Susan Boyle

[Are_grits_groceries]

has over 25 million hits from all copies on Youtube of her appearance.

In addition, I would not want to be the girl at 1:25 in the clip. She rolled her eyes, and
people have been specifically calling her out in the comments. I hope nobody can find out
who she is because there are stupid people who do stupid things.

[No More Bushbots]

1. Then again, maybe the you are in the minority on this topic

Personally I have not wasted five minutes of my life on this internet fad.
Maybe the next one will interest me more.

[Captain Hilts]

3. You don't understand The Big Picture here. nt

[Donnachaidh]

6. who peed in your cornflakes?

Susan Boyle is NO fad -- she's a genuine talent. Even professional musicians were blown away with her voice. I hope people ARE called out on the comments -- shallow assholes, the lot of them.

[MiniMe]

7. You know, sometimes there is just a feel-good story on the internets

And this one, imho, is one of them. Sometimes you just have to appreciate the good things that happen in the world.

[eShirl]

12. "Personally I have not wasted five minutes of my life on this internet fad."

I hope you counted the minute it took to click on the thread and write that reply.

[JayMusgrove]

45. I would rather "waste' ime on these internet fads instead of

watching TV.

[doctor jazz]

56. But of course it's way more of a TV fad than an internet one.

:shrug:

[DearAbby]

23. Fad or not

Ms. Boyle's performance touched me, and I have taken her performance as a gift that was given to me. I was very moved, and the happiness that moment had brought me, has made me a better person. It doesnt matter if it is a fad or not, I will take that moment of happiness.

Maybe someday you can be touched like that, I hope so.

[ceile]

25. Uh, ok....

Miss the point much?:eyes:

[liberalmuse]

32. Yet you wasted your precious time posting here.

Hearing something as uplifting as that woman was able to produce with her vocal cords is never a waste of time.

[emilyg]

36. You really should. Would make you

less cranky.

[Bluebear]

40. Bet you're a blast at parties. nt

[WI_DEM]

43. I'm curious then as to why you responded to this thread?

[bigwillq]

48. Why did you?

:shrug:

[bigwillq]

49. It's amazing when one expresses

their opinion, and it's goes against majority, that person is attacked. How progressive.

[JuniperLea]

51. I know you!

Your picture is next to "Arrogant Asshole" in the dictionary!

So sorry the world bores you so. My Granny used to say never admit to being bored or uninterested because that means you are dull an uninteresting.

[Hello_Kitty]

2. While I certainly hope no one threatens the girl, she should be embarrassed

As should everyone in the audience who reacted similarly. It may be a bit unfair that she was singled out by the camera but let it serve as a reminder to all of us to be well-mannered and courteous in public, because you never know who is watching.

[Are_grits_groceries]

4. I know.

She just represents a lot of people. However, there are wingnuts who get worked up over such things. There have been a lot of foul comments about her specifically.:hi:

[alarimer]

11. Initially the crowd all reacted the same way.

And the same way as many here (and people that I know as well) react to those who are not conventionally good-looking and are trying to do something with their lives.

And it is not simply a matter of good manners, though that is important. It is about changing society's expectations of women, especially, but also of men. We can't all be Paris Hilton (who'd want that?) but we are ALL entitled to a modicum of respect, no matter how silly it might seem. It is also about valuing experience too. How many 40-50 year olds are out of work and having trouble finding jobs because their companies value youth more than experience? How many 40 year old women are rejected by MEN THEIR OWN AGE? Or are derided as "cougars" for doing what men have done for years?

But I digress. This is about society's sickness. And those people in the audience embody that sickness. Something has to change. Maybe Susan Boyle is the lesson we all need to learn. By all accounts, she is a kind and decent person. I am afraid that the music business will chew her up and spit her out like they do with so many.

[Hello_Kitty]

17. Very well put.

I realize that human beings are visually oriented (and notice I didn't say that only men are like most people do) and certain people will always be deemed attractive and others not so much, but the emphasis on appearance and the ridiculously narrow standards imposed on women have reached the point of insanity.

[Raine]

57. Yeah really, it irks me to death that

people are so shocked :wow: that someone who is not beautiful can have a beautiful voice :wtf: why the hell that should be surprising is idiotic! :mad:

[monmouth]

5. I'm thinking much of this was pre-staged and planned. You can bet

Cowell knows each and every persons ability beforehand and their abilities. The cameras were so conveniently covering the "roll of the eyes", Simon looking at the other judges, etc. This is all staged people. They knew they had a winner and someone to exploit. They knew as soon as this contestant opened her mouth to sing she would be received as she was. This is television, rarely are there surprises, just exploitable moments.

