Susan Boyle's Got Talent


48-year-old Susan Boyle always dreamed of becoming a professional singer. When she walked out on the stage of the TV show Britain's Got Talent, no one expected her to do well.
Miss Boyle told presenters Ant and Dec that she lived alone with just her cat Pebbles for company. She said: ‘I’ve never had a boyfriend. I’ve never even been kissed.’

She then stomped across the stage and began clumsily gyrating her hips towards the judges, prompting laughter from the audience.

But you can't always depend on first impressions. Link

Comments (134)

Philli- Agree about the monkeys, but they are ratings gold it seems.

Disagree re the talent. It's a good story, but that's some ugly-heavy vibrato, and joyless delivery. Most Scottish women sing better than that.
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Burton- I don't think it's a matter of talent as much as technique. She has a pretty voice...I think she's sort of trying too hard to emphasize the natural vibrato in her voice, so it sounds strained and too big.
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Also, Burton...as to the "joyless delivery," did you listen to the lyrics in the song? The character has been abandoned by her lover, lost her job, been shunned by her peers, and is forced to turn to prostitution to support her young child. Not much joy there.
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me and my boyfriend watched this last night. I was just in the middle of saying how cruel this show was to make people audition in front of a baying crowd. At one point I thought they were going to go for blood. As I finished that sentence she started singing and I was so glad she was able to shut 4000 people up
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Is not about how good technically speaking she is as a singer, that is not the point here I think. The whole point is that she brings Inspiration. She gives inspiration to thousands of people who are desperate for it, living alone with cats in remote places. That is the main point and if Television can deliver time to time this beautiful moments when a person can say I am here alive, that even among a lot of trashy shows I think is better that nothing...
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I found that moving but also irritating. What, only good-looking people should be able to sing? Oh, how shocking. Before she revealed she had a talent everyone was quite willing to treat her like a joke.
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Ditto Just Me....
Everyone was so willing to laugh at this woman b/c of the way she looked and her little goofy act before she started singing. She was just having a good time up there and they had already written her off b/c of her appearance.
I'm glad she was able to shut all of them up.
Her vibrato does need a little bit of toning down, but she does have a nice voice.. sounds I dunno... youthful.
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@justme: "What, only good-looking people should be able to sing?"

I once had a pastor tell me to exclude some folks from my choir because they "didn't look attractive". Riiiight. Like his big fat gut was a joy to behold.

I'd gladly have used Susan Boyle in any choir or music production I've ver directed. The vibrato and bits of bobbling a couple of notes are all things that can be dealt with via decent vocal coaching. The voice itself is a really nice instrument, and her delivery fit the song quite well. Notice the lyrics and her emotional connection via her "backstory". Well done, Suusan!
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I had 2 complaints about it. 1 the crowd is too friggin loud to hear her - its disrespectful to her. and 2 she got off key a couple times (at least from what I could hear amid the baying crowd).
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Didnt have the same punch as the opera singer from a year ago but was a nice surprise still. Appearance is part of performing on stage. She could use a haircut maybe but I didnt think she was sideshow material.

How many people really get discovered and go on to become professionals in their 40s? I dont think there would be an audience for her if she wins.
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never judge a book by its cover.
wonder how well some of our so called "stars" would do if they were forced to appear on stage with out makeup, hair done, and costuming??? they would never stand up to a lovely lady such as susan boyle. good on her
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Hopefully this type of thing will become more prevalent and help usher in the death of the disgusting agism and obsessive focus on some bullshit test-marketed porno "standard of beauty" people have shoved down their throats by advertisers and corporations. Or maybe they'll just take Susan Boyle and mutilate her face with plastic surgery and give her a Kraft Foods sponsored "makeover" so she can be like "everyone else."
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Very nice.

I believe she may have done a bit of "enhancing" her background story to get some 'sympathy' points. Kind of like that guy on 'American Idol' who was too old to actually be an official part of the show but did perform for the judges. He had a story about how his wife just died and whatnot.

And interesting the comments above about her looks. Sadly if you do not have the looks it will be hard to really be a huge star in entertainment. This is even if you have a great voice. Yes there are always exceptions but for the most part everything in the industry is based on looks.
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@justme: “What, only good-looking people should be able to sing?”

Didn't you watch the Olympics? According to the Chinese (and 1.6 BILLION people should know) ONLY good looking people are allowed on TV.
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God! I love when stuff like this happens. I got the same feeling when Paul Potts wowed them on the same show. It goes to prove that we only expect 'good-looking' people to do well and are truly surprised when a 'plain-jane' blows them out of the room. I would love to hear her sing some other songs especially some show tunes. Bravo!
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She's awesome! As for the people who are nit-picking about how she was off key, think on this: singing in front of 4,000 people and three judges, on a stage where you've never sung before, and you probably can't even hear your own voice...plus you're being filmed for tv....I think we can cut her some slack for being "off-key" a few times. She sounded awesome. About 100 times better than anyone who appears on American Idol or any of the other talent shows. And she gave that live audience a good serving of humble pie. Go, girl!
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The problem with Ms. Boyle is not her looks its her stage presence - something that the show was banking on. TV shows milk this sort of thing. Bear in mind that she was not an unknown entity - Andrew Muir (a contestant from last year) knows her - they had done charity shows together.

