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Susan Boyle (born 1 April 1961)
Global interest in Boyle was triggered by the contrast between her powerful voice and her plain appearance on stage. The juxtaposition of the audience's first impression of her with the standing ovation she received after her performance led to an international media and Internet response. Within nine days of the audition, videos of Boyle — from the show, various interviews, and her 1999 rendition of "Cry Me a River" — had been watched over 100 million times, an online record.
Boyle's first album, I Dreamed A Dream, will be released on 23 November 2009, and has become Amazon's best-selling album in pre-sales.[Andy Pemberton, "Susan Boyle Sticks To Natural Look For New Album Cover," Posted 14 October 2009 on Musictoob, found at Yahoo Music. Accessed 15 October 2009.] Its first single is a cover of the Jagger/Richards song "Wild Horses." The album is also expected to include "You'll See," "I Dreamed a Dream," "Memory," and "Cry Me a River."
BiographyEarly lifeSusan Boyle was born in Blackburn, West Lothian, Scotland,[title= She who laughs last - songstress Susan Boyle ] to Patrick Boyle, a miner, World War II veteran and singer at the Bishop's Blaize, and Bridget, a shorthand typist,[title=Profile: Susan Boyle - Britain's got the unlikeliest angel ] who were both immigrants from County Donegal, Ireland.[url=www.irishcentral.com/news/Susan-Boyle-Irish-photographs-43287937.html ] She was the youngest of four brothers and six sisters.
Born when her mother was 47,[title=Susan Boyle 'has been kissed', neighbour claims ][work=People ] Boyle was briefly deprived of oxygen during the difficult birth and was later diagnosed as having learning difficulties.[title=Singing 'spinster' strikes chord in talent contest ] and was nicknamed "Susie Simple" at school.[title='They called me Susie Simple', but singing superstar Susan Boyle is the one laughing now ]
After leaving school with few qualifications,[title=Susan Boyle: a dream come true ]
Early singingBoyle took singing lessons from voice coach Fred O'Neil.
Her repertoire through the years has included songs such as "The Way We Were" and "I Don't Know How to Love Him." British tabloids claimed "exclusives" of video clips of some early performances.[title= Video exclusive: Susan Boyle's earliest singing performance on film revealed ][title=Susan Boyle singing aged 25: World exclusive video of Britain's Got Talent star performing at family party] In 1995 her audition for Michael Barrymore's My Kind of People[title=Exclusive: We reveal Susan Boyle's first TV talent show audition - for Michael Barrymore ]
In 1999 she recorded a track for a charity CD to commemorate the Millennium[title=She Dreamed A Dream ] produced at a West Lothian school. Only 1,000 copies of the CD, Music for a Millennium Celebration, Sounds of West Lothian, were pressed.[title=SUE BIGGER THAN BRITNEY!] An early review in the West Lothian Herald & Post said Boyle's rendition of "Cry Me a River" was "heartbreaking" and "had been on repeat in my CD player ever since I got this CD..."[title=Susan Boyle charity CD auction price hits $2000 on eBay ][title=Amber's Reviews ] The recording found its way onto the internet following her first televised appearance and the New York Post said it showed that Boyle was "not a one trick pony."[title= Susan Boyle: No One-Trick Pony ] Hello! said the recording "cement[1] her status" as a singing star.[title=New recording cements Talent show sensation Susan's status ]
In 1999, Boyle used all her savings to pay for a professional demo tape, copies of which she later sent to record companies, radio talent competitions, local and national TV. The demo tape consisted of her versions of "Cry Me a River" and "Killing Me Softly with His Song", and was uploaded to the Internet after her audition.[title=Early recording of Britain's Got Talent's Susan Boyle unearthed ]
After Boyle won several local singing competitions, her mother urged her to enter ''Britain's Got Talent'' and take the risk of singing in front of an audience larger than her parish church. Former coach O'Neil said Boyle abandoned an audition for The X Factor because she believed people were being chosen for their looks, and that she almost abandoned her plan to enter ''Britain's Got Talent''. O'Neil persuaded her to audition despite her believing "...she was too old and that it was a young person's game".[title= Campbell has new spin on Susan Boyle phenomenon ] Boyle said that her mother's death motivated her to go on ''Britain's Got Talent'' and seek a musical career to pay tribute to her mother.[title=Secret sadness of Britain's Got Talent star ]
Personal lifeBoyle still lives in the family home, a four-bedroom council house, with her 10-year-old cat, Pebbles.
Her father died in the 1990s, and her siblings had left home. Boyle never married, and she cared for her ageing mother until she died in 2007 at the age of 91,
Boyle remains active as a volunteer at Our Lady of Lourdes church in Blackburn, visiting elderly members of the congregation in their homes.