[MiniMe]

10. I really don't think the judges knew, the producers did though I think

And that is why them made sure to catch every snarky reaction. And while she knew that the reactions before she sang would be snarky and they got it all on camera, I don't think that even they anticipated quite the crowd and judge reaction that they got. Sometimes good things happen to the little guy.

[eShirl]

15. the cameras are ALWAYS conveniently positioned to catch the judges' reactions

why on earth wouldn't they be?

[joeybee12]

21. You're right...these people don't walk in off the street, like on Idol...

...I'm willing to bet they asked her to frump it up before she came on to get as bad a reaction as possible, so that when they found out she could sing, the postive reaction would be over the top.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

29. You nailed it ...

Of course the whole thing was rehearsed, and only the audience was surprised. The idea that the judges were surprised is naive and rather charming, but there's not a thing that goes on in any of these shows that isn't planned and, if not thoroughly scripted, at the very least, talked over in advance.

As for the lady rolling her eyes, one word: editing.....................

[Enrique]

8. the audience was just playing their parts

they were supposed to roll their eyes at her when she came out, and then be blown away when she started singing. If they're going to blame them for performing the script, then blame the show for writing it too.

[Are_grits_groceries]

9. And I'm thinking you both

are wrong. I don't believe in much anymore, but I believe this. If there was monkey business, somebody will find out. In addition, Ms.Boyle is doing one hell of an acting job if what you surmise is correct.

[Enrique]

16. no monkey business

and there's nothing to "find out." The script I'm talking about isn't written down anywhere, it's understood.

[Spike89]

24. Exactly!

In context, the show did everything it could to "set this up". Nothing nefarious, just staging. The act that came on just before her was one of the trainwrecks that so many people love these shows for. Then, it appeared like they would have another trainwreck. I'm glad for this woman that she had such a triumphant moment, but to blame the audience for being duped is crazy. The entire show is built around trainwreck acts at that stage--the biggest reason I can't bear to watch (that and the fact that the music leaves me flat).

[TheWatcher]

20. In the case of Paul Potts, the Truth did come out.

Although he did have a beautiful voice, his "backstory" turned out to be not quite what they said it was.

When they did "America's Got Talent" They had a young man who mirrored Paul Potts almost exactly, same beautiful voice, same song, same reaction. There were a couple of other acts on the show that inaugural season that were for all intents and purposes the American versions of acts they had from the show in Britain

Are they gaming the Public for a Third Time with Susan Boyle? I hope not.

Do these people have talent? Absolutely

Do they have beautiful singing voices? Absolutely. And you CAN'T deny that or take that away from them. You can't watch them perform without being inspired.

Are they being presented to the public in a disingenuous, perhaps even dishonest manner?

In the case of the previous two, unfortunately, yes.

The jury is still out on Ms. Boyle.

But you can blame the Producers of The Show and Simon Cowell for all of that. They are very good at manipulating the Public. It's why I do not watch shows like this.

That being said, Susan Boyle is a WONDERFUL Singer.

I'll just leave it at that.

[sharp_stick]

22. What truth came out about Potts

I mean if you want to say something at least tell us what it is. Perhaps a link to a credible source would be due. I mean, I've heard nothing bad about the guy.

[TheWatcher]

30. He was already a trained singer and had performed before.

You can start here, and Google your way after that.

He was also had a bit of a Political Career in Bristol.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c15_1182115773

http://www.popbuzzuk.com/paul-potts-backlash-begun/

Since this stuff first came out, it's been quite well managed and hushed. Mr. Cowell and The Producers of the show, do not like having their pet projects marketing methods messed with apparently.

And could you PLEASE point out where I said anything bad about him? Pointing out that the backstories in shows like Britain's Got Talent are not what they appear to be, is NOT bashing the person. It's merely pointing out that the Public can easily be manipulated by slick marketing.

I also did NOT say that is the case with Susan Boyle.

Potts was marketed very well, and the Public, for the most part, bought it.

So when they brought the show over here, the did they same story with a young man from Missouri, I believe, who had a voice and a story similar to Potts.

Again, Potts has a beautiful voice, and certainly deserves to be heard. But the way he was marketed to the Public was a bit dishonest.

But then again that's what shows like this are about.

I know everyone wants so badly to believe in this kind of stuff, but sadly it is not always what it is presented to be.

