A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle

Subject: A Most Heartwarming Performance
From: bobad
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 03:19 PM

This is a YouTube clip of an incredible performance by a woman, Susan Boyle, taken from an episode of Britains Got Talent 2009. When she first walks out on stage and is answering questions from the panel there is barely subdued snickering and you could just tell that everyone was expecting her to fall flat on her face - she was being prejudged based on her appearance. Boy, does she prove them wrong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance
From: frogprince
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 03:28 PM

I stumbled onto this last night when it was a link on yahoo page news. No one could make up anything this good. She's wonderful.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 03:34 PM

I thought there was a thread on it, but maybe I also saw it on Yahoo.

Wonderful singer. It's nice to see a non-glamorous woman singer get recognition.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance
From: meself
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 03:41 PM

I'm sure it's my new meds - but this practically had me blubbering ...

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 03:44 PM

Thanks, bobad. Nice to see people learn not to judge a talent by its cover, so to speak.:-) Reminded me of that young man over there who sang opera and blew them all away.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: alanabit
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 03:46 PM

She can sing for sure. I think her natural personality worked a treat for her too. Good luck to a brave woman.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: bobad
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 04:08 PM

Well meself, I'm not on any meds and it nearly had me blubbering too.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 05:23 PM

Holybloodyfuckinchrist.....................What a voice!!!!! Blubbering? You betcher ass I am............

Spaw

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Big Mick
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 06:52 PM

Yep ...... they are running down my face. I want to follow how she does. I have a new hero, and her name is Susan Boyle. Just what I needed on a day I was feeling a bit down.

Mick

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 07:14 PM

Here is one of her several Fansites. She was quite touching...I missed this bit:

Before her performance, Miss Boyle told Geordie hosts Ant and Dec that she's "never had a boyfriend" and she has "never been kissed before". Her previous singing experience was limited to the church choir and karaoke.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Maryrrf
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 08:15 PM

I saw this last night and was very moved. The link given in this thread showed a little more of her pre and post show. I'm so glad for this brave lady who dared to appear on a stage where youth and physical perfection are so important, and triumphed! Good for her!

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: SussexCarole
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 08:19 PM

Yes, yes, yes! She was wonderful. Zapped all those cruddy mainsteam stiffs right between the eyes. What a woman and what a voice!

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Barbara
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 08:20 PM

I thought it was delightful too. Robinia shipped it to me the same day it happened, and, at the same time another folkie shipped it to me at facebook.(I live in Oregon, US. It's fun to see what a global community we are when something like this happens.
Charming. I really liked how she told the backstage boys that she was going to rock that huge house, and how she didn't let the chaff the judges gave her get to her. A role model for us all.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Amos
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 08:24 PM

This came to us from a friend in town and had us both weeping for her.

"Here's a plump, 47-year-old woman with bushy eyebrows, graying hair, from a
village in England, who's never been married or kissed, and lives with her
cat. See what happened on the English version of American Idol. Click the
link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY"


Wow. An amazing episode.

Somebodu clue me in-- what does it mean if someone on such a show garners three "Yes" votes from the judges?


A

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: SussexCarole
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 08:38 PM

Does it matter if she's plump, greying etc etc?   NO NO NO! Wow can this lady can sing...and she is a beautiful person! Sing your heart out Susan

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 10:34 PM

If you really look at her, though, she's not really even plump. She just has a bit of extra skin under her chin. She stood pretty tall and slim by all accounts...not very many curves, but she sure showed she knew how to wiggle it!

Amos, I think it means she moves up to the next stage of the competition.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 10:56 PM

"Here's a plump, 47-year-old woman with bushy eyebrows, graying hair, from a
village in England ……………"

Hate to be picky, but she comes from West Lothian, in Scotland, not England. But she is British and proves the point of the programme – that Britain's Got Talent. Susan Boyle has it in spades.

DC

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: JedMarum
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 11:08 PM

Lovely singer. Great clip from the show, too.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 11:32 PM

I dunno' what she gets for the show win thing but what she needs is a record contract.

Spaw

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 11:50 PM

WOW, absolutely wonderful. Well, Meself and Bobad - it brought tears from my eyes without a doubt. I hope someone gets behind her and she gets the chance to take her voice as far as she wants to go with it. As for me - how dare I call myself a pro, I can't hold a candle to that top-shelf voice, no way.