''Britain's Got TalentIn August 2008, Boyle applied for an audition for the third series of ''Britain's Got Talent and was accepted after a preliminary audition in Glasgow. When Boyle first appeared on Britain's Got Talent'' at the city's Clyde Auditorium, she said that she aspired to become a musical theatre singer "as successful as" Elaine Paige.[title=Reality TV star Susan Boyle set for duet with idol Elaine Paige ] Boyle sang "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables in the first round of the third series of ''Britain's Got Talent'', which was watched by over 10 million viewers when it aired on 11 April 2009.[title=Producer Mackintosh "Gob-Smacked" By Boyle's "I Dreamed a Dream"; Song Is YouTube Hit ] Amanda Holden remarked upon the audience's initially cynical attitude, and the subsequent "biggest wake-up call ever" upon hearing her performance.[title=Beautiful blondes, a Boyle and lingering ideas about sexuality ]
source=Susan Boyle, The Sunday Times
This performance was widely reported and tens of millions of people viewed the video on YouTube.[title=Scottish singer 'gobsmacked' by overnight stardom ] Boyle is aware that the audience on ''Britain's Got Talent'' was initially hostile to her because of her appearance, but she has refused to change her image.[title=Paige salutes Talent star Boyle ] Boyle's rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" has been credited with causing a surge in ticket sales in the Vancouver production of Les Misérables.[title=You tube sensation Susan Boyle sends ticket sales rocketing for Vancouver Les Misérables ][title=Susan Boyle sensation sends sales of Vancouver production of Les Miserables through the roof ] Cameron Mackintosh, the producer of the Les Misérables musical, also praised the performance, as nowrap "heart-touching, thrilling and uplifting".
She was one of 40 acts that were put through to the semi-finals.[title=Singer Boyle reaches Talent semis ] She appeared last on the first semi-final on 24 May 2009, performing "Memory" from the musical Cats.[title=Susan Boyle sings again on Britain's Got Talent ] In the public vote she was the act to receive the highest number of votes and go through to the final.[title=Susan Boyle thrills as she joins dance group diversity in Britain's Got Talent final ][title=Susan Boyle wins first 'Britain's Got Talent' semi-final singing 'Memory' from 'Cats' ] She was the clear favourite to win the final,[title=Susan Boyle: press warned to back off Britain's Got Talent star ] but ended up in second place to Diversity; the UK TV audience was a record of 17.3 million viewers.[title=Susan Boyle could be in Priory clinic for weeks, says doctor ]
Post TalentHospital stay and BGT tour
Album and U.S. concert tourBoyle's first album, I Dreamed A Dream, will be released on 23 November 2009. The album will include covers of "Wild Horses" (scheduled to be her first single) and "You'll See" as well as "I Dreamed a Dream", "Memory" and "Cry Me a River". The album became Amazon.com's best-selling album in pre-sales, shortly after it became available. Boyle will give a U.S. concert tour in November as a lead-up to the album release.
Media impactWeb sites such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter have been crucial in facilitating Boyle's rapid rise to fame:[Leigh Holmwood Susan Boyle: a dream come true The Guardian 18 April 2009.] The most popular YouTube video submission of her audition garnered nearly 2.5 million views in the first 72 hours.[title=Britain's Got Talent church worker Susan Boyle becomes YouTube hit ] On the day following the performance, the YouTube video was the most popular article on Digg.[title=Never-kissed singer an instant Web star ] The same video was judged so popular on Reddit that it was put on the site's
Many newspapers around the world (including China, Brazil and the Middle East) carried articles on Boyle's performance. British tabloid The Sun gave her the nickname "Paula Potts" in reference to the first series' winner.[title=Paula Potts ] In the U.S., several commentators also drew parallels between Boyle's performance and that of Paul Potts.[title=Susan Boyle Could Make Millions ] ABC News hailed "Britain's newest pop sensation", and its Entertainment section headlined Boyle as "The Woman Who Shut Up Simon Cowell".[title=The Woman Who Shut Up Simon Cowell ]
Within the week following her performance on ''Britain's Got Talent'', Boyle was a guest on STV's The Five Thirty Show.[title=Britain's Got Talent star Susan Boyle's promise to mum ] She was interviewed via satellite on CBS's Early Show,[title=Thumbs-up as Britain's Got Talent sensation Susan discovers she's an international star... with 18m YouTube hits ] NBC's Today and on FOX's ''America's Newsroom.[title=Hitting Her High Note ] and The Oprah Winfrey Show. Via satellite on Larry King Live'',[title=How Susan Boyle won over the world ] Boyle performed an a cappella verse of "My Heart Will Go On".[title=Singing sensation Susan Boyle gets dream offer from star Elaine Paige ] She was also portrayed in drag by Jay Leno, who joked that they were related through his mother's Scottish heritage.[title=Jay Leno performs in drag as Susan Boyle ]
