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There’s a new album being released today, by a woman whose name we’d never even heard just 11 months ago. You probably remember when you first saw the video of her stepping onto the stage at an audition for “Britain’s Got Talent.” Maybe you saw it on television. Maybe a friend said, “You have to watch this on YouTube.”
The 47-year-old woman, who lived by herself with her cat in Scotland, was overweight, with frizzy gray hair, overbearing eyebrows and an open, somewhat naïve face. She had on a new dress and high heels for the occasion. As she walked to the center of the stage and was interviewed by Simon Cowell, you could see the judges’ skepticism. Cowell rolled his eyes when Boyle said that her hope was to be a professional singer. Amanda Holden nodded. Piers Morgan gave a little chuckle. The audience went wide-eyed and sarcastic when Boyle said she’d like to be as big as British singer Elaine Paige. They laughed at her, and not in a good way. It was as if the entire auditorium was collectively, silently making fun of Boyle.
And then she sang.
You remember this, too. Because you had been judging her on appearance, too – what kind of voice could this frumpy, somewhat misguided woman really have?
We’ve all had that kind of a moment. A moment when we are being made fun of, judged for the wrong reasons, laughed at. A moment when, if we are not careful, we will start doubting ourselves, duck back down, and say “Oh never mind, I didn’t mean it.” A moment when fear and peer pressure makes us turn away from trying something. A moment that can paralyze us with both potential and anxiety.
“The minute she walked onstage we all, and the audience, completely judged her on her appearance and everything else. And I hate saying that,” Holden told Access Hollywood in a later interview. “We judged a book by its cover, unfortunately, and we’re all very cynical.”
Susan Boyle took her moment. She showed us all. She sang “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables, and after the first few lyrics soared from her, it was as if the world stopped for just a second. The judges were agog. Cowell’s eyes opened in pure, delighted surprise. Holden and Morgan got tears in their eyes. The audience turned on a dime – from being schoolyard bullies to instant fan club members. They sprang to their feet in spontaneous mid-song applause.
And on she sang. Her voice was full. She hit the notes. I got goosebumps, and I bet you did, too. I immediately made another person watch the video, and I bet you did, too. Susan Boyle went viral in the best possible way – a joyous surprise winging around the world. Every television newscast showed it. The web went wild.
“ We were all laughing at her when she started, and by the end the last laugh was on us,” Piers Morgan later told CBS’ Early Show.
“It took two seconds for Simon and I to feel very stupid.”
The aftermath of that moment has been stunning. Susan Boyle’s album, “I Dreamed a Dream,” went No. 1 of all time in Amazon’s pre-sales. Those original videos on YouTube have been seen more than 100 million times. She has a Wikipedia entry of her own, now, for heaven’s sake. She’s touring the States this week doing publicity for the album.
Do you have a Susan Boyle moment in you?
What have you not done because you were misjudged, or because fear or anxiety got the better of you? Can you try again? Can you walk out on that figurative stage, endure the eye-rolling, and take your moment?
I don’t know if I can. But Susan Boyle does make me think about it.
Today’s Telegraph.co.uk story, on a one-hour documentary on Boyle:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/susan-boyle/6643743/Susan-Boyle-gets-own-US-TV-special-as-album-sales-rocket.html
The original Susan Boyle video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY
The British judges’ apologies to Boyle:
http://www.accesshollywood.com/britains-got-talents-judges-on-susan-boyle-we-owe-her-an-apology_article_16862
The Amazon page, where you can listen to part of each song on her album:
http://www.amazon.com/I-Dreamed-Dream-Susan-Boyle/dp/B0026P3G12/ref=amb_link_85896511_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=17PB1HFC1TM8PRNK429N&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=500796471&pf_rd_i=5174
Add a Comment13 Comments
Her voice was mediocre. The only reason she's so successful is because of how ugly she is. Everyone feels better about themselves by supporting her. It's awesome she had the courage to sing in front of people and she didn't suck but realistically her success is not about her voice its about how unattractive she is.
December 9, 2009 - 10:30amThis Comment
Apparently, 701,000 people disagree with you, Anon, because that's how many albums she sold in the first week after release, which broke all kinds of records, apparently. And in a recession, that's amazing. No doubt her story has a lot to do with people's interest. But seriously?
Seems like if Susan Boyle's success was just a pity party, she'd have actually won the British reality tv show that introduces us all to her. She came in second. Was she second ugliest?
December 10, 2009 - 8:52amThis Comment
I have to agree with ANON. Both Susan Boyle and Paul Potts are mediocre singers when compared to their professional counterparts but what they do have is oodles of character. Paul Potts is shy and unassuming whilst Susan Boyles is completely batty. People want such characters to strive through adversity because it makes them feel good inside and gives them their own personal sparkle of light which maybe will get a chance to shine too. I don't rate them as singers and I doubt I would want to listen to them for personal pleasure but I do enjoy their stories.
December 21, 2009 - 9:10amThis Comment