Listening to Susan Boyle reminds me of the time several years ago when I attended a local church production of the play, "The Passion." There was a lady who came out three times dressed as an angel and sang songs with one of the most beautiful, full, enchanting voices I had ever heard. I asked to see her after the show and she approached me as timid as a schoolchild. She was a rather short lady, about thirty-five, built like a pear and rather
plain looking to my eyes. I asked her where I could go and hear her perform and she told me nowhere but in church. She said she had been singing all of her life, she said she was "just" a mother of several children and she sings in church, and that's all. Wow!

When I was much younger, a player I respected told me that you have to keep your chops up because there's a "monster" on ever corner just waiting to take your place. So right, so very, very, right.
Give 'em hell Susan Boyle, you deserve it. Cheers,..........mwh

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: GUEST,KP
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 06:41 AM

Its worth watching over and over again to see the look on the judges' faces when she starts singing! It takes them about to two seconds to realise that their preconceptions are utterly and totally wrong.....

There's a whole lecture on body language and facial expressions in there (as well as some great singing!)

KP

Subject: The Wonder that is....Susan Boyle
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 12:22 PM

George, I think you may like this. Forgive me for not putting it in your earlier thread from the same show, but..I think this lady deserves a thread of her own.

Susan - Youtube

Transferred to existing thread. Please check before starting new threads. This is a duplicate.

Subject: RE: The Wonder that is....Susan Boyle
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 12:27 PM

She does indeed, I caught her on youTube yesterday.
I think the judge's behaviour a little suspect, probably stagemanaged. After all, the acts had been seen by others before, for vetting, so I am sure the judges were forewarned. The audience's reaction was genuine however. A clever bit of manipulation, as they let them snigger first, then led them into cheers.

Having said that, Susan is very good, and she has a powerful voice and a bubbly personality. It would be good to see the underdog score one in the end.

transferred from deleted thread

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Surreysinger
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 12:38 PM

Not to mention the idiots in the audience who are snickering at her ... they soon changed their tune, didn't they!! I was on Facebook earlier this afternoon, and was alerted to the Youtube video by Will Pound ... and I have now watched it several times. It's a difficult and very emotional song to nail ... and boy did she nail it!!! roll on the next round...

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Riginslinger
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 02:30 PM

Yeah, that was one of the most amazing parts of it for me. The way the expressions on the faces of members of the audience changed, and the judges too.
                She really wowed them!

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Amergin
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 03:38 PM

Apparently Cowell is already in talks with her over a record deal....

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: GUEST,glueman
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 03:50 PM

Great voice, marvellous personality but a stage managed bit of shmaltz. Of course they were in on the joke. The producer would have said, 'best cynical faces you three, camera 2 look for any teenagers taking the piss and give her like shit off your shoe routine Amanda sweetie.'

Subject: Susan Boyle Performance
From: Alan Day
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 06:10 PM

Susan Boyle's performance on Britain's got Talent is not to be missed.This programme has the tendency to take the piss out of everyone who performs on it and Susan was in for the works. She turned this on it's head by a truly fantastic performance of "I have a Dream" from "Les Miserables".
Al

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Alan Day
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 06:20 PM

Sorry I posted a new thread before I saw this one down the page.
She gets me crying every time I watch it.
Perhaps this will stop the micky taking.
Truly wonderful
Al

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: SylviaN
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 06:38 PM

True talent - amazing!

Sing, sing, sing and sing.

Sylvia

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 07:06 PM

I must disagree wholeheartedly with your jaded view, glueman. That wasn't contrived, as much as you'd like to convince us. Half the charm of the video is the realization, in several micro-expressions amongst them, of just how wrong their original assumptions were.

I wonder several things after watching that. I know people (folkies!) who have very average looks and have wonderful voices. They're not famous either. If you look like Alison Krause or Emmylou Harris, your career goes one way. If you look like Susan Boyle, your career doesn't get off the ground because you don't get your mouth open. This was a remarkably brave and joyous thing for Ms. Boyle to do, and when she turned to walk off stage after singing her song you could see that singing before a large audience was her main objective and she had achieved it. When they called her back that was the icing on the cake, but she'd had her cake and she'd eaten it, so to speak. She didn't need the icing, though was at the same time very happy with it. It might seem contradictory to say that, but look at her when she turns to walk off the stage. "I did it. Mission accomplished. That showed them."