As for her being off-key - I would say it was more an issue of out of range. The lowest note disappears. Even great singers have sounded strained (listen to Marvin Gaye sing Heard it on the Grapevine - the song was recorded out of his range on purpose)

Bottom line is - she can sing better than the average audience member and better than many a young popsie with the big record deals. With a little coaching she could do quite well.
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Music like that shouldn't be sung in front of a screaming audience, and I think that may have had something to do with the performance being just a bit off. Though it was a very, very good performance. The vibrato was just a tad overdone, but it came from the right place and was done well, and still sounded good. This woman has a beautiful and loud voice that projects wonderfully, even over a bunch of screaming half-wits.

I don't understand why people don't expect that someone who isn't attractive by societal standards can sing well. Most of the greatest blues singers and gospel singers aren't much to look at, but they're a pleasure to listen to.
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Some of you guys are being a little cynical. I've spent the entire afternoon listing to her performance over and over again and all I can say is that this wonderful talented Lady has absolutely blown me away. I don't believe I've ever been so touched by a performance.

Susan, you have my vote, you're a beautiful lady who deserves all the success that comes your way. I'll eagerlly await you first album.
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For the cynics:
1. Audience's screams. What you hear on tv is not necessarily what she hears - the stage speakers (usually you can see them on the edge of the stage floor) can amplify the music to lessen the audience noise.

2. Unknown entity. Nobody is truly unknown this day and age, but then if she was known, why only now did we hear about her. So just appearing in charity gigs and local talent shows should be enough for anyone? And nobody actually said "unknown".

3. Voice quality - not perfect of course but doing it there without professional training and experience takes a lot.

4. Back story - the Scotsman does back it up, and more, for what it's worth. But no one can ever fake that spunk.

5. Not judging the book by the cover. Yeah, let's dream but now it's still there. At least we have this to help smack some people's head not to judge the cat lady.

This is just beautiful.
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I just love the cynics! How about a little sampling of your voices for all of our ears.

You know, in the art world the artist that the critics loved to hate the most was Andrew Wyeth. It never stopped Andy.
Go Susan Go!
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Susan Boyle is a Godess, and I am not one of those millions of people living alone with a cat.
I am married with four children, and she still inspires me. Why ? Because she is a human being with charm, manners a sense of humour and the greatest God given voice a person can have.

So what if she's not sexy or sex symbol.
Women's greatest features are their talent, personality and intelligence.
Men feel threatened by that.Who needs men , when you have Genius.........
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If this woman is rejected because of her looks it would be criminal. I was so inspired, uplifted, My heart rose with every note. Please God she'll be on our screens more often . As for her looks...she went on to SING not as a page three girl.

I just SOoooooooooooo admire her

Mairead
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As a radio host, and as a professional singer, the performance made me bawl like a baby.
There are so many talented songwriter/singers who will never be heard or noticed because they just don't look the part....If American idol didn't have that damn age limit, I wonder how many others like Susan would be heard?

What a great start to a dreary, rainy morning. I can't wait for her first recording.
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It would be criminal Mairead, but not unexpected if she were to be rejected. Some of the things the judges said to her was quite insulting. But looks ARE everything in the industry.

She may be one of those rare individuals who may make a career out of her voice because it is that awesome. She might have one of those 'niche' albums with her singing different songs. I mean, any producer has to be nuts not to capitalize on this, seeing how so many around the world have been captivated by her. This could very well be one of those rare cases when the fans override what the executives think is marketable. Heck they gave William Hung an album right?

But as far as mainstream singing star in the likes of the American Idol singer Carrie Underwood? Not likely.
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Susan Boyd is a wonderful role model for Women.

Since time began, women have been patronised by sexism. Women have been straightjacketed into conforming to the feminine ideal stereotype for far too long now.
This unreal expectation that women must look beautiful and hot in order to count as valuable, is quite frankly a fashist phenomenon. It's like Hitler saying that people only matter if they have blond hair and have a perfectly well crafted athletic physique.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the way Susan Boyd looks. In my view, she looks natural and unaffected. At least she doesn't look like like Girls Aloud, who pander to male chauvenism with their whorish look, and give women a bad image.
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I teared up when Paul Potts sang and now I teared up when Susan Boyle sang. Everyone in the audience was rooting against them because of how they looked and how they lived. They both proved without a doubt that looks aren't anything to judge a person by. Man I still have goosebumps on my arms! I hope those cynics were ashamed of themselves.
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It's because of pop culture and the image of sexiness that a lot of people are not given the opportunity to succeed in music.

before television and music videos, the singers and groups had talent, but when you saw their pictures later, you think "what the hell?"

