What should Susan Boyle sing next?

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 31 May 09 - 09:31 PM

Don,

"Out of a dozen excellent singers, each with his or her own special talents and characteristics, how do you pick "the best?""

You are much closer to my way of thinking than you might believe.

The reason I made that point was in response to the points made about Diversity being a dime a dozen.

There are in fact lots of contemporary dance troupes, but who stands out within that genre as having more imagination, humour etc.

Likewise, there are many singers. Who really stands out in that genre of performance?

Susan Boyle?

Then turn up the volume and enjoy her music and don't worry about my opinion - it shouldn't affect your enjoyment - we disagree but that doesn't make either of us wrong.


I think that the greatest thing about music is that it is the best example of true democracy that we have.

Whether you know every aspect of Music history, understand every nuance of theory, are conversant with every cultural variant, are able to play every instrument in every style ...

... or not ...

... it ultimately comes down to what you like or don't like.

And nobody is wrong.

Try telling a 12 year old street kid from New Cross that Palestrina is better than Dizzee rascall ...

... or a cowboy from ... I dunno ... texas ... that eric dolphy is better than Garth Brooks ...

we all have the power to simply say "I like it" or "I don't like it"

and that is how we determine whether music is good or not.


And like politics, there is always something to talk about.

And thats a good thing.


And the song for her ... orchestral arrangements of "I loves ya porgy" or "summertime" from Porgy and bess.

Or something subtler with a pianist might lead her to proving she has a range of dynamic posibility.

I suspect that they'll get her belting out euphoric gut wrenchers though wherever she goes which is a pity.

As I have said before, i wish her well.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Don Firth
Date: 31 May 09 - 10:03 PM

So, put simply, as you say, what it comes down to is that you don't particularly enjoy her singing and I do. Well, that's life. So be it.

But my point is that, like her or not, by any standards of vocal production and musical quality, she is a very good singer.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 31 May 09 - 10:31 PM

"what it comes down to is that you don't particularly enjoy her singing and I do"

Actually I haven't said whether I like her or not - I've said I don't think she stands out from other singers.

And I've given my reasons.

But as Alan says, I'm repeating myself ...

... I did try to get on track with the Porgy and Bess comments.


I hope they don't give her the whole "rock orchestra" treatment with cheesy drumming and big exaggerated key changes as you would expect from Celine Dion etc ...

... I sadly suspect that that is what you can expect her managers, with a little guidance from the cowell morgan mafia, to prescribe for her roadshow repertoire.

You'll be able to catch her live don't forget when the BGT tour happens.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 May 09 - 11:14 PM

Lox, if you don't particularly like her, I will say it again, give the subject a rest and go talk about something else. We're tired of your same old opinion again and again. Wish her well and move along.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Alan Day
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 03:57 AM

Sad News,that Susan has been admitted into a private clinic under The Mental Health Act.
This has been announced this morning on the news. No other information is available at the moment.
Al

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 07:30 AM

Alan,

I agree that this is very sad news.

I hope she makes a full and swift recovery.

The thing that matters most above all else is the womans happiness.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 07:31 AM

SRS

Pay attention - if you were actually reading my posts you would have noticed that your comments are late at best. ...


But lets pretend for a second that all I have been doing is repeating the same point again and again ... if that was true then my opinion would be as valid as yours or anyone elses so stop telling me where and when I can give it.

As for repetitive - you're like a stuck record.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 07:38 AM

How bloody awful and predictable, her close friends stated concerns about her as a 'vulnerable' person, were never taken seriously. Wonder what the tabloids headlines will be: "Dreams turn to Nightmares!" "Boyle in Breakdown Shock"? And on it goes, plenty more media mileage left though, as the poor woman won't ever be able to go home to rest now without reporters relentlessly dogging her every move on behalf of her "concerned" fans.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Banjiman
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 07:47 AM

Turns it all into even more of a freak show. Pretty disgusting really.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 08:01 AM

Looks like the final answer to the question posed in this thread is "They're coming to take me away, ha ha".

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Nick
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 08:03 AM

Jack you are as tasteless as me as that is exactly the song that was going through my head.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Noreen
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 08:17 AM

Talent star Boyle taken to clinic

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 08:39 AM

Maybe this will prompt a call for more responsibility to be taken by the makers of these shows.

They plunder the public like an oil company plunders the sea.

They find their natural resource and sell it with no thought for the consequences.