Who will be first in line to tell her to color her hair, pluck her brows, get some surgery to reduce those chins? Who will be the first to suggest that she has the "fix" her appearance to go with the voice? The brows and hair are things that many women of all ages have doctored, but here's hoping she resists the nonsense that she must conform to have a career. Put some elegant clothes on, they will fit the voice and the venues and her character, and that will be enough. Get out of her way and let her sing! (Wouldn't it be nice if Elaine Page took her in hand and helped launch a new career? Would a star do that for a rising talent? It's nice to consider.)

This is a Cinderella story for thinking middle-aged women of average appearance. You go, Susan!

SRS

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: GUEST,glueman
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 07:18 PM

"That wasn't contrived, as much as you'd like to convince us"

Sorry SRS, that's how TV works. How long do you think it takes to set up a shot of people tittering? If the panel weren't in on it the production crew were.
It doesn't detract anything from her performance which was excellent. A marvellous singer.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: SINSULL
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 08:34 PM

I finally got to see Susan Boyle sing - Barracuda blocked it at the office. I too was in tears. So where has she been for the last forty years? Where did she learn to sing like that?

Her career will be fun to watch.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 08:47 PM

Stilly River Sage - I appreciate your comments; and, I, for one, have long been a protester on behalf of women in music because talent alone will not get them the same distance as a man - they must look good as well. It's a sad situation but it is the music "business." Truth is that good looks get you places in all walks of life that plain looks - all else being equal - just can't get you.

You did mention two of my favoites, Emmylou and Allison Krause.
I might suggest that you take a look at AK when she first came out compared to the way she looks now - today she looks totally different from 1993 and is much prettier than she used to be. It could be that she matured into a prettier woman, but, knowing this business, I would bet that she was "advised" to make some "changes" and "modifications" to her appearance by the Nashville mafia. Either way, she is a great talent. Cheers,.............mwh

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Alice
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 08:55 PM

I found the you tube clip yesterday when CNN started reporting it.
I've emailed it to lots of friends.
It is wonderful. I cried.
I've watched it over and over again, as well as finding interviews of Susan on you tube after the performance.
I hope she wins.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Alice
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 09:04 PM

By the way, I also saw a news clip of the cast of Les Miserables watching the video of her performance. If I can find a copy of it, I'll post a link.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 09:21 PM

I was expecting a fine performance from bobad's introduction, but that was one of the most amazing performances I've ever seen--a truly wonderful voice, great interpretation, and how can you account for her stage presence? She was not in the least intimidated--a bit of a quaver during the questioning when she had difficulty completing the phrase "a collation of villages," but when the accompaniment began it was as if she had been singing it on stage nightly for a year's run of the play, and now it was a celebratory closing night.

Charles

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 10:04 PM

glueman, the audience was filmed also, it was simultaneous cameras and they were cutting back and forth between the cameras on Boyle, on the judges, and the audience reactions. Is that what you consider "contrived?" That's just editing, not a setup. They can predict that there will be some faces they want to bring in to add drama. But it wasn't set up in advance.

Michael, I noticed the last time I saw a clip of Paul Potts, who turned up on that show in 2007, that he had had the chipped tooth fixed and his hair is longer. He dresses better. It'll be interesting to see what kind of makeover Susan encounters.

SRS

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Alice
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 10:38 PM

Here is the video with the cast of Les Miserable discussing Susan's performance.

Watch to the end of this for the cast's comments:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh533QXr7VM

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 11:11 PM

I've never been to Les Miserables, but I did pull up a cast recording on NetFlix to take a look at. I suspect this will boost the attention to that sound track.

Over on YouTube there is a nice 10th Anniversary version with Ruthie Henshall.

SRS

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Don Firth
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 11:32 PM

I love it!

A bit like a replay of Paul Potts. Dumpy little guy with crooked teeth walks out on stage, says he sings opera. Judges roll their eyes and audience members slide down in their seats.

And in both cases, when Paul Potts and Susan Boyle started to sing, in addition to beautiful, strong voices, you could hear the thumps of jaws hitting the floor! Marvelous!!