I'm rambling now. but win win for susan.
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I can't wait to hear your album, Susan. You have the most beautiful voice and you are an inspiration. You have taught us all a valuable lesson about hope.
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I got nothing else to say after I watched the clip. She's really stunning! Looks can really be deceiving. This woman deserves a break. People will continously judge her no matter where she goes, but nobody can deny the truth that she can wow a crowd. Congratulations Susan Boyle. Thanks also for showing to us that beauty can just be superficial; and raw talent is hard to find. God bless.
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I think you guys are wrong. She can sing and she has a quite a side-comic confidence that just screams acting, a hobit's wife made queen or in search of the enternal kiss--she sings through the movie, until one day she actually sees her own reflections and then realizes that "she is not beautiful." Every story needs a journey and hers will be to find out that she is truly ugly indeed. A sad ending. Great for purgation, beautiful song and then the draded ending scene.
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I agree with Amanda about people initially being cynical about Susan (though she didn't say it, presumably because Susan does not match our conditioned vision of a beautiful person). As for Susan's marketability (again because of her looks), consider that Ethyl Merman had neither stunning looks nor the voice of an angel, yet she was very successful. It takes a dream and the drive to pursue it for all you're worth. I read that Susan has already been approached about a recording contract. Someone out there thinks she is a marketable talent. And as for stage performance, I could envision someone writing a whole musical about an ugly duckling turing into a swan.
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When I saw Susan coming into the stage and heard all the audience's laughs I thought how cruel human beings can be. I just wished she could be able to have such a great performance as to make them all feel ashamed of themselves and yes indeed, this is exactly what happened. I am so happy for her and she deserved the standing ovation she got.

Susan has taught people a great lesson of persistence and hope, including me. This video really touched my heart and shows we should never give up to pursue our dreams. God bless you Susan for being such an inspiring and talented artist, because you are one of a kind!
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I have always picked a winning performer. I must have a sensitive button that produces tears and internal vibrations whenever I hear or see a absolutely beautiful performance. Susan Boyle affected me that way. More than normal tears flowed at the whole segment of her performance. Watching the judges highly emotional responses added to the beautiful scene. The adverse judgement regarding her looks are totally erroneous views. Some of our top performers looks do not outshine Susan Boyle. I am not one to run to buy music, but I am anxious to purchase her ist recordings.
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Susan, your voice makes me weep with emotion and I can't stop listening to you sing. I can't wait to buy her first CD, also. I'm sharing your story and song with everyone I can. Thank you. And I thank God for putting you on this planet.
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Dear Susan.. Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful inside and out amazing woman,, thank you for your performance and cant wait to buy your first album,, God Bless you beautiful lady!!
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I watched the video five times tonight. How inspiring! I'll think a bit harder the next time I start making excuses to myself of why I shouldn't use my own God given talents. -Bravo Susan!!!
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I've watched the vidio several times over the past few hours and shared it with friends. I,too, had chills at the beautiful sound of Susan's voice. May all your dreams come true. I'll be waiting for the first CD.
Susan is an inspiration to all those who have a dream. Never let the negative comments of others rob you of you self-esteem or dreams. God Bless
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Hannah,
You are a moron. Her name is Susan BOYLE, not Susan Boyd. That feminist bullshit is obnoxious. This woman is extraordinary, but who cares what her sex is?!?! Men AND women are stifled based on looks. Get over the whole "women are soooooo discriminated against unless they're perfect" bit. Maybe you just didn't have what it took. At least you got to be a petunia in your 1st grade play.

I live in New York and work in Broadway theater. I think that with a little training, she could have a great voice. I'm really rooting for her!

Kudos Susan,
Mike
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Wow--what a beautiful voice! Susan is fun, sassy, and oh so talented. I predict that she'll win...but either way, she'll have a successful singing career. We're all behind you, Susan. YOU GO GIRL! LIVE THE DREAM!
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Cant we just be thankful!, did we not just witness and hear a lovely message off hope,at this particulary worrying time, for most off us!. Susan Boyle!,you cheered me up and gave me a great excuse to get the hanky out. Thankyou Susan. P.S. As for all you would be crittics (above)Get a life, give us real people a break!!.
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Who are you mindless critical people who feel you must critique everything for perfection? That is so not the point here. This is an incredible woman who has kept her spirit throughout a lonely, loveless life to deliver absolute joy to so many people. That whole audience wasn't on their feet for no reason. This an all to common story that should bring out the heart in us, not treat her like a talent scout, which by the way she won't be needing.
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Haven't see this show before. But on American Idol, they show tape of, shall we say, less-than-stellar-looking people who often have no talent and no shame. They sing lousy...lousily....then get huffy when the judges put 'em in their place. The AI producers call that "good TV."
Expected much the same when this frumpy gal trotted out. You "experts" may quibble about technical aspects of her performance, but it flat out gave me chills. I've seen some people with monster talent singing in different shows...and while I don't know enough about music, I can appreciate their talent. But I've never got goosebumps from watching someone sing before. Yeah, it was a setup...but there's no denying her talent. Pebbles gonna get some fresh fish tonight!
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Had some of you here been the first to discover the rose, you probably would have reported on horrific bush with painful thorns! Are you lives so joyless and empty of anything positive that you are unable to past the thorns and enjoy the simply beauty of the rose and its petals?! Smile... you are alive!!! ;)
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As a fellow Scot and stage singer of over 30 years experience, I can tell you that Susan Boyle sang with more passion in her voice than the Fantine of the original London cast of Les Mis ever did.

