Posted on 04/14/2009 12:17:11 AM PDT by Wil H
Two years ago, Paul Potts, a chubby mobile phone salesman, wowed the British TV public with his performance of Puccini's "Nessum Dorma" to win "Brtiain's Got Talent", The British equivalent to "America's Got Talent".
While good, I didn't think Potts to be that fantastic.
However last weekend, the third season of "Britain's Got Talent" opened and another diamond in the rough emerged.
This one is quite fantastic.
Susan Boyle, a frumpy looking 47 year old Scottish spinster, who lives with her cat "Pebbles" and admits she's never been kissed, came out on stage and told the audience she wanted to be a professional singer but had never had the chance.
She wanted to be like Elaine Paige, she said, and the crowd, and judges, sniggered....
Then she did this ..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY&feature=related ^
As they say in Britain ... Brilliant!
It really restores my faith in human nature that so many people are so supportive and moved by this talented lady.
My wife has a degree in music theater and teaches vocal music and private voice. She thought it was outstanding. Even exceptionally high natural talent takes years of professional training to develop and be able to perform in front of an audience. She did it on her first try.
That would have received a standing ovation no matter what she looked like. Her look just added to the story.
Baloney. Her looks are the story. The whole reason it’s compelling television is the surprise. It was set up that way. They set you up by showing you this very warm, endearing frumpy old gal. Every one is cynical about it. Low expectations. And then it turns out she’s a pretty good singer, so everyone is delighted. Of course she showed a lot of courage getting up in front of so many people. I’m not knocking her for that. But if people couldn’t see her. If there was no drama involved. If they didn’t know it was her first time, they’d have a much different reaction. It’s not even debatable. The surprise is what makes the video.
I’m wondering. Doesn’t Britain’s Got Talent do auditions like it’s counterpart here in the US does? If that’s the case, this wouldn’t be the first time Ms. Boyle had been seen and heard.
Also, after watching the long version where the two guys talk to her before she went on stage, she mentions she's been singing since she was 12. I presume this was church, small gatherings etc.
So she has gone from ok to pretty good? Obviously, the drama/surprise was a big part of the emotional response. That is what these shows are designed to do. Just like in a good musical or movie or music video. They knew there was some potential there for great television and that she could sing.
My problem is you are tryng to downplay her talent because of the emotional setup of the clip and her looks. She would be considered extremely talented whether you could see her or not. A studio recording of her would spend hours making sure she was eq’d correctly and every note was hit perfectly. Only then would she possibly be able to meet your high standards of talent.
I said she's got a pretty voice. But look at this article. The first two paragraphs prove my point. It's all about the fact that she was frumpy and old and no one expected her to sing well. Even your comments contained phrases about how she didn't have training, had never performed before, etc. That's what makes it compelling. If the expectations were different, she'd be judged differently. She did OK. It was pretty good. Those mean the same thing. And like I said before, she has a pretty voice. But it's not as if her voice is a huge deal. Plenty of people can sing as well as her. And she couldn't hit the low notes in the bridge.
It's a cute, heartwarming little story. But that's all it is. Masterful emotional manipulation by the tv producers.
A must see!
From something I read from last year I believe that this was the first time the panel of judges got to hear her.
I remember when you put down Paul Potts because he didn’t look perfect to your liking either. You sir ar nothing but an empty suit
Watch at home bump.
OTOH, every time I watch the similar Paul Potts video (now at almost 43 million views) I cry.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA
And what was the judge on the left thinking to say it was the best he'd heard there etc. when he was there for the Paul Potts performance? Hyperbole in an attempt to recapture the Paul Potts excitement?
ATTENTION FREEPERS!
This is the perfect opportunity to use our forum for someone worthy of fame and fortune. Hit this Youtube link for all it’s worth and make a statement.
I’ve watched 10 times and cried 10 times.
You must be thinking of someone else. I’ve never even heard of Paul Potts. Wasn’t he dictator of Cambodia?
Not too thrilled with your cynicism elsewhere on the thread, but that was funny.
Ah well. I don’t mean to pee in anyone’s cornflakes. I get it. It’s a tear-jerker. It’s inspiring, etc. That’s fine. People like a heartwarming story.
I’m not a very emotional person, but I was affected by this. Obviously the TV program tries to build the emotion somewhat by overlaying the orchestration in parts where the live show probably had no music. But it is an incredible performance. More power to her.
Susan is tight-lipped about how she thinks she’ll do in the competition, but did let slip that she is planning to sing Whistle Down the Wind in the next round.
http://deadlinescotland.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/i-want-to-make-my-dead-mum-proud-864/
More at link ...
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