Social analysesJudging by appearanceThe Huffington Post noted that the producers of the show would have anticipated the potential of this story arc, by deliberately presenting Boyle in a manner that would enhance this initial reaction.[title=Two Reasons Susan Boyle Means So Much to Us ] The Herald described Boyle's story as a modern parable and a rebuke to people's tendency to judge others based on their physical appearance.[title=The beauty that matters is always on the inside ] Similarly, Entertainment Weekly said that Boyle's performance was a victory for talent and artistry in a culture obsessed with physical attractiveness and presentation.[title='Britain's Got Talent' breakout Susan Boyle: Why we watch...and weep ] source=Susan Boyle, The Washington Post[Jordan, Mary. The Scot Heard Round the World, The Washington Post, 14 April 2009.]The Washington Post believed that her initial demeanour and homely appearance caused the judges and audience to be "waiting for her to squawk like a duck".[title=The Dream She Dreamed ] New York's Daily News said that an underdog being ridiculed or humiliated but then enjoying an unexpected triumph is a common trope in literature, and the stark contrast between the audience's low expectations and the quality of her singing that made Boyle's performance such an engaging piece of television.[title=Susan Boyle was the golden ticket of reality TV ]
'Feminist' viewR.M. Campbell, music critic for The Gathering Note compared her to Ella Fitzgerald, in that "[... it is] really, really hard to make a career if a woman isn't attractive."[title=Don’t call Susan Boyle ‘pitchy’! (p.2) ] In another Huffington Post article, Letty Cottin Pogrebin wrote that although people may "weep for the years of wasted talent", Boyle's performance was a triumph for "women of a certain age" over a youth culture that often dismisses middle-aged women.[title=Why Susan Boyle Makes Us Cry ] Tanya Gold wrote in The Guardian that the difference between Boyle's hostile reception and the more neutral response to Paul Potts in his first audition reflected society's expectation that women be both good-looking and talented, with no such expectation existing for men.[title=It wasn't singer Susan Boyle who was ugly on Britain's Got Talent so much as our reaction to her ] Los Angeles vocal coach Eric Vetro stated "She's an everywoman as opposed to an untouchable fantasy goddess, so maybe that's why people react to her."[title=Don't call Susan Boyle 'pitchy'! Voice coaches, critics say 'Talent' contestant really is a talented singer ]
Journalist Charlie Brooker said in the series finale of his BBC Four programme Newswipe: "our backwards, appearance-led culture and a nakedly manipulative set-up VT which made her out to be a comedy loser, Susan Boyle's performance soon became the number one talking point [...] because apparently it's a fucking miracle that women who aren't conventionally attractive are also capable of exhibiting any kind of skill whatsoever."[series=Newswipe with Charlie Brooker ]
Modern freak showCommentators have likened ''Britain's Got Talent as the modern equivalent of the Victorian freak show; a psychiatrist, Glen Wilson, said that the "deficiencies and shortcomings the contestants are as important as their talent. We enjoy the stress we are putting these people under — will they or will they not survive?"[title=The pressure of sudden TV stardom ] Mark Borkowski said that the show has been a fantastic soap opera for the fame-makers (Simon Cowell and Talkback TV).[title=Susan Boyle: ‘The odds are against a real long-term career’ ] Mary Beard, Professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge, compared the Boyle phenomenon to the Hottentot Venus, saying: "The arguments of Baartman’s managers were little different from the arguments of those in ITV who now seek to justify the display of Susan Boyle. This is an opportunity for wealth and fame, they say... the truth is that Susan Boyle is a vulnerable and exploited middle-aged woman. She is not a star in the making, being given a lucky break thanks to BGT."[title=Welcome to the human zoo, Susan ]
'American Dream'Several media sources have commented that Boyle's success seemed to have particular resonance in the United States. An American entertainment correspondent was quoted in The Scotsman comparing Boyle's story to the American Dream, as representing talent overcoming adversity and poverty.[title=A dream comes true as singer Susan becomes instant hit with American fans ] The Associated Press described this as Boyle's "hardscrabble story", dwelling on her modest lifestyle and what they characterized as urban deprivation in her home town.[title=Singing 'spinster' strikes chord in talent contest ] Similarly, The Independent's New York correspondent David Usborne wrote that the United States will always respond to "the fairy tale where the apparently unprepossessing suddenly becomes pretty, from Shrek to My Fair Lady".[title=Dreams come true for overnight star ]
Cultural referencesThe American cartoon show South Park made a reference to Susan Boyle in the episode "Fatbeard", which aired on 22 April 2009;[title=Susan Boyle makes South Park sick ][title=Britain's Got Talent's Susan Boyle makes it onto South Park ] the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon show aired a comedy sketch showing the "feel good" effect that Susan Boyle's performance has had on people;[title=Susan Boyle Makes Everything Better ] The Simpsons aired a new commercial for its 20th-anniversary show "Springfield's Got Talent", in which Homer Simpson talks about his dreams to be as successful as Boyle.[title=Springfield's Got Talent ][title=Susan Boyle mentioned in Simpsons ] A European trailer for the video game The Sims 3 includes a character mocked up as Boyle.[title=The Sims 3 Trailer Stars Susan Boyle ] In June 2009, BBC Radio 4 broadcast a short story called "I Dreamed a Dream" that was based on a combination of Boyle's appearances on ''Britain's Got Talent and the political difficulties of Gordon Brown.[title=I Dreamed a Dream ] The November 5, 2009 episode of the show 30 Rock'' showed recurring character Kathy Geiss (Marceline Hugot) singing in the style of Susan Boyle as Liz Lemon and Pete Hornberger teared up.
DiscographyStudio albumsSingles
Copyright Citations
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