And listen to the last line of the song;
My life has killed the dream I dreamed.

It's a song of someone who knows suffering, who is suffering.

As to this lady's looks ... there are hundreds of stage performers who can sing well, but are not "beautiful" ... but you never hear of them, because our society is fixated on the cult of Youth and Beauty. It doesn't matter for Susan. She'll get image-fixers now ans within the year she'll have a record deal and the offer of several musicals.

Her voice has been trained, but never performed in a big venue with 4000 people. It's unnerving ... but did she do the job or what? She said, "I'm gonnae make that audience rock!" And she took them by the scruff of their stupid disbelieving necks and shook them! She was, as that idiot Morgan said, STUNNING!

If I weren't retired, I'd be hiring her yesterday because she has a strong and powerful delivery within a beautiful voice. Not perfect, but songs evolve with their performers ... no stage song is ever perfect!

I predict that win or not ... Susan Boyle's life, as Karen Carpenter might say, has only just begun!
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Had some of you here been the first to discover the rose, you probably would have reported on horrific bush with painful thorns! Are your lives so joyless and empty of anything positive that you are unable to look past the thorns and enjoy the simple beauty of the rose and its petals?! Smile… you are alive!!! ;) hahaha... rushed that out I was so bugged out... =P
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Amazing - have not heard a voice like this for ages. I hear the clip at least 40 times and each time am moved. Great voice

To all the people suggesting makeovers please don't let the marketing people turn her into a clone of evryone else. We see enough artificiality......
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mk18831
Do you have a real name, or are the numbers just a cover up for your own inferiority feelings?
I think you are confusing me with yourself.
You sound very bitter.
As for myself,I have the best job in the world. I am an Opera Singer who sings Wagner, Monteverdi, Rossini and Beethoven at The Royal Opera House Covent Garden, and that is absolutely wonderful.
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Well, for all you men(and women) who think Susan is a frump and unattractive, DID any of you look at her beautiful face? I personally think Susan is a very beautiful looking lady. If my memory serves me correctly, I think most of the top female opera singers such as Joan Sutherland are quite hefty ladies and I don't believe anyone worries a tad! As for the vibrato I liked it. Her voice IS stunning! Really stunning! God Bless you Susan you deserve every success. Oh yes! Believe it or not folks, people DO live alone with a cat --- it is NOT a sob story --- it is a fact of life in this day and age, that single ladies DO live alone with their only companion a cat or a dog ---- How do I know? Because I too have lived alone with two companion cats for over 30 years-- I would much rather come home to them after a very long day working at my career than to a house full of husband, kids and no quiet! SOME folk actually enjoy living alone Did any of you cynics think of that? There are thousands of women in this world very happily living alone with a companion animal --- we choose to do so. As for Susan --- Go Girl! Go and get that Dream! Love from Australia
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This woman is the truest gem. She is refreshing, authentic and unpolluted by all the trash

culture that mass media and the silicone-filled public whores of Hollywood are cramming down
pepople's throats, brainwashing all the dim-wits out there about what's supposed to be

'beautiful'. It's an insult in itself that someone as truly gifted as Susan should have had to

endure the insulting attitude of the crowd and the judges in the first place. The way she carried

herself, though, only shows the strength of her character. She has a certain childlike innocence

to her that is just as compelling as her absolutely enchanting voice and sweet face. She is so

completely artless and unassuming it's like a precious breath of fresh air in this society

bombarded with all the posing, pretentious 'artists' on MTV who can't say or do anything

authentic for 5 minutes to save their lives.

Also, for all the ageists out there, 47 is not the end of a human being's life,for lord's sake.

What is it with this twisted, diseased, facist notion that after your twenties,
you're supposed to live under a hole, pretending to be half dead? If Susan lives to be 90,which

is actually lower than the new life-average of people these days, she's only at the midpoint of

her journey. She has every right to pursue any dream she may have and I'm sure everyone who has

half a brain will recognize the magic in her. Just one 3minute song and she has touched millions.
And she achieved that by actually SINGING-without demeaning herself by filling herself up with

silicone and writhing around in public in her underwear-which is what a real SINGER, by

definition, is SUPPOSED TO DO.

