Saturday, December 05, 2009

Susan Boyle Takes The High Road


After just one week of release, Susan Boyle's album "I Dreamed A Dream" has shot straight to the No.1 position in the UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and most amazing of all, the USA. It has broken sales records all over the place and that takes some doing for a debut album.
It probably hasn't been released in countries where English (or Scottish) isn't the first language but it will be interesting to see how it gets on when that happens.

A few months ago few people outside her home town street knew who she was. Before the advent of the internet, few people outside of the UK would've heard of her either despite her dramatic and highly memorable initial appearance on tv.

Thanks to YouTube and video sites like it, she's rapidly become the most famous Scottish name since Wee Jock McJock, the well known jockey. As far as I know she's not on Twitter or Facebook but it's only a matter of time. I follow Paul Potts on Twitter and would probably follow Ms. Boyle too. It's the only way to know that these people haven't gone back to obscurity.

Of course she's had a bit of a makeover so she no longer looks like a frumpy housewife. With the royalties from her album, she can probably afford a few other nips and tucks but something tells me she won't bother. Susan isn't like that.

We've all heard of lottery/pools winners who blow the lot in less than a year and then blame everyone but themselves for being back to square one. Of course they didn't have an ongoing and bankable 'talent' so that when the money dried up, so did their lives of luxury. Susan won't be like that either.

So far Paul Potts is still living the life and jets all over the world singing in sold out arenas. His schedule would wear out someone half his size. Sorry Paul. Cheap shot. But his story is slightly different and I can only see his career going from strength to strength.

Will Ms. Boyle be as successful and will she care anyway ? Only she knows the answer to that. There will be money men pushing her to cash in on her current fame, even if that fame only lasts a few more months. Her album got rave reviews from those people who would probably have raved about it even if every track was a version of "I Dreamed A Dream." On the Billboard site (US charts), 50% gave it a thumbs up and 50% a thumbs down.

Talk about being a middle of the road artist !

I feel this could be it for Ms. Boyle. I've heard her album and without all the hype preceding it, it wouldn't have made the bottom of the charts. Did we really need another version of Amazing Grace and Silent Night ? Sure she has a decent voice but it's the combination of HER and the decent voice that has propelled her to these dizzy heights. We all love an underdog. We all love someone who gets discovered and makes good, be it a footballer from a ghetto in Brazil or a singer from a village in Scotland.

But ultimately I say - good on you, Susan. Right from the first moment we saw you, you told us that you had a dream, a dream to sing in public. Simple enough.

Well you're living the dream and then some. Even if you've peaked already, you've made a mark that will live on for years to come. You may not be everyone's cup of tea but in this world where stories of talentless celebs and personalities fill our news stands everywhere, your story is a breath of fresh air.

Even if we need subtitles to understand it !

14 comments:

Kate said...

Who's Paul Potts?

Silverback said...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Potts

Daphne said...

Good luck to her and I hope she can cope with it all - she always looks very uncomfortable in the limelight and I'm sure interviewers take a deep breath before asking her anything in case they get a rather strange answer. I hope she makes her millions and enjoys the rest of her life, whatever that may involve.

Milo said...

"We all love an underdog."

Exactly.

Jennytc said...

I like her voice very much and especially her rendering of 'I dreamed a dream' but I am disappointed in the choice of other tracks so I won't be buying the CD.

jay said...

Paul Potts has an amazing voice, so he'll probably continue to do well. Susan Boyle's voice is probably a little more 'ordinary' but jolly good for her for living the dream and doing so well. I am so pleased that she's made No. 1, especially when so many ignorant people made fun of her for her looks.

Suzi said...

Being a musician, I am constantly in awe of her God given talent. To make a recording is no easy matter and she triumphs. As for the "oldies" that we know, she does an awesome job. While she may not appeal to a younger audience, those who love nostalgia and such, will enjoy every song she sings. The preciseness and inflections that she has naturally, professionals often work hard to achieve. You go girl!!! You rock!!!

rhymeswithplague said...

Suzi is right. And though it's comparing apples and oranges, I like her voice much better than Paul Potts's voice. He is admittedly better than the average Joe, but nowhere near, say, Luciano Pavarotti.

On the other hand, I could listen to Ms. Boyle for hours. She reminds me of a Judy Collins or a Jo Stafford or a Joan Baez, only better.

Unknown said...

Interestingly I found your 'blog' because I am following news about Susan Boyle....There is something more about Susan than just her amazing voice. I am sure over time we will hear much more from her and the variety of selections will delight and astound us. This is a woman who has been honing her craft for years while she took care of her aging parents and set her life on hold. Not many people could walk from a brush and mirror into a recording studio and in a matter of a couple of months come out with a completed album such as hers.... Amazing - truly amazing....

rhymeswithplague said...

Susan Boyle has a brush and mirror???

Putz said...

rhymes with plague is so so funny....a brush and a mirror...i also enjoy your other english singer charlotte church when she especially sings and i hate my spelling piea asou pia...i lost track of you and i really shouldn't have since eglish are my favorite people in the world even over americans...i blog to jinksy, thud alkea mrs. snuffleufagus

Silverback said...

Putz, I don't think Charlotte Church would be pleased to be called English (she's Welsh) but I don't mind if you call me English...although I'm not.

Thanks for 'finding' me again !

Anonymous said...

I hope you're prepared to retract this nonsense in a year or two when Susan has had her second and third successful CD release. And she will. A world wide audience like hers is not going to forget her after one CD.

Jennytc said...

Anon, I am sure she will too - her voice is wonderful, but I just hope she gets some better songs to record.

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