So let's talk about Susan Boyle

[thetruepandagod]

she was good but not nearly as magnificent as paul pott

[Correction]

This is my unsubstantiated opinion. In any situation you can imagine, an attractive women will be considered smarter, nicer, and better than a less attractive woman. That is again my unsubstantiated opinion

Did the cops who didn't solve the mystery of your broken-into house also happen to be physically unattractive?

[Ksandra]

I liked it a lot. I think people are being a bit too critical (surprise surprise for a forum right?). Even if she get her 5minutes/week/month of fame it's no reason to be negative about her ability. I'm glad that she was able to turn the heads of thousands of people, and she seemed so happy. If nothing else she'll always have that memory.

[drwaffles]

No one's trying to bad-mouth her at all - what I'm annoyed at, personally, is the extent to which the show exaggerated the whole thing in an attempt to evoke this kind of response from people. Even as I was watching it I was rolling my eyes whilst the person with me was practically weeping. Nothing against this woman at all, good on her for being brave. But I don't like how the show is just using her as the sort of "you can do anything if you truly believe" staple of the series by over-hyping her talent (again, not saying she's not a good singer because she is).

[Devek]

Correction. You're a god damn retard. What I said is not my "my unsubstantiated opinion", it is backed by study.

Beautiful people earn 12% more than Ugly Bettys - Science, News - The Independent

When you get in the real world, you'll see it.

[Kwijiboe]

Wow, stop.

[Galkaeater]

This is true. In any situation you can imagine, an attractive women will be considered smarter, nicer, and better than a less attractive woman. That is reality.

when it comes to just brains the uglyer one will be considered the smartest

[Reapz]

This guy was awesome too
YouTube - Andy Demetriou - Dancer - Britains Got Talent 2009

[Kaelia]

Correction. You're a god damn retard. What I said is not my "my unsubstantiated opinion", it is backed by study.

Beautiful people earn 12% more than Ugly Bettys - Science, News - The Independent

When you get in the real world, you'll see it.

I can't tell if you actually feel like you have a point or you're just trying to troll over and over and over again. Though I think I'd rather suffer through the latter than bash my head into my keyboard at the insufferable ignorance if its the former.

[Demosthenes11]

This guy was awesome too
YouTube - Andy Demetriou - Dancer - Britains Got Talent 2009

loooooool

[Gregorio]

I'm no professional, but she was pretty damn impressive. I cried when I heard Paul Potts (and still do when I see the reactions), but I always love an ugly duckling type story. Yeah voice /= person and all that...but most people have all 5 senses and judge eachother based on everything. Is it fair? No, but it's reality. I don't give a shit about American Idol / talent shows like that...but an underdog story will get me every time.

[Dezzimal]

She can sing and she's homely. I guess this is significant? I can go hear a dozen kids that good down at the local school district solo and ensemble competition.

[Sol-Blackguy]

Great voice, she reminds me of this guy: YouTube - Grungy Gaye Gets It On

[Yeargdribble]

Yeah, I cried like a bitch when I watched. As a semi-professional musician (orchestral trumpet) I spend a lot of time around vocalists of all calibers. While I could nitpick a lot of things about her performance, there's something to be said for her natural singing talent and musical instinct.

So many people I've been around who are classically trained don't have nearly the natural talent she possess. Years of professional training has gotten many of them to a mark that is still short of what she accomplished on that stage.

She might have a chance in musical theater where you can get by with slightly less optimal looks playing certain character roles rather than leads. Sad to say, but I think like most of the people who get a dose of fame in this way, she'll probably just fade into obscurity within a year or so.

Everyone likes an underdog story, but in the long run there will be professionals who not only had the talent but also had the training and in many cases just look better and are better made up.

Also, to people who enjoy this type of music, who is gonna buy her CD over a slightly better quality recording other than just for the novelty? Sad but true. Music is cut-throat even in the classical realm.

[Griselda]

YouTube - Susan Boyle - Cry Me A River - 1999 Recording (From The Scottish Daily Record Newspaper)

A recording of the song "Cry Me a River" that Susan Boyle sang in 1999 just got released and wow, I'm stunned... can't really think of anything to say except wow.

[Plow]

She'd be great for Disney movies and stuff. Maybe she'll get hooked up.

[Day]

She'd be great for Disney movies and stuff. Maybe she'll get hooked up.

Thats exactly what my coworker and I said, she'd be great for Disney songs and such.
And to all the music critics we have here, it wasn't so much about how great her vocals were, (they were amazing no doubt), but it was more about the way the whole thing made you feel. She came out and got judged by everyone, instantly and negatively... then she sang one note and everyone's jaw dropped. It's just a little humbling to see/feel that... that's my opinion of course.

[Yuri-G]

YouTube - Susan Boyle - Cry Me A River - 1999 Recording (From The Scottish Daily Record Newspaper)

A recording of the song "Cry Me a River" that Susan Boyle sang in 1999 just got released and wow, I'm stunned... can't really think of anything to say except wow.

Wow is right. I like that even better than I Dreamed A Dream. I have to admit that I've been having second thoughts about how good she was, given that it was one song and her singing, while great, was certainly not technically flawless. I gotta say, those doubts have been erased.

I think the thing that makes her really impressive is the amount of soul, the pure emotion, that goes into her singing. It's something you just can't teach. I'd give anything to be able to play piano as well as she sings, and I'm not even that bad as it is. Is she technically the best singer in the world? No, but she's pretty damn good, and she takes that ability and combines it with pure emotion to make something beautiful. Very impressive.

[drwaffles]

Her "Cry Me A River" is a million times more impressive than her "I Dreamed A Dream", although I'm not sure how much of that can be attributed to studio-edited vs. live performance discrepancies. And although I do hate to be a downer, her performance on the show was hardly heart-wrenching in and of itself; I'm not sure where this "pure emotion that goes into her singing" business is coming from in the context of that particular song.

Another thing that confuses me is that this isn't a unique occurrence on Britain's Got Talent, X-Factor and whatever else - there's a handful of these kinds of stories appearing on these shows year in, year out, in which someone who looks like your typical no-hoper wannabe shuffles on-stage, is looked upon by everyone present with a great deal of skepticism before they start and then bowls everyone over the second they open their mouths. Why is this particular one special? Because she sang "I Dreamed A Dream"? Because they played a goofy oboe number whilst she was introducing herself backstage in order to ensure that the viewers at home had the same low expectations as the live audience?

Or maybe I'm just a stone-hearted individual, who knows?

[Day]

You just jealous man