Apr 19 2009
The Wonders Of Humankind
Humanity has been slapped upside its collective head with a hefty dose of humble pie and respect for the average person. We all know Hollywood (and its cousins across this globe) packages talent that combines creativity or awe inspiring gifts with something highly marketable. The ability to make money is the key, which is why the packaging is the driver, not the talent or the gift. The creativity can shine through this greedy filter in the form of writers, etc. But the ‘on stage’ talent has to come in a package that can make money – not to inspire.
Susan Boyle of England has shook the snobby entertainment world, which most times is a nothing more than a face lifted echo of the real success stories. From the real Rudy to the real war heros , few real people can pass the package test of Hollywood. So all we get are pretty faces who could not come close to doing what the real people they are mimicking have done in real life.
Susan Boyle reminds us that the facade of Hollywood and its ilk are just vague recreations of humanity in all its raw glory. Thank you Susan, and best of wishes to you in making your dream come true. Now sit back and be prepared to be rocked!
Saw that a few days ago, it is amazing. what a great singing voice.
AJ,
assume you’ve seen this
Report: Antarctic Ice Growing, Not Shrinking
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517035,00.html
remember a few days ago when the huge slab of ice separated, how it was the focus on all the news.
bet you won’t see much on this report.
I just loved this story and Susan’s beautiful voice. The Anchoress wrote beautifully about it too, as only she can do. A “hero” for all of us who have taught our children that your soul is the essence of who you are.
I was completely taken aback with her performance. To see the crowd and judges seemingly mock her during her initial interview to only have them look dumbfounded and astounded when she released that beautiful voice of hers was such a delight that I have viewed the clip many, many times since. For a HD quality clip view this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk
BTW- there are those out there that think the whole thing was a setup. See http://www.nypost.com/seven/04182009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/fairytale_ending_165066.htm
and this http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/we-love-telly/2009/04/britains-got-talent-susan-boyl-1.html
Cynically, I understand how this could be. You have this frumpy, average, middle-aged woman deliver the most beautiful rendition of “Dreamed to Dream” from the Les Miserables musical and you think it is too good to be true. Maybe it is, but I don’t think so. Surely, after reading readers comments from the above links everyone views this as legit. Maybe we are all being fooled by the sinister Simon Cowell, but I am just dreaming the dream that it is not!
BTW- There are those out there that think the whole thing was a setup. See http://www.nypost.com/seven/04182009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/fairytale_ending_165066.htm
and this http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/we-love-telly/2009/04/britains-got-talent-susan-boyl-1.html
Cynically, I understand how this could be. You have this frumpy, average, middle-aged woman deliver the most beautiful rendition of “Dreamed to Dream” from the Les Miserables musical and you think it is too good to be true. Maybe it is, but I don’t think so. Surely, after reading readers comments from the above links everyone views this as legit. Maybe we are all being fooled by the sinister Simon Cowell, but I am just dreaming the dream that it is not! What a beautiful voice.
Part2
BTW- there are those out there that think the whole thing was a setup. See http://www.nypost.com/seven/04182009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/fairytale_ending_165066.htm
and this http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/we-love-telly/2009/04/britains-got-talent-susan-boyl-1.html
Cynically, I understand how this could be. You have this frumpy, average, middle-aged woman deliver the most beautiful rendition of “Dreamed to Dream” from the Les Miserables musical and you think it is too good to be true. Maybe it is, but I don’t think so. Surely, after reading readers comments from the above links everyone views this as legit. Maybe we are all being fooled by the sinister Simon Cowell, but I am just dreaming the dream that it is not!
There are some that think the whole thing was a setup. See http://www.nypost.com/seven/04182009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/fairytale_ending_165066.htm
and this http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/we-love-telly/2009/04/britains-got-talent-susan-boyl-1.html
Cynically, I understand how this could be. You have this frumpy, average, middle-aged woman deliver the most beautiful rendition of “Dreamed to Dream” from the Les Miserables musical and you think it is too good to be true. Maybe it is, but I don’t think so. Surely, after reading readers comments from the above links everyone views this as legit. Maybe we are all being fooled by the sinister Simon Cowell, but I am just dreaming the dream that it is not!
Sorry about the repost…:(
ph, I read somewhere, can’t find it again, that Simon got a heads up about Susan from her first try out. Maybe he met her, I’m not sure. He helps people get recording contracts. He got Paul Potts started. If you review the night again, it seems that Simon knew Susan. I, thought she was just terrific. I’ve listen to an opera singer sing the same, can google it, and she is very good, voice higher. But Susan has great inflection.
Kathie, there is a part of me that has to acknowledge that as someone as big as Simon in his business he would have heard about her. She also cut a CD for charity back in ’99 and I forget the song, yahoo headlined it, but it was just as moving. Sure Simon may have known about her but I dont think he was being sneaky particularly, not that it what you said. I guess with that amount of talent and having cut a CD and having been known in the church, word must have leaked out at some point. Whatever, I am greateful to have experienced this lady’s gifts from God. Whereas, her talent is not something that can be learned but only born.
Some other points:
“Some viewers said they were drawn by the one-act-play quality of the video, with a beginning, a middle and an end complete with a heroine (Boyle, obviously) and a familiar villain (Simon Cowell, naturally). Others said they were sure it was a hoax, only to find themselves watching the video again and again, and going online to investigate unfamiliar terms. Elaine, who? What is “Les Misérables”? Why did she sing “I Dreamed a Dream”?” http://tinyurl.com/cj5efs
I guess I am not alone. I sorta feel the same way about it myself.
Honestly, who cares if the whole thing is a recreation of initial surprise and doubts? Honestly, no one cares! She is extremely gifted, her years of practice are paying off, she is living her life’s dream.
Does it matter if Simon knew? Nope.
AJ, those are my sentiments exactly. I am just responding to the flare out there. Her talents should carry her far, God willing.
AJ……. I wasn’t saying there was something not on the up and up. If Simon meet her it doesn’t change the beauty of her voice, the performance, or make it less real. If he got a heads up it was because she was so terrific in the pre qualifying round, he would want to record her and get her started like he did with Paul Potts, who won last year. Simon said last year that one of the purposes of the event was to find someone who was not a professional in any way, but who had a talent that had never been recognized. Simon was thrilled for Paul Potts a telephone salesman and could do what he did. It was all over the internet in days instead of minutes, and not as widely seen, but a sensation never the less.
I think a few things contributed to the love and appreciation people feel for Susan. The strength and beauty of her voice of course, her innocence, her uncontrived being. The words of the song in some ways talks of her life. The last of 9 children, taking care of her mother until her death, living in the same home and sleeping in the same bed from birth. A woman who has never been kissed. A shy, unassuming woman, and she could do that.
This is the last stanza of the song, sung with such passion, imploring every person in the audience to hear her words. It was quite something.
“I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I’m living
So different now from what it seems
Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed.”
Well maybe with this performance, life hasn’t killed the dream she dreamed. And truly, life is just beginning. What a thrill!