This woman is glorious.It isn't difficult to see that there will be no shortage of people who

will buy her albums and watch her perform. I,for one,will make sure to buy every single
album she ever records.

GO SUSAN GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! YOU ARE SIMPLY MAGICAL. NEVER CHANGE.
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hannah, mk18831 said his name at the end of his comment.

And his comment was perfectly reasonable. Men and women are judged based on their looks. It's time to stop separating people out by gender, as you did in your comment, and concentrate on them as people. If you insist on perpetuating the old notion that women are victims, then women will continue to be victims.

And whoever said Ethel Merman was ugly should look at her younger pictures. She wasn't Igor.
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Wonderful voice and control. There were no flaws I heard in the entire thing.
The Dorks who claim to hear problems I present a challenge. Identify the notes you claim were off. I'll make it easy for you. Staarting at middle C going up two octaves and going down two octaves identify the note or notes you believe were off pitch. Should be easy for you armchair jockeys, just tell us which measure and be sure you know the key in which she is singing. You couch experts might want to identify the difference betweewn her legaato and vibrato. English/scottish be aware that vibrato is not a lack of ability it is a tool of the voice and has been so for three hundred yearss. If you are offended by vibrato ina voice try telling that to evert Opera singer in the world ansd see what theey have to tell you.
As for the people who claim she has altered her life story to get votes. Dont vote, no one wants your vote anyway, you clearly have a jaundiced view of the world.
I applaud this woman for her heart, her hope, her joy of life despite the braying jackasses and I for one will look for every opportunity to hear her speak, sing and hopefully teach us how to be nicer to one another.
Congratulations Miss Boyle you are a star in more ways than one!
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Wonderful voice and control. There were no flaws I heard in the entire thing.
The Dorks who claim to hear problems I present a challenge. Identify the notes you claim were off. I’ll make it easy for you. Starting at middle C going up two octaves and going down two octaves identify the note or notes you believe were off pitch. Should be easy for you armchair jockeys, just tell us which measure and be sure you know the key in which she is singing. You couch experts might want to identify the difference betweewn her legato and vibrato. English/Scottish be aware that vibrato is not a lack of ability it is a tool of the voice and has been so for three hundred yearss. If you are offended by vibrato in a voice try telling that to every Opera singer in the world and see what they have to tell you.
As for the people who claim she has altered her life story to get votes. Dont vote, no one wants your vote anyway, you clearly have a jaundiced view of the world.
I applaud this woman for her heart, her hope, her joy of life despite the braying jackasses and I for one will look for every opportunity to hear her speak, sing and hopefully teach us how to be nicer to one another.
Congratulations Miss Boyle you are a star in more ways than one!
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Susan Boyle knew she had talent; she just needed the opportunity to share it. Well, she did and boy, was that a powerhouse performance. Magnificent! I will be there when the first CD comes out.
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Ted

You are dead wrong when you say that society judges men and women equally when it comes to looks.

Women are victimised more when it comes to appearances, and I am not the one who is perpetuating that fact. Society does a splendid job all by itself.

Paul Potts is a classic example of this.
Did he get as many laughs and sniggers from the audience before he sang as Susan Boyle did?
No way.

Another very good example about how society manipulates women into conforming to the steretype of
The Perfect Feminine Ideal is the size zero culture,
which is exclusively aimed at submitting women to fit into a certain image.
You don't have to be Einstein to know that the size zero culture is aimed at Hollywood actressess and Skinny Supermodels to set an example to women to look
emaciated and ill like they do, in order to conform to this obscene and unatural feminine ideal.

Hollywood actresses like Cate Blanchet and Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt are always complaining about how wrong this size zero culture is, because this sends out dangerous messages to girls who starve themselves into a state of annorexia nerosa they can meassure up to society'sunatural expectation of perfect womanhood.

There is no way that men are under the same pressure n to conform to certain codes of beauty as women are, and that is why you have so many people championing Susan Boyle,who despite having a great voice, has a natural and mature beauty, which millions of women would be honoured emmulate.
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I don't care about the workings of the human voice all I know is she touched me and I am better for hearing her sing this song. Thank you for sharing it with me. I have never tried to go to a site to hear or see anything before I was really happy I did this.
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1) Susan has skin that dermatologists would envy.
2) People go under the knife to have a nose like hers.
3) She is a natural and real woman, not a anorexic
boy toy.
4) Most of us have eyebrows like hers before waxing.
5) Why do we associate singlehood and loneliness with
companion animals, particularly cats? Many married
people and families live with cats. Is this the
ugly head of misogyny rising up again?
6) People over 40 have begun successful careers: Yes,
even in show business.
7) Watch and see Susan's transformation.
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Those of you who don't think she is talented or (I can't believe I read this) think she has too much vibrato, or some other negative comment about her singing are absolutly clueless about what great singing is. I am a trained vocalist and have studied voice for over 35 years. I put on my headset and listened and I am telling you that was a spot on perfect performance. She was never off key, the vibrato was measured for effect( which is what great singers do, listen to Pavarroti), she held the vowels and tapped the consonants, the attack was perfect and even using the same dynamic as she climbed the scale and the sublties of her dynamics were sensational as she used them to express the words, and she never dropped the end of a phrase as most singers do these days. This lady is not just talented, she is gifted. We witnessed what singers strive for and many never acheive. She had the audience totally in her hand and she fed off of them and let the adrenaline take over. It is an amazing feeling like no other when you have that kind of control.
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Susan, Hearing you brought such great joy - and tears. So natural and straight from the heart. You richly deserve yhe recognition which is sure to follow such a performance. Wishing you every success, don't let them change you!
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Those (forgive the expression) cocky, narcissistic mutha-f*ckers were LAUGHING at her when she walked out on stage....judges and audiences alike! They were all ready to mock her because she wasn't young and hot.