I can just imagine tha conversation between Gordan Brown and Simon Cowell ...

G "Is everything ok Simon?"

S "Yes - we'll still make a profit ..."

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Nick
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 09:01 AM

You don't think anyone could be cynically manipulating this situation do you?

On the 'all publicity is good publicity' and off the back of the suggestion that she will make £8m next year I do wonder. Can't do you too much harm when the Prime Minister makes enquiries after you (second thoughts - not so sure about that) and that you are all over the papers and telly and internet.

No, couldn't be, could it.

Another of the mysteries to me is why her virginity is relevant at all but it always gets mentioned. Could it be that she will be appearing on page 3? A before and after celebrity makeover where it suddenly turns out she looks like (insert fantasy figure of choice)? Or could it be that it's a bit like the famous David Mellor 'making love in a Chelsea football shirt' that was a complete fabrication.

So much cynicism oozing out of every pore that there is a pool under my chair.

I do feel rather sorry for her and what is in store for her which may not ultimately be in her interests.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: SINSULL
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 09:20 AM

An accident waiting to happen. Poor woman - I hope she really is faking this and milking the slobbering masses for all they're worth.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 09:43 AM

Straw Poll here.
Who are more unpopular?
Tabloid Editors?
UK MP's....?
Poor woman. I just hope that she screws them all for shed loads of money.
She deserves it. Not my cup of tea musically, Nice voice though.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 12:54 PM

Mudcat died for a while and took my last answer.

The stress of the last few weeks would cause anyone difficulties, especially someone unaccustomed to the limelight and the generally thoughtless reports (of her looks) and at times abusive reports (of her character). Now the idea that seeking medical care or advice somehow makes her into a pathetic creature is just too callous for words.

Lox, I stopped reading your posts a while back. I was responding to someone else who also told you, politely, to get lost. I just wasn't so polite. I won't read your next post, so I image you will be able to come back with more insults and feel like you got the last word, won't you? And that's what you're really here for.

SRS

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: NormanD
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 04:06 PM

It's all ended in tears. Why am I not surprised?

Build 'em up and knock 'em down!

And who benefits? Cowell and his business associates.

A nice little fable of our times that illustrates the evils of capitalism.

Maybe it's time to let this whole thing drop and just reflect on the morality of it all. And to stop hurling insults at each other.

Norman

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 04:09 PM

Maybe it's time for Susan to finally start planning what she really wants to do, and to take a look at some of the suggested songs here. Making a plan is one of the best and easiest steps forward when recovering from depression or the doldrums.

SRS

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 06:15 PM

"Making a plan is one of the best and easiest steps forward when recovering from depression or the doldrums"

'The doldrums'? I'm sure Cowell et al will think the same, as will anyone else who doesn't take the potential serious psychological and emotional effects on a *known mentally vulnerable* party of the intense degree of ridiculous mass hysteria Susan's recently endured. Stilly, your 'pat on the head' tone, frankly stinks IMO. Especially as it's already been illustrated on this thread, that there have been serious concerns from close friends and family and mental health professionals who've worked on similar shows.

What Susan needs to recover from her breakdown, is to be able to go home and return to secure surroundings, friends, family and village life away from the effects of all this OTT bullshit - just like anyone else who has been unbalanced by overwhelming experiences they are not equipped to cope with. Unfortunately for her, of course she will never be allowed to do that...

However one thing has come from this, BGT are discussing implementing psychological testing prior to allowing contestants enter the show.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 06:54 PM

Pat on the head my ass.

Crow Sister, I beg to disagree. The mental health professionals in my family would not concur with you. Running home and hiding out won't make her feel any better by itself. Familiar surroundings combined with plan (that dream she had to be a singer is a good start, it's not a bad or unreasonable goal) to help her through this time are better than just going home. And unless the folks in her village are mental health professionals, they are as likely to enable problems to continue as to help solve them.

She needs to sort all of this whirlwind out, and possibly start with baby steps after this setback. Having a goal is good for someone going through stress and/or depression, and she needs to talk this over with a psychologist or psychiatrist or in a similar professional setting like that. Talking through it can be a damn sight better than just medicating someone and hoping the problem goes away, or warehousing them (at home, down in the village). Medication often defers a problem like this, and hiding out won't help.

SRS

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Don Firth
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 07:08 PM

That's a bit harsh, Crow Sister.