[sharp_stick]

34. Did you or anyone else

actually think that a guy with a voice like that was untrained? I guess somebody may have believed that but it still wasn't anything like a scam. The guy was an amateur, as far as I know that's the only qualification. At least half, and probably closer to 80 to 90 percent of the people that get on that stage have performed before. Those who haven't are the jokes that they like to run down over the first couple of weeks. I don't think a lot is being hushed up, it's right on the guys wikipedia page.

You didn't say anything bad about him all I said is that I'd never heard anything bad about him and your post implied that there was some kind of funky backstory that nobody was hearing about. As far as I can tell there is not anything really weird about his backstory. It's not like he was flown in as a ringer from some weird Eastern European Tenor Training Farm to take over the opera world.

[TheWatcher]

46. That isn't the point.

They sold Potts as an unknown underdog that came from nowhere, and invented a Cinderella Story around him

Cowell discovered him and ALREADY intended to sign him to his label PRIOR to his ever appearing on the show, but they decided to build a Cinderella Story around him and sell it to the Public as "reality" and a "heartwarming Cinderella Story."

Not necessarily a scam, but manipulative and deceptive marketing to say the least.

Read the poster above whose ex-wife used to actually work in this genre. He knows what he is talking about.

Most of it is pre-planned and staged.

I know it's more fun to believe in the fantasy that they set before you, but that's just what it is.

Fantasy.

Potts is VERY talented. Enormously so. But an undiscovered Underdog that had been seen for the first time by Cowell and the judges that fateful night? Hardly.

I'm done with this subject.

Believe what you want to believe. because in the end, most are going to ignore anything other than what they want to believe and focus on what makes them feel good, or what their perception desires to be true. Be it something as inane as a TV show or as important as The Economy.

All the Banks are profitable again, too.

[mamalone]

55. I don't see how any of this goes against the narrative.

Sometimes there is just a good story... "they" don't have to do anything.


and for what it's worth, I saw an interview with the female judge (don't know her name, sorry) where she was asked about this very issue. She seemed outright shocked that anyone would think Susan is not who she appears to be, and stated that their regulations over there are much more stringent than they are here in the US. She said that they would be off the air instantly.

[Hello_Kitty]

44. And professional U.S. athletes used to be banned from the Olympics

Which was, frankly, a stupid policy that barred some seriously gifted and accomplished people from competing against athletes from Soviet Bloc countries who were fully subsidized by their governments. So what if a contestent on the show did some professional training or singing? If they're not Mariah Carey or someone like that, what's the big deal?

[TheWatcher]

47. Because they are manipulating your perception with Marketing

And selling you a "Cinderella Story" that isn't real.

If you like being manipulated in this way, that's fine.

It's kind of like everyone who is buying into the current Phantom Economic "Recovery."

Mostly based on Propaganda, but technically and fundamentally, not much else.

I dislike Propaganda and manipulation in general.

Again, this DOES NOT take away from the guy's talent, so people need to quit reading into this as bashing of the individual.

It's not Potts I have a problem with.

And that should be obvious.

[RandomKoolzip]

31. My ex-wife worked in "reality TV." NOTHING is unplanned.

Well, maybe some of the dialogue is improvised, but everything else was pre-planned. It's a safe bet that the judges knew what they were in for, the producers knew, etc. The crowd didn't, but even that judge who cried was crying on cue, you can be sure.

By the way: one of the positions my ex-wife held while working on a relaity TV show was "story producer." Think about that for a second.

In a nutshell, people are suckers for Cinderella narratives, and this one suited their needs perfectly. Just like every other media sensation/fad, Susan Boyle will be forgotten in a matter of weeks. Anyone remember Clara Peller?

LEt's face it y'all: ALL corporate culture is managed, pre-packaged, manufactured, and beholden to marketing. Every little "spontaneous" moment is choreographed.
Don't trust a fuckin' thing you see on TV.

[JDPriestly]

13. Susan Boyle reminds of us the error of discrimination.

When we judge people by their gender, age or appearance such as color or size, we deprive ourselves of the contributions that the people we judge could make. Besides, I love her sincere singing and her voice. In one cut, she sang a capella and showed what a good sense of intonation she has. She is a refreshing new face, voice, personality. I hope to hear a lot more from her.

[Captain Hilts]

18. Ella and Eleanor - the 20th Cent.'s two coolest women sure as hell caught the same shit.

Joke's on those that pre-judged them.

[leftyladyfrommo]

26. Yea. Poor Eleanor. And she was such an interesting person.

This woman apparently had a learning disability and was teased unmercifully at school. The youngest of nine children.

I guess she can take a punch.