I'm SICK and tired beyond reason seeing ONLY "beautiful" people get opportunities in pop culture and entertainment.

That woman shoved it ALL up their collective asses. Left 'em speechless and with mouths agape. Absolutely STUNNING voice!! I couldn't be more proud of her and what she represents for ordinary people. Talent should NEVER be overlooked because someone isn't hip or pretty to look at.

Patsy Cline wasn't beautiful and her singing puts chills up my spine. This woman had the same effect.
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I actually thought she was a cute lady...very humble looking and full of life....and she BLEW me away.

At first, I thought it was a joke -- that someone had flipped a switch and played a pre-recorded session of a classically trained singer....when I realized it was really her - I was astounded. NOT because I didn't believe a great voice could come out of her...but that ANYONE could sound that amazing without it being pre-recorded!

Even more amazing was that she seemed SURPRISED by all the accolades.

How does a talent such as hers go unnoticed for 47 years?????????

I guess people are too friggin' blinded by Britney types and angry rappers with their pants dropped to their knees.....
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Well Susan, not only do you have a stupendous voice with a clarity of speech that I have not heard since Julie Andrews sang in "The Sound of Music", you have also given me a wonderful morning reading people's comments. I enjoyed Hannah's comments as much as the responses from Mark1334---Both of you were indirectly correct! Kim managed to get everything in perspective and SteveNYC was, to my mind, one of the most knowledgeable, but the one thing that seems to have troubled (is that the word?) most of you is Susan's backstory. Would someone out there please tell me WHY, if a person lives alone with or without companion animals (usually a cat for very good reasons), that they are considered lonely? Or sad? etc. Especially if the person happens to be a woman. This fact has always amused me. This is one aspect of discrimination that still exists --- and believe me, it IS discrimination. Consider how many places a woman cannot go,how many thngs she cannot do without a male accompanying her, how many parties she is not invited to on her own -- are we really such a threat to every married lady's hubby? Even restaurants place single people at a table in a little dark corner that no-one else wants. Society by its attitude tells every single woman living by herself, that there is something wrong with her -- especially once she is out of her 20's or 30's and enters mid-40's. Even Government budgets repeatedly have nothing in them for the single person but squillions for 'families'! Single people really dooo pay taxes and get no benefit from the money spent. Now why does this attitude or train of thought persist? Would someone tell me, especially the commentors above who have mentioned repeatedly Susan's backstory of being single and living alone. Does it bother you? Does it make you folk uncomfortable? Are you jealous? Envious perhaps? What is it? I really would like to know the answer to the connundrum. Living alone is one of the more beautiful experiences in life. It is a life where one can think, read, listen to beautiful music, learn whatever, listen for God's voice, study whatever, paint, or sing all in beautiful peace, eat when and if, get up when and if, sleep till when and if, decorate one's home as one chooses, come and go whenever, leave the newspaper on a chair and know it will be there when you get back. In short, enjoy one's own company. Life does not begin and end with husbands, partners, sex, children, diapers, teething rings, school events, teenagers untidy bedrooms,piles of dirty socks and jeans to wash, ironing to do and University exams. There is another life out there --- it is called 'single' and those in it for the most part of their lives would think twice before changing but many cannot 'hack' and allow themselves to be railroaded into having a partner -- often with sad results. Just an opinion.
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Okay, last comment out of me ~

Does it EVER occur to people that "looks" are all based on luck? It's a roll of the genetic dice.

It's our SOULS that count...and only YOU can decide how beautiful your soul will or will not be...that's what truly shines.
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Burton,
People that have a negative comment for the good thing around us, like this talented lady, are the ones that are raising the bullies in this society.

I do sing and I think she is awesome.

She can easily be part of the Celtic Women, hopefully you know who are them.
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I hope she wins ,it was beautiful and heart warming sending chills and tears I would buy her CD in a minute,hope she records one. I watch the viedo over and over, from Seattle Washington USA
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Hannah, sorry, I'm not dead wrong about the looks thing. And I never used the word "equally", although it could just as well be implied. Watch what you say when you put words in other people's mouths.