(Sorry you're having such a tough day, glueman. Might I suggest a dose of Metamucil? You'll feel much better in the morning.)

Don Firth

P. S. Just a thought:   Just suppose it was a set-up, which I very seriously doubt. It does not alter the fact that Susan Boyle has an excellent singing voice and she handles it very well.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: GUEST,glueman
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 04:16 AM

Sorry you think I'm being grumpy. I know the biz. The idea the judges weren't cued to expect something and the production floor to collect certain images is mistaken. The cameras were telling a story about a dumpy woman with a brilliant voice performing to a jaded audience.

She still has that brilliant voice though I await Susan Boyle meets Trinny and Suzanna Special.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Marje
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 04:44 AM

To those who don't know the show: three Yeses from the judges just means that she goes through to the next round - they have to get at least two of the judges to say yes, and it's not always unanimous. Part of the drama of the show revolves around the different standards and expectations of the three judges, and disagreements among them.

And to some extent it is set up in advance - there are thousands od entrants and they get screened at initial auditions before some are selected to perform in front of the panel. The ones shown on TV include the good, the bad and the ugly, as well as the quirky and surprising ones, and also those with and interesting background story. The producers know roughly what category each of the acts comes into and they "milk" the competitors for maximum effect. That's their job, and it doesn't detract from the genuine surprise and humble admiration shown by the panel and the audience in a case like this. She can't have been established or known in any professional sense, or someone would have spoken up by now.

It's certainly got me hooked - I'll be watching next time to see how Susan Boyle gets on. And they'd better not try to turn her into a cloned Stepford Singer!

Marje

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Becks
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 07:23 AM

Yep blubbering!

I do wish people wouldnt judge a book by its cover. You don't watch people when they play on your hi-fi! It's what they sound like that matters. For some people looks is all they have, I'd take a talent like that any day.

Becks (also plump!)

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: kendall
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 08:00 AM

Two words. Holy Shit!
Now I know why women weep at weddings. I've never been more impressed by any performer.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 08:03 AM

Please let us know when the next round comes up!

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: jacqui.c
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 08:04 AM

We saw this first on the news and have just watched the whole thing for the first time. What an amazing woman! Her personality is as big as her voice and, once she started singing, her looks just didn't matter - I, for one, got carried away by that voice.

I'm glad to see that Cowell is already talking to her about a contract. This is one talent that deserves all the sunlight it can get.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Mooh
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 09:14 AM

The audience isn't so much jaded as shallow and judgemental.

Believe it or not, singing experience "limited to the church choir" can be the best training of all. One learns how to sing harmony, timing, projection, without damaging habits, with dynamics and expression, with humility and purpose. I've seen more than a few such singers.

Susan Boyle is a genuine ray of sunshine. I hope she rides that voice to genuine acceptance, credibility, and success. Being an anti-star might just make her a star.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Alice
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 10:04 AM

Here is an interview with one of the judges, Amanda Holden. The question is asked about whether Susan Boyle's image would be made-over. Amanda says, I won't let her go to Simon's hairdresser.

video of interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyG2aG_bBjQ

She hopes to have a career like Elaine Page, and I think her voice is better than Elaine Paige's voice.

Regarding the "staging" of the cameras getting reactions, I think the main point is that the judges do not hear the performers before the first time they go on stage, so as Amanda attested, it was a complete surprise to the judges and the audience. Yes, I agree, production crew was aware that they needed to capture reactions, but they do that with the contestants who are given the thumbs down, too. Obviously, she had to pre-audition with the rest of the competitors, so the screening staff knew that she had talent. If you watch video of contestants who are buzzed off right away, you see that the cameras capture audience and judge reactions then, too.

Subject: RE: A Most Heartwarming Performance-Susan Boyle
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 10:37 AM

I suspect the producers of this program play their cards pretty close to the vest, so to speak, to heighten the effect for any candidates they put forward for consideration. I imagine there were a few production folks watching with glee for the expected initial responses, and the quick turn-around once she opened her mouth.

cloned Stepford Singer!
Ha!

Thanks for the program description, Marje. I don't watch those programs here, so I wouldn't have the routine worked out from this side of the Atlantic. I'm glad to learn that 2 out of 3 does get someone advanced.

SRS