SuBo is still special - it's us who were wrong
RISE AND FALL OF SUSAN BOYLE SAYS MORE ABOUT AUDIENCE THAN HER
FROM wherever she's sitting, Susan Boyle will still think she has let her village down by not winning BGT.
There's something terribly moving about that.
You can feel the loneliness of this little woman catapulted into a frightening new world, who just wants to be back home among the safety of friends.
No, Susan. You haven't let anyone down. Far from it.
Not only has this very special woman made the villagers of Blackburn proud, she has done much, much more than that.
From the moment she walked onto the stage for that very first performance, the Susan Boyle story began to unfold.
She pricked our consciousness, got people talking
And it's not just a story about her. It's a story about all of us.
And it is this story of our times that will give Susan Boyle a place in history, because her contribution was more than just a song.
This spinster lady, brain damaged from birth because of lack of oxygen, bullied by cruel little toerags who called her Susie Simple, has changed things in a way the politicians and the people who are supposed to change things could not.
She has changed fundamentally the way we look at people, and the way we look at ourselves.
That night on BGT, amid the sniggering masses and the mean little people rolling their eyes in disbelief, she gave a breathtaking rendition of I Dreamed A Dream. It could have been written for her. And yes, she became an overnight worldwide sensation, as much because of her image and her backstory as the sheer quality of her voice. But that was the good part.
She pricked our consciousness, got people talking and analysing their blinkered views in this image obsessed society.
The fact is, we have allowed ourselves to be conditioned to thinking that someone who looks and acts like Susan couldn't possibly have a great voice. It's us who are simple - not her.
It was Susan who turned that all around, and she had the whole world raving about her.
But then it all fell down around her.
In seven short weeks, she went from Blackburn, to Oprah to The Priory. Even a fortune teller with a black sense of humour could not have predicted that.
If Susan had been the kind of pop or rock sensation we have come to accept as the norm, we wouldn't even have noticed she was in The Priory. It goes with the territory. You're nobody if you've not done rehab.
That's what makes her story all the more compelling.
With the Susan Boyle backlash we felt the full wrath of our nasty, broken society as it unfolded.
We've lost the fundamental respect for the simple things in life
A tidal wave of vicious spite pushed her into meltdown right in front of us.
We will remember her catatonic expression as she stood on the stage, that gracious acceptance of defeat, like it had been rehearsed by producers, terrified of what she might do on live television.
The SuBo factor went global, and it may well be that we now begin to take a long hard look at ourselves. If ever there was a social study where we could learn about human behaviour it is this.
Because if we continue as a society to build people up and tear them down in this manner, then we really are finished.
Susan has made us ask ourselves if we have really progressed so little as people if we can be this nasty.
What kind of society have we created with all our knowledge and advances?
In worshipping celebrity, we've lost the fundamental respect for the simple things in life, the striving for education and the true sense of caring for each other.
We've forgotten our manners.
Of course Susan Boyle will get her dream, and she'll become a massive star. Simon Cowell's not daft enough to desert her. But she can return to Blackburn with her head held high.
Because she will be remembered long after reality shows have had their day.
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This article has 10 comments
Susan has been able to do something that noone seems to be able to do, bring people together from all over the world. Her fans everywhere in the world are constantly glued to the internet to see if there is any news of her and when someone sees or hears something it is immediately posted on her fan site. She is a wonderful person with the voice of an angel and has captured our hearts in the USA. We were so excited that she was coming here, that we even tracked her flight on line. How lucky we are to have found her and the Scots should be mighty proud to have her as their own. I will be glued to the TV on Wednesday watching AGT as well as millions of others. Her recording of "Wild Horses" is fantastic. God bless Susan. We absolutely adore her.
Love and Hugs from Philly, USA
By Marie Birster.. Posted September 13 2009 at 5:11 PM.