[Captain Hilts]

27. Yep. I think she can. The guardian has an interesting column on women and beauty expectations. nt

[eShirl]

14. I wish I could sing 1/10 as beautifully as she

[cpamomfromtexas]

19. I had tears in my eyes while watching it and then the doorbell rang!

What a beautiful voice and sweet personality. She can be dressed up a little and look just as beautful too on the cover of her new album. I'm sure of it!

And I'll bet money she gets her first kiss soon.

[Dinger]

35. I Got Caught Too

Then I tried to act all cool. like I was fine (which actually, I was). I can't wait to see and hear her on tour! She inspires me.

[Stevenmarc]

28. Susan has a real talent but she's no Ruthie Henshall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt-IBJpE

[Arctic Dave]

33. If enjoying her performance makes me a rube,

well then, "I'll be yer huckleberry".

[Fresh_Start]

37. Susan's 1999 recording is on youtube now

A charity recording Boyle made in 1999 is now available on youtube.

To me it makes it clear, she's got an amazing voice.

Enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI2DxkrgpgQ

[drm604]

38. I know that some people are complaining about people discussing this on a political website,

but it is a very political piece of video. At least it is if you consider the issue of prejudice to be political. It's about a prejudice that a lot of progressives don't discuss much. It's about a prejudice that many of us are guilty of ourselves.

It's about the "invisible" people of the world. The people we basically ignore when we see them on the street, in the market, or at the bank. The people who we all unconsciously assume are uninteresting and have nothing to contribute. The people who are snickered at behind their back. It may not be as damaging to society as racial prejudice (or maybe it is?), but it still has to be painful for those individuals.

That video made me aware of things in myself that I'm not very proud of. My strong reaction to her performance was because she totally violated my expectations... my prejudices. I think that watching that video is a learning experience for many people.

[Hello_Kitty]

42. Yes.

The personal IS political and looksism is as deeply entrenched as every other unjust prejudice. People who are deemed "unattractive" are disadvantaged socially and in the job market. This is especially true for women, since our appearance is considered our most important feature.

[closeupready]

52. Those are good points.

:hi:

[ljm2002]

39. As for the girl who rolled her eyes...

...I don't think she should be singled out. First of all, pretty much the whole audience as well as the judges were rolling their eyes -- she just made a good photo op at the right time. Second of all, the show's format includes truly bad acts -- why, I don't know. But it seems like half the acts are truly bad, one wonders why they were let through except to make a mockery of themselves. So it is not such a surprise that the audience suspected another one was about to be sprung on them.

Personally I loved it, have watched it several times, and accept that she is the genuine article -- namely, not only can she sing but she really is the sweet humble woman she is being presented as. But I can understand the cynics who didn't believe that to start with -- so much in our world is staged and phony. And this was also staged, it's just that at its base it really is a true Cinderella story.

Anyway as for the girl who rolled her eyes, and all the rest of them: no need to hate on them. Everyone came around pretty quick. And let's face it, if we were not told "you have to watch this, she's great!", if we just clicked on the clip at random, we might have had our own reservations -- I bet a lot of people would not have even waited to hear her sing. We all make pre-judgments, and it is no use denying it. Well, all but a very few of us. I try not to, and I'm no spring chicken and would probably look awful on TV and certainly would not be able to belt a song like that. But I, like everyone, make prejudgments, try as I might not to.

In fact I used to tell friends at work, women in my age group would make the best spies. We could just sit in the corner knitting or reading Emily Dickinson or Better Homes and Gardens -- everyone thinks that 50+ women are, well you know, just boring by definition, certainly not anyone to be wary of. But I digress...

[Lars39]

41. The Miss Marple syndrome.

I've got it now....and yes, you do hear conversations you might not have in your younger days. :evilgrin:

[hisownpetard]

59. Great post, especially the observation that "women in my age group would make the best spies."

Sad.

True.

[closeupready]

50. I'm glad for her, but personally, I sort of tired of her and stories about her.

I hope that doesn't sound too harsh, but it's getting to the point of oversaturation now, IMO.

[JayMusgrove]

54. Just go on the same show and be sure you beat her...........or you could......

Just be such an ass for the rest of your life and no one will care.

[Raine]

58. I agree

and the saturation is about her appearance like shock of all shocks :wow: that an unattractive person can actually have a beautiful voice ... well duh!

[Karenina]

60. Stay tuned for part 2

Will "Simple Susan" be able to handle the sudden glare of worldwide media attention?

[JayMusgrove]

53. Best You tube link for those who want to see what the UK does

To make this woman lovable, to all of us.

I can't say enough for who wonderful this woman is

I hope 10,000 more Americans watch this link and go to be happy tonight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luRmM1J1sfg