Of course one can't really tell for certain from the various news reports, but the impression I get is that Susan Boyle was more than just a bit overwhelmed by her sudden burst of fame, and even more so by the totally uncalled for nastiness that some small-souled people felt impelled to exhibit (as bodad said, the "Tall Poppy Syndrome").

I have the feeling that hauling her off and locking her in a padded cell might just be a bit premature. Lacking definitive information (as I believe we all are), I would suggest that probably all she really needs to do is back off from other peoples' hype and hysteria and go home for awhile (being careful to raise the draw bridge), then think the matter over and decide what, if anything, she wants to do from here on.

I hope she doesn't just decide to become a recluse. I believe that, with good advice from those who have her best interests at heart, she could have a very productive and satisfying (not to mention lucrative) career ahead of her. I made a few suggestions up-thread that might be worth evaluating, such as concentrating on recording, "ghost" singing, and performing in smaller, more comfortable venues.

I think I'd at least get a bit of medical advice before I'd have her packed off in a straitjacket.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 07:52 PM

I've just read Crow Sisters post and see no mention of padded cells.

Don, you said:

"I would suggest that probably all she really needs to do is back off from other peoples' hype and hysteria and go home for awhile (being careful to raise the draw bridge), then think the matter over and decide what, if anything, she wants to do from here on."


Crow sister said:

"What Susan needs to recover from her breakdown, is to be able to go home and return to secure surroundings, friends, family and village life away from the effects of all this OTT bullshit"


I don't see a difference in opinion .....


Perhaps I've misread your post, but I took it to be a response to crow sisters, in which case I am curious to know where the reference to striaghtjackets etc comes from.


SRS

"so I image you will be able to come back with more insults"

You may not be aware of it, but anyone can read back over this thread, in which case (assuming that they are so utterly bored that they have nothing else to do) they might take the time to note that I have not insulted you or commented on your character, but have in fact had to endure comments by you on my character and name calling by you.

This has been because my opinion on the subject of this thread is different to yours. The fact that you insist on taking that disagreement so personally and responding in such a personal way says nothing about me but reveals a lot about you.

I am not so intellectualy weak as to be intimidated by your aggressive stance. I will always respond to unfounded accusations and if that means I have the last word then I'll be glad of the resolution it brings.

I've offered you a truce and you haven't accepted it.

I can back up each and every one of my claims with a post reference or a cut and paste if necessary. There is no evidence of the things you have said about me.

I will continue to post here as I find this subject interesting. If you don't like it - tough titties.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 08:02 PM

What Susan needs to recover from her breakdown, is to be able to go home and return to secure surroundings, friends, family and village life away from the effects of all this OTT bullshit

"village life"?

jesus frog, what sort of a place do you think Blackburn is?

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Lox
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 08:56 PM

Blackburn west Lothian is a village - not to be confused with the city ...

... part of a collection of villages apparently.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Bugsy
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 09:33 PM

"They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha Ha"

CHeers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 10:05 PM

Times Online article

[snip]
"Her friends and family may have been very well meaning," says Dr Pam Spurr, a behavioural expert, "but they will have had no idea of the things they should or shouldn't have been saying to her. They could have been saying 'You're going to win, you're going to win'. It becomes very one-sided. Win or it's all lost. And she didn't."

Then again, for the past few months perhaps everybody has been a bit lost. Max Clifford, the publicist, doesn't represent Susan Boyle but does represent Simon Cowell, her new Svengali. "This is an unique situation," he says. "I have worked with the biggest stars in the world. Nobody has ever become world famous this instantly before. With Paul Potts (Britain's Got Talent, 2007) it happened quickly but nothing like as quick as this. Total obscurity to world fame in seconds. Nobody knows how to handle this because it has never happened before. We're all learning. Simon's learning. None of us saw it coming."

Boyle was admitted to the Priory Clinic in North London on Sunday, after an unspecified incident at the Crowne Plaza hotel, Central London. The police have confirmed that officers attended to help "doctors assessing a woman under the Mental Health Act", and the London Ambulance Service said that its staff had been there, too. She is not thought to have been sectioned. All the same, by the end of yesterday it was considered unlikely that she would be taking part in the Britain's Got Talent live tour, which starts on June 12, or that she would undertake a planned trip to the US. Pam Spurr is not surprised. "If she has had any sort of breakdown," she says, "three weeks is not a very long time."

[/snip]

The British jargon--officers helping doctors--that seems to be the wrong way round, and "sectioned"--is this categorized for a particular treatment or wing of the hospital? None of this should be available to the public or press, so I don't expect an answer except what these terms mean in the UK.