Men and women are judged on their looks throughout their entire lives. That's not something Hollywood invented.

And you yourself bring out the word "victimize" again. A little hyperbole, there. Who is victimizing women? Men? How about other women? That audience was full of judgmental women as well as judgmental men.
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waterfires ..from your lips to God's ears!
I loved listening to this woman and seeing what she had accomplished.I've not been able to listen(even after 30 playings)without crying.She is an inspiration..may she continue what she has started.
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I think Ted and Hannah, you are both correct. I also think Mark1334 was correct. All three of you are correct. Yes, there still is discrimination in certain areas against women but, compared to the discrimination that went on when I was younger, today's 'discrimination' is nothing --- believe me, ladies, you are very lucky now and forgive me for saying it, but today's young women, do not really know what discrimination is. Men today such as Mark and Ted are much more enlightened than the men who were bosses and managers, boyfriends and husbands when I was younger in fact may I say Gentlemen, your kind are almost angelic by comparison. There are still the other ignorant ones around but, the majority of men these days are much more enlightened. Here, I have to say, that in certain areas, MEN are the one's discriminated against and it is women who get the opportunities. Sadly however, there is a very strong tendency in society to judge humans by the way they look(and how old they are) --- not only in talent contests, but also in job applications and promotional opportunities/chances within careers. It is simply a sad fact of life --- our abilities both mental and physical, our talents and position within the status-quo are judged on the way we look, men, women, children and adults alike. We are judged on the way we speak, how we sound and how we dress. Sadly, it is human nature -- I am not sure that, unless we all become computerised robots that it is something that will ever be eradicated. Susan Boyle did look dowdy and given her background, that is understandable, but that should not be part of the judgement of her talent --- her deportment and diction was perfect and given a few months with the proper grooming including a more appopriate hairstyle and clothes, she will not only sound magnificent, but also look stunning as well. George Bernard Shaw's "Pigmalion" was written almost 100 years ago (it may be a full 100 years, I am not sure) and it says it all, by the 1950/60's both Julie Andrews and Audrey Hepburn had made stunning Eliza Doolittles on stage and film in 'My Fair Lady" with the same message (there was an earlier version made in the 1930's with a very young Rex Harrison but the name of the leading actress escapes me right now)---- have times changed? Only on the surface. Scrape that away and I think you will find that Hannah, Ted and Mark1334 are all, in their own ways, absolutely correct.
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For me, she reminded me of the singer Meat Loaf: has the ability to scare young children, but has a beautiful voice.

I will have to look for a CD of her in the future.
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Simply wonderful. Makes me wonder how much terrific talent we've been deprived of over the years by the relentless promotion of marginally talented buxom blondes whose forgettable, mechanically- enhanced voices have driven me away from "pop radio". I actually think Ms. Boyle's vibrato was controlled and very good- and this from a person who usually finds it offputting. I will be interested to see how she will fare with non-show tunes. I concur with Gemma's points about the single life. It seems clear to me that Ms. Boyle has charm, poise, and social skills and I would expect a fair amount of friends. Nothing lonely about the backstory in reality, I suspect. She knows she's good without being thoroughly conceited.
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Gemma

You are so very right in all that you say, and believe me it is not just your opinion, but what you say is FACT. There is not one woman on this planet who has not experienced everything you write on this blog.

Ted
You're dead wrong yet again. It is Women who, are mostly judged on their looks, not their entire lives, but when youth fades.
Cosmetic companies earn millions by feeding off women's insecurities as they age.
The thousand pound a jar firming creams on the market are aimed at women and not at men,creating the false illusion that a sixty something woman can miraculously regenerate her youthful complexion by using their expensive products. What a load of...........
Incidentally, I think Susan Boyle should be a model for face creams, as she has the most amasingly beautiful skin.
Ted
You would do well to concider those millions of families who have wives, daughters , mothers and sisters who suffer from an eating disorder just to conform to the size zero culure; the hospitals are overflowing with their misery but you dodge that subject very conspicuously in your blog. I think it is because you very clearly know nothing about it. anorexia and bulimia are eating diseases that afflict women more than men, because they are judged more on their looks than men. It is a modern day plague which is exacerbated by the media. Women are victimized and bullied by this sexist phenomenon much more than men are. The top fashion houses of Europe are teeming with size zero models, who flog their skimpy overblown price taged fashions on us. Most women have a full figure, and it is the strong women who refuse to allow themselves to be bullied into submission by the Diors and Channels., and Versaces.

Ted, explain, if you can, why it is women rather than men who are targeted by this size zero culture, if as you claim men and women are judged the sameon looks, if you want to be nitpicking on words.
If you make a convincing argument for that, you'll be a first. Of course Hollywood did not invent looks discrimination, but with the invention of more and more technically advanced and sophisticated media communication, of which Hollywood is only a part, society has, over the last century, been able to use those sophisticated tools to exploit and victimize women, especially in a tasteless, sexual content, which is offensive and abhorrent to women.
A classic example of this is how Young Women are used sexually to sell cars, by sprawling their bits all over billboard posters. I never see men being used like that.