Susan Boyle should have been acknowledged and loved from the start and that would be one thing but for the press to bully and taunt her the week of the BGT finals indicates their intelligence. Don't they know that God wins everytime, do unto others as you would be done by. We love and forgive everyone even those who should have kept by her side & even they are forgiven. Why because I/we love Susan Boyle. We love her voice, her humor, her smile, her wit, her sensitivity, her maturity, everything about her. The world is a better place, the world is lifted up by a little lady from Scotland who sings like a bird.
By camisu11.. Posted September 13 2009 at 3:27 AM.
I love Susan Boyle for no other reason than I love Susan Boyle. I saw all her interviews ,I watched all her performances and I think she is adorable. I don't see where she is different than anyone else except that she is super talented. She doesn't make me cry. I think she is cool! Yeah Susan!
By Patricia Snow.. Posted July 6 2009 at 11:35 PM.
It says something when Susan's videos have been viewed over 300 million times...can't wait for an album, preferably DVD..love to watch her when she sings.
By Beverly C.. Posted June 20 2009 at 4:15 PM.
G Kobiela-hope your blood has boiled away. If you don't watch the reality shows, how do you know anything about the talent or lack thereof on the shows? Just find something else to do.
That said, the voice coach at BGT was quoted as saying Susan Boyle has the best voice she has ever listened to. Let's enjoy and wish her much success.
By Beverly C.. Posted June 20 2009 at 4:12 PM.
Millions of thousands people around the world think Susan boyle is sensatonal .....how great is that?
By Beth.. Posted June 14 2009 at 10:24 AM.
I am an American and Susan Boyle is well loved here in this country. Even in our small towns and villages, Susan Boyle gives us all hope that we can overcome our problems in these troubling times if we just hold on to those things which are near and dear to us. Like love of family, of country, of whatever things give us pleasure. And she has taught us all a strong lesson. Never judge a book by its cover. We in America love the movie "Bambi" by Disney. In that movie, Thumper the rabbit acknowledges that if we can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. Susan has reminded us of that childhood movie. What a triumph for this woman to become an internet sensation! And what a triumph for us as we realize how mean and petty we all can be sometimes. Wishing Susan all the best.
By Marie.. Posted June 13 2009 at 10:43 PM.
Couldn't agree with you more Anna. Susan did a superb job - her country, never mind village should be extremely proud of her. She sings like an angel and she is the type of person we should admire and strive to be more like.
Susan, please hold your head high - you should be very proud of yourself! We certainly are!
By G. Harrison.. Posted June 8 2009 at 7:28 AM.
Part 1
Can I just say, enough of Susan Boyle already?!
I am sick to death, as I am certain so many other people are, of being preached to by certain columnists and others, on how bad we have all been to poor Susan Boyle.
I don't care about Susan Boyle. I don't care about reality t.v shows or talent shows. I do not watch them because it has been glaringly obvious to me since they appeared on our television screens, that there was something mildly macabre about them.
Yes, some people who go on these shows have talent. Mostly, people who go on them (from what I have seen) do not. These people are laughed at. Big deal. They wanted to go on the show, they are grown ups, who cares. Certain members of the viewing audience have always enjoyed poking fun at the people who go on and are either fat, ugly, talentless or just plain stupid. It only ever turned into a hoo ha when Susan Boyle went on looking, lets be honest, no that braw. People only felt guilty about laughing at her because she could sing. What if she couldn't sing? Would these people then be justified in giving her a good slagging?
The moral high horse that certain columnists and other people in the media have suddenly jumped on makes my blood boil.
By G Kobiela.. Posted June 7 2009 at 10:26 PM.
I would just like to say that im from susans hometown of Blackburn and we couldnt be more proud of her, Susan has had to deal with a lot of prejudices over the years and people laughing at her, yes she is different from the norm, but thats what we love about her, susan we are so so proud of you, and i wish you a speedy recovery and all the very best of luck for the future, you so deserve it x
By fee.. Posted June 7 2009 at 9:08 AM.