[snip]

Max Clifford says. . . . What Boyle needs now, he says, is people from home. "People close to her, whom she has been close to for many years. People who are happy to be in that situation. As opposed to being on her own, isolated, surrounded by television and music executives. These are people who understand the machinations of the media but they don't understand her. She comes from a different planet."

Clifford says that he can't see Boyle ever being able to live a quiet life again. "But I keep reminding people," he says, "she put herself forward. She wanted to be on stage. Right up until last week, when the tabloids turned on her, she was loving the whole process. Simon sees the most important thing as her being happy and fulfilled, whether she is pursuing a career or not."

[/snip]

It's a much longer article, taking detours through various lives altered by sensational fame.

SRS

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Don Firth
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 10:07 PM

". . . potential serious psychological and emotional effects on a *known mentally vulnerable* party. . . What Susan needs to recover from her breakdown [!!] . . . just like anyone else who has been unbalanced [!!] by overwhelming experiences they are not equipped to cope with."

Lox, it sounds to me like Crow Sister has already sent for the "men in the little white coats" to bundle Ms. Boyle off.

Let's not bury her 'til she's dead, okay?

Don Firth

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 10:19 PM

Now this is fascinating.

I raise the possibility that Susan may not be the best singer since Caruso--though I thought she might well win the contest. I am promptly labeled a troll.

Then Crow Sister says: I dislike this woman's voice and lack of interpretation.   And is promptly declared a troll.

Then Lox says Susan is overrated--and is told "trolling is so unattractive."

Gee, is there a pattern here?   By somebody who thinks that anybody who disagrees with the thread originator's ex cathedra pronouncements is by definition a troll?

And seems not to be able herself to tell the difference between starting a thread and signing up an Amen chorus for Susan?

Plus ca change....(need French diacritical mark).   

Sounds like what I said a month ago fits perfectly.

"The originator of a thread has to realize that a thread is like a child who leaves home---you have very little control.   A thread is of course much worse since after your first posting, you have absolutely no control."

In fact if you try to assert control, you make a perfect fool of yourself.   As we've just seen wonderfully demonstrated.

You can call the thread anything you want. But if people take it in different directions and you try to stop this, you do nothing but frustrate yourself--and wind up in a state of constant outrage.   But who knows, perhaps that is the normal state for some Mudcatters.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 01:00 AM

Slumming, Ron?

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 02:31 AM

The BBC said tonight that, if she is able, Susan Boyle is planning a CD this fall and then a tour of the US. I hope she is able.

This thread is disappointing. It started out, I think, on a cheerful, cheering note for the woman and the surprise she graced us with but deteriorated quickly into being a sniping contest that smacked somewhat of sour grapes.

Why not, as Sage intimates, let this thread be a You go, girl! instead of a sniffy 'I know LOTs of people who would do better', with more than a hint that s/he is speaking of her or himself.

"And that is all I have to say about that."

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: GUEST,Allan
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 02:32 AM

I know Susan said in her first audition that she lived in a village and that has been picked up on elsewhere, and I know that what constitutes a village may depend on where you come from yourself, but I don't think many Scots would recognise a town like Blackurn as a village. In sheer size it is comparable with most of the market towns in for instance the Scottish Borders. For example the town of Jedburgh has a smaller population than Blackburn and is itself surrounded by much smaller villages like Ancrum, Oxnam etc. To me a village is a small community with maybe only a couple of shops, a pub and small school if they are lucky. In other words it is more rural in character.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 02:58 AM

I've no idea what happened in this instance, but one of the more common reasons for being sectioned (compulsarily hospitalised for mental health treatment) is if someone's known to be a high suicide risk and a serious danger to themselves. As I say, no way of knowing in this instance whether that applies, but it's one of the more common reasons for compulsarily hospitalisation.

The presence of an ambulance ready to take her to hospital, doctors assessing her under The Mental Health Act, and police backup, means they did come to potentially 'lock her up'. Though there's absolutely no shame in that.

