Everyone wants a piece of Susan Boyle, the 47 year-old unemployed Scottish spinster who captured the hearts of millions with a beautiful pitch perfect rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” on last week’s edition of “Britain’s Got Talent.” People around the world are captivated by Susan’s story of an older woman living in obscurity who was able to audition for a reality show and instantly change her life and fortune with an immense talent hidden for years. I was hoping that Susan would perform again on this week’s edition of the show, but similar to the first round of American Idol it’s currently in the audition phase and Susan has made it to the next phase and won’t appear for some time. She’s been interviewed from her home in Scotland throughout the week, though, and has appeared on CBS’ early show, The Today Show, and CNN’s Larry King Live.
On Larry King, Boyle sang a new song, Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.” Judge Pierce Morgan, also on via satellite, called it “amazing” and asked Boyle if she would go to dinner with him. She gladly accepted. Boyle explained that the mild taunting of her ahead of her performance on the show didn’t bother her and that she knew she had to just push through it and perform. The choice of her audition song “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables, about lost hope and lost love, was significant, she said:
True, she astounded the likes of Simon Cowell on England’s Britain’s Got Talent with her vocal stylings. But prior to her performance, the judges and audience made no attempt to hide their snickering as they openly made fun of the 47-year-old’s appearance on stage.
It’s fair now to say that Boyle showed them, but what was she thinking up there as she faced a sea of judgement?
“It didn’t bother me at all,” Boyle told Larry King on Larry King Live Friday night. “I just got on with my act because that’s what you’re there for, to keep going.”
Britain’s Got Talent judge, Piers Morgan, says it’s Susan’s confidence that really sets her apart. “I think she’s got an amazing spirit and determination,” he told King. “I think that Susan had an absolute confidence in her ability as a singer so she didn’t really care that people were laughing or not laughing. I think she was more focused on the fact that she had her chance, a shot. It was almost like the Rocky Balboa script. Coming out of nowhere and you get a shot, you take it, and suddenly you’re the world’s champion.”
Susan tells King she’s taken “a few singing lessons” for two years. When asked why she chose the song “I Dreamed a Dream” from the Broadway smash Les Miserables, she said, “I sang that song because it fit within the circumstances of the particular time. It was the way I was feeling at the time, it sort of summed up what I was aiming for.”
[From OK! Magazine]
In a taped segment ahead of Boyle’s Today Show appearance on Friday, panel judge Amanda Holden said that no makeover was planned for Boyle and that “The minute we turn her into a glamour-puss is when it’s spoilt.”
Susan’s performance has received nearly 33 million views on You Tube. I know I’ve watched it many times. I’m just waiting to hear when she’ll perform again and can’t wait to see what she does next.
After waiting 47 years for a date, one would hope she could do better than Piers Morgan. He’d be the type of guy to tabloid publish the details, wouldn’t he?
Also, not that it matters in low-integrity contests like “Talent”, but should a judge really be dating a contestant?
She was on Japanese TV this morning.
I hope this is her year. It would be nice if she pushed some celebutards off the interweb.
Gah! Amanda Holden is so full of it. How patronising are these people, deciding if Susan Boyle will or won’t or should or shouldn’t have a makeover?? It’s NOTHING to do with them or anyone else, it’s totally down to Susan. The media coverage about her is so self-congratulatory and sentimental and OTT, it’s just gag-making. Susan’s the only one showing any dignity here.
I think it’s funny that you refer to Susan Boyle as an “older woman” when she is still in her forties. She is, in fact, a middle-aged woman. Many well-known female celebrities are in their forties and are in the prime of their careers as well as being mothers of young children–would you call them old? Susan Boyle is frumpy and matronly, but she is by no means “an older woman” in terms of age!
I don’t think they are “dating”. And if he were to use her as tabloid fodder, he would be positively skewered, considering how well loved she is. I think Piers Morgan is simply being gracious and it is very gentlemen like to offer this lovely lady an evening of luxury.
I for one never tiring of watching that youtube video. She is just lovely and an inspiration.
“Piers Morgan is simply being gracious and it is very gentlemen like”
Now THAT’s a sentiment I never thought i’d see! 😆
every time i hear her voice i just am mesmerized. i hope she gets a hell of a ride.
I heard another sonf she sang. ‘cry me a river’ and it was phenomenal. I could not stop listening to it. She is fantastic.
Jeez, they aren’t dating…. he just was offering ‘a’ date, probably just to chat with her.
Her version of ‘cry me a river’ was beautiful! @ Ursula.
Yes Ursula. Her rendition of Cry me a river is stellar!!! I truly wish this wonderfully talented, warm-hearted woman all the best.
i think her voice is average. she has got a nice character and thats why people sympathise with her, not because of her voice. they like her story, just like that guy last year on AI.
I wish everyone would stop worrying about whether or not she’ll get all glammed up in the future. What I see coming out of that is that if she ever does take any advice from a stylist who suggests a different, more flattering look, then she’s suddenly sold out because she didn’t intentionally stay frumpy.
I don’t know much about Piers Morgan, so I can only say that I thought it was really sweet of him to mention that he’d heard her compliments and invited her to dinner. He seemed very taken with her voice and “cheeky little grin”.
Why wouldn’t it be nice for a man to take her out on a date just for the sake a night of companionship with someone who can engage in a conversation? I know a lot of men can be apes who are only out for one thing, but it at least sounds like a lovely THOUGHT that he might find her to be an interesting person.
And she doesn’t come across as being stupid or naive, but maybe her priorities weren’t in romantic relationships when she was the only one caring for her sick and dying parents?
marilyn, you are dead wrong; she really does have an unusually fantastic voice. She has perfect pitch. Unlike most of the ‘stars’ out there now.
edit: Just watched the above clip. She also has superb breath control, timing, and a fantastic RANGE! She is so cute!! I just love her.
I was in Scotland when news about her broke. I think it’s obvious to say the Scottish are very proud of her right now!
her voice is really beautiful. i hope she enjoys her fame – she deserves it!
@ marilyn: if you think her voice is average you should go to a few karaoke nights to get an idea of how the average person sings. it is not even close to this!
i keep loving this story and this lady.
Susan Boyle may be extraordinary, but these ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ judges are nothing short of wankers for openly snubbing her – only to kiss her arse when she finally gives them some airplay outside of their television slot.
… revenge is a dish best served cold …
There’s a helluva lot of power in taking the high road. Now they look like asses and all she did was sing and tell a joke or two.
Moses Ben Maimon Maimonides~ Teach thy tongue to say I do not know and thou shalt progress.