Everyone seems to be blogging about or Facebook-posting about or twittering about Susan Boyle, the middle-aged Scottish chick who sang “I Dreamed a Dream” (snore) on Britain’s Got Talent. It’s so old a story, even my dad’s heard about it, because he brought it up today when I was visiting.
Fine, hurray, dowdy old lady looks like a walking embarrassment, comes onstage, everyone’s laughing at her and then as soon as she starts singing they’re shocked. SHOCKED.
Why the hell are people shocked?
Do people really think that your age, size or otherwise appearance have anything to do with whether or not you can sing? If everyone on Top 40 looked like Beyonce, maybe, but come on. You can’t have heard about the stereotype of the well-padded opera soprano and then be stunned that someone over 25 years and 120 lbs can make happy sounds come out of them.
I shake my head at this, I do. It’s a feel-good story and I’ll admit I was moved when I watched the clip the first time, but while people are surprised at this woman’s singing talent, I’ll remain surprised that they’re so surprised.
Hear hear!
(Though actually I can’t hear what all the fuss is about… YouTube is blocked currently in China…)
I thought the same thing as you, but someone pointed out to me that maybe she’s actually *really* good. A friend of mine who’s way, way more into vocalists than I am compared her positively to Elaine Paige (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_Paige) – in fact, Ms. Paige has invited her to sing a duet (http://tinyurl.com/c9y6qn).
So, although some people may have been shocked based on looks, others (including the judges, maybe) were shocked because a previously unheard of singer was so good. This made me realized that perhaps it was I who was fixated on the looks, and was projecting that onto other people.
Susan Boyle has true grace; which is rare.
@Patricia True grace, eh. I don’t even know what that means, and I don’t think Britain’s Got Talent is where you go looking for it.
@Chris I’ll agree she’s naturally quite gifted, but that still doesn’t warrant the wow-factor in itself to me. And the “fixating on looks” obviously is not just you, because the video clip wouldn’t have been as big a deal if she hadn’t been older and built like a brick.
Grace means elegance and beauty of expression; which I think Susan Boyle has.
I think televising those auditions on reality shows (american idol, so you think you can dance etc..), has set us up for thinking that the ordinaries and oddballs are dellusional about their abilities. After having watched a number of those (more than I wish to admit to, but I have stopped watching them, cold turkey)I kind of thought this one was going to go the same way. Hence my surprise. I’ve seen and known many average and ordinary folks with good talent, but rarely have I heard someone sing so well they blew me away, and indeed she did. I think she’s way better than a lot of singers (sorry Celine…)..
Did you know that the celine is the official unit of the ability of sound to break glass, eardrums, and peace of mind.
(Note: The milli-celine is the practical unit.)
Gillian, your Dad is funnier than my Dad
Thanks Patricia. It has been said before. Now you know where Gill gets her wit.
I don’t think people are shocked because she’s old and sings, but more because she’s more mature, has a great voice, and what has she been doing all her life, not singing and hasn’t been found before?
Seinfeld – Episode 87 – The Chaperone
Season 6, episode 1
Broadcast Date: September 22, 1994
[New scene - Elaine at her job interview at Doubleday with Mrs. Landis.]
LANDIS: Of course, Jackie O. was a great lady. Those are going to be some tough shoes to fill. Everyone loved her. She had such…grace.
ELAINE (gushing): Yes! Grace!
LANDIS: Not many people have grace.
ELAINE: Well, you know, grace is a tough one. I like to think I have a little grace…not as much as Jackie -
LANDIS: You can’t have “a little grace.” You either have grace, or you…don’t.
ELAINE: O.K., fine, I have…no grace.
LANDIS: And you can’t acquire grace.
ELAINE: Well, I have no intention of “getting” grace.
LANDIS: Grace isn’t something you can pick up at the market.
ELAINE (fed up): Alright, alright, look – I don’t have grace, I don’t want grace…I don’t even say grace, O.K.?
LANDIS: Thank you for coming in.
ELAINE: Yeah, yeah, right.
LANDIS: We’ll make our choice in a few days, and we’ll let you know.
ELAINE (stands up): I have no chance, do I?
LANDIS: No. (They shake hands.)
Like Andrea, I was definitely more shocked that she was *that* talented and yet-undiscovered. Somehow she must’ve known she had pipes of some sort to get her to the auditions in the first place, and still, there she was, 47 years old and still unknown.
I have seen the performance of Susan Boyle and it is never short of excellent. Definitely one of the best voices out there. ~