I've known quite a few people who have suffered breakdowns of one sort or another, but I've never personally known of someone being assessed under The Mental Health Act, or indeed sectioned under it. It does sounds like quite a serious incident to me. I hope the papers don't hound her to pieces when she gets out, but it's impossible to imagine her getting any peace. It's a very sad situation.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 03:00 AM

PS Stilly, apologies for having a temper at you, back there. I don't usually get so snappy at people onlist.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Gervase
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 03:08 AM

Not trolling, just an observation...
Susan Boyle strikes me as a very vulnerable woman who is perhaps not able to make decisions in her own best interests at the moment. Following an accident at birth she was diagnosed as a child with severe learning difficulties, and spent much of her early life as an isolated and often bullied kid. I'm not a mental health professional, but it would seem to me that someone like that is likely to be less able to cope with the sort of hype and hysteria that have enveloped her than, say, anyone on this forum.
As for what she should sing next; more stuff with her own church choir surrounded by people who know and love her, and a long way away from the 'music industry' and the rapacious, exploitative sharks that swim around it.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Lox
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 10:03 AM

Stilly,

Interesting post you made there. I see you found Max Cliffords comments interesting and thought provoking.

Reminds me of the post I made before the night of the competition final.


"I don't know if she can pull out now ... she is already a household name and face - she may need the buffer zone now that fame and money offer between her and the public if she is to remain sane.

She can't go back to how it was - cos that place doesn't exist any more."


Is it only trolling if its me who says it? or are you trolling too now?

Or maybe my points are interesting and relevant after all and you are just on a personal vendetta.


Glad to see we agree on what constitute interesting ideas though eh? ...

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 01:06 PM

Lox, you win. I'll roll over and just let you have your way. I'm not coming back to my own thread because clearly it isn't possible for a conversation to evolve about a topic in an organic way when people like you and Diane Easby and Ron Davies are more interested in parsing out their own navel lint and following every offhand remark as it if it were of equal weight or importance.

Challenging someone to support a side issue instead of your starting a new thread to discuss it is a waste of the time of people who wanted a lucid conversation about Susan Boyle. We're not interested in the fan sites, the mindless consumption of the story, we want to THINK about it. Bringing in pieces when they are thoughtfully written and timely is one way to forward this conversation--if your sources are yellow rags blaring out nonsense then I don't want to read them, I'd like some thought behind the discussion.

Clearly you don't want to talk about Susan beyond saying the same thing over and over, and you really don't like her, but you do like yanking my chain, and I'm tired of telling you to get lost. I've heard from Joe Offer about calling people trolls--that strategy hasn't worked--you haven't stopped to examine what emotional need you are filling by being the fly in the ointment on this thread. And you are one of several taking turns with pot shots at the topic and those sharing in it. You'd think after a while you'd get the message or go start another thread.

SRS

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 01:10 PM

For those who really want to fight about something and are looking to exercise that stimulating sense of outrage and drip a little venom on someone, be advised: we already HAVE a fine thread devoted exclusively to quarreling down in the BS section, and we are thirsting for all the contributions we can get.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Lox
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 02:06 PM

More unsubstantiated accusations with no bearing on the content of my actual posts.


If you take an aggressive posture with someone, make accusations and call them names you can expect them to react.


I have shown three things above very clearly.

1, I have not done any of the things you have accused me of

2, you have made personal attacks.

3, that if you had actually read my posts you would have seen that not only are we discussing the same topic, but in some cases we share the same views.


Finally, I have tried to make peace and you have rejected my attempts to do so.


Despite this utterly uncalled for, indefensible and deplorable behaviour you continue to take a position of enmity.

The evidence above is utterly overwhelming.

So you make whatever decision you like but be sure not to attack me without good reason.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: CarolC
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 03:46 PM

click

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: robomatic
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 04:45 PM

I don't know Susan Boyle but I like her name and I like her face. I wish her well, but no more songs from, ugh, CATS!

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 11:01 PM

well she came second so now maybe the leeches can leave her alone in peace for a while. I applaud her for what she has acheived and in difficult circumstances.
I wish her well and if she does go any further i hope she has a few honest people around to support her endevours
helen

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Don Firth
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 11:06 PM

Amen to that!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: GUEST,Indrani Ananda
Date: 03 Jun 09 - 07:17 PM

The lady should be allowed to sing whatever song she chooses, the more eclectic the better.

                         Britain's got talent? Well, where is it? We are constantly being bombarded by this punter-fodder for months on end; and night after night on numerous TV channels the stuff is churned out - and they have yet to take this circus on tour, so heaven knows how much more we are in for.

