonates!

16 years ago

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