With this technically advanced media, also comes the freedom to exploit women in other manifestations.

How many times do women need to go into telephone kiosks to make a quick call, only to see degrading and disgusting pictures of naked women and young girls, NOT MEN, plastered around every corner of the booth.

The only reason why women are judgmental about other women's looks these days is because of the media pressure placed mostly on them.
A woman's natural inclination is to side with other women; the suffragette movement surely teaches us that.

Women are desperately trying to change the current culture's climate, but it is going at an alarmingly slow pace.

Women know all to well, that ageism is also something that affects them more than men.
The real reason why Hillary Clinton lost to obuma is because the American people preferred having a young male for President as opposed to a 60 something woman.
Men would not have felt so threatened by a young and very beautiful female candidate, as men like the notion or fantasy of being in control when they pick a woman for a position. A woman who appeals to their sexual desires has much more of a chance than one which does not. Men are like children, they like the fantasy of playing the knights in shining armour to a steretypical beauty in distress.

Men generally don't like the notion of a middle aged woman running their affairs or their country.
Although Susan Boyle is a singer and not a politician, society needs women like her, because she represents most women's needs, to be appreciated not for her glamorous, fabricated barbie doll size zero looks, but because she is more like the way most women are.

NORMAL.
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Hannah,
Can I suggest that perhaps you take a step back and laugh a little. No-one is saying you are wrong in what you say. I understand where you are coming from. However, Ted did not say anything that was incorrect or wrong or insulting, he said and I quote (with some paraphrase of my own and apologies to Ted): "...It is time to stop perpetrating the old notion that women are victims...and treat them as people.....otherwise they will always be victims" Thanks Ted, you are an angel from Heaven. Now, Hannah, what Ted said is true. We are NOT victims, but if we constantly think of ourselves as victims, then we will be treated as victims. Because 'victims' always put out 'Victim' type vibes and hence bring the victimisation on themselves. We as women have NEVER been victims! What women did throughout history as they do now, they do of their own freewill --- certainly social mores had a bearing on their choices. Now, Hannah, before you write another word, try changing the word Victim to Challenge. What we had was certainly discrimination but we saw it as a 'CHALLENGE.' A challenge that my generation of women set about CHALLENGING! We challenged everything from the men's right to dominate certain professions, trades, the so-called Glass-ceiling and positions, to their right to be paid 30percent more and we won! We won so that women today have the opportunities that we did not. As Mothers we brought our sons up to be more enlightened towards women. Frankly, we enjoyed challenging the 'establishment'. We enjoyed being the first to do something. We enjoyed breaking down barriers. BUT without the assistance of many,many Men folk, we may well not have done it. Today, certainly there is the trend for skinny emaciated models and actors - no-one twists their arms to be skinny-- they starve themselves of their own free-will. They have a voice, they can always CHALLENGE the trend/system by refusing! I have already said how I think men, women, children alike are judged all the time and it is certainly NOT simply when youth fades-- some women are far prettier at 60 than at 20 while some men are simply not superbly handsome until they reach their 50's, 60's and beyond. As to your comments re the current USA President V Clinton I think you are dead wrong! Age had nothing to do with it. Hilary is 'yesterday's lady' --- the world has moved forward. Forgive for my next comment, I do not mean to offend, but whether ladies like it or not, sex or the implication thereof, is what makes the world go around --- it sells everything from cars to swimsuits, to houses, to pantyhose. Without it, the world would simply stop! And to use it is not exploitation of anybody or anyone. It is simply a fact of life --- you sing Opera --- one of the sexiest operas I can think of right now is 'Lowingrin" (?Spelling) by Wagner --- in fact the Overture to the (I think) final Act and the Bridal Chorus just about spell it out in neon signs! And that was written in the 1800's! In short, what I am trying to say in a long-winded manner is step back and laugh! Enjoy the journey of life, laugh at the sexy dames drawn on telephone walls, better still ignore them and don't bite so hard when a man puts forward his point of view. Oh, and be careful in repeating someone, be precise and if you are not going to be precise, give an explanation for using other words --- these blogs are wonderful but you don't know who is behind the comments --- it could be a lawyer, a Judge, a Doctor, it could be anyone. Just an opinion.
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Susan, i would love to meet you in person and hug your neck..you are wonderful..i admire you more than i know how to say. thank God you have been found..you have touched so many lives in these few short days. you make us know that everyone has a purpose on this earth and yours is to use your beautiful voice to sing like the angels. i am so happy for you..and like the lady judge said, i am priviledged to get a chance to hear you sing..and i have NEVER seen such awe and love on simons face as i did when he was listening to you. susan you are remarkable.
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