                         Real talent means writing and singing your own songs, not being dictated to as to your choice of performance. The "Editor's choice" might not do your voice justice (!). Where are the novelists, poets, playwrights, painters of masterpieces, costume designers, modelmakers, sculptors etc.? Not there, are they. Yet everyone must surely agree that people in these categories surely do possess talent.

                         Instead, we are expected to listen to hapless hopefuls going through various degrees of humiliation, whether it's catawauling into a microphone - with the rare exception of Susan Boyle here - or leaping around the stage in a raucous frenzy.

                         Why do we allow people like Cowell and the "judges" to belittle people who try so hard? Why is there uproar when a woman with an amazing voice nearly wins and is almost destroyed in the process? Here' why: she's never been heard of before the age of forty eight, and aren't singers required to have big hair, in-yer-faceness, high cheek bones, and a brazen way of writhing around the stage whilst showing all they've got? Shouldn't they be screeching in their pornophonic voices against God knows how many blaring backing tracks and bass-ridden drums, giving us all a good impression of someone being garotted?

                         For a lady like Susan to receive so many votes goes against the commercial grain of Cowell and his ilk, who find it hard to cope when an anomaly occurs. Like when Michelle won, a couple of years ago, I believe, but as she was "overweight", the axes were swift to fall on every side, despite her good performance.

                         My advice to Susan is: milk this for all it's worth while you can, before they change their fickle minds - it's brilliant you got so far.

                         As for which song she should sing next - might I suggest "Sleeping Sun" by Nightwish - the world is badly in need of some lyrical, genteel songs.

                                              Indrani.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Ian Fyvie
Date: 03 Jun 09 - 08:11 PM

Don't follow stuff like Britain's Got Talent - I leave that for the white van men and tabloid 'News Comic' readers (a bit of overlap there perhaps?).

But heard Susan on a news broadcast. Lovely voice.

The people in the media who slagged her off I just imagine as journalists with a big dew drop in the corner of their mouths about to drop on the pile of child porn they've just downloaded.

Ian Fyvie

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: bobad
Date: 03 Jun 09 - 08:23 PM

"Shouldn't they be screeching in their pornophonic voices"

"Pornophonic"....nice word, Indrani.

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Don Firth
Date: 03 Jun 09 - 08:37 PM

"Real talent means writing and singing your own songs. . . ."

Got to quibble a bit with that. There are many songwriters, from well-known to obscure, who can't sing for sour owl jowls—but can write some very good songs. And the flip-side: good singers who try their hands at songwriting and turn out pure drivel.

Don't know for sure, but I've hear that Mozart had a singularly unmusical voice.

I generally tend to agree with what you've said, Indrani. When watching those clips of Paul Potts and Susan Boyle (on YouTube here in the U. S., since I can't actually see the show) and I see two not particularly glamorous people come out and express perfectly worthwhile ambitions (Potts saying he wants to sing opera and Ms. Boyle's expressing a wish to be a well-known singer like Elaine Paige), and then seeing the three judges sneer and roll their eyes, makes me want to smack the three of them in their smug faces. One wonders it they would act like that if Paul Potts was a tall, muscular hunk and Susan Boyle was a slinky, anorexic blonde. The satisfaction comes when Potts and Boyle actually deliver, and the judges have to back off and munch a quantity of crow.

But there is even more satisfaction in hearing two hitherto obscure people displaying a prodigious talent and being given at least a moment of recognition for it. If there is a justification for this kind of television show, it is in the opportunity it affords to showcase people like Susan Boyle and Paul Potts. And hope that they can slip the bonds of the hyenas and buzzards and have a real opportunity to develop as artists.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Ian Fyvie
Date: 04 Jun 09 - 02:33 PM

Indrani has been using the word 'Pornophonic' for many years to describe.... well need I say more? Totally brilliant addition to the English language!

However I must agree with Don that songwriting, and musicianship are totally different skills.

I think performance is a third one. I've seen performers at clubs whose songs are basic and skitty, their guitarwork is pretty rudimentary, but they are brilliant musical entertainers.

A performer such as above can ceate a great atmosphere both for a guest night and Singaround.

Ian Fyvie

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Don Firth
Date: 04 Jun 09 - 03:00 PM

Exactly so. There are people with fairly modest ability who seem to have a reak flair for engaging with an audience. And this is often independent of musical ability

Don Firth

Subject: RE: What should Susan Boyle sing next?
From: Don Firth
Date: 04 Jun 09 - 03:02 PM

"real," that is.

wotthehell archy wotthehell. . . .

400

Don Firth