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Is Susan going off the Boyle?
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
enlargeCould Susan Boyle end up a has-been even before she becomes, so to speak, a been? Simon Cowell is apparently concerned.
This week he warned the greatest internet sensation since cyberspace was invented that she risks becoming “a gimmick”.
This is a bad thing, Simon?
Simon is concerned because Susan has not, after all, even made it through the semi finals of his talent show. She may be a household name from Midlothian to Manhattan. But because of the ‘gimmicks’ Susan could be going off the Boyle.
This seems odd because the enduring lesson of reality TV, politics and even Britain’s Got a Sob Story itself is that gimmicks work.
In fact gimmickry is such a crowd pleaser that the entire world of celebrity and associated merchandising has been lining up to latch on to Susan’s success.
Half of Hollywood is a-Twitter with talk about her. Chat show hosts are vying to have her on their sofas. Oprah wants her. You don’t get bigger than that.
Donnie Osmond would like to record a duet with her, Cyndi Lauper wants to star in a movie with her and even Kofi Annan (yup, the United Nations former Secretary General Kofi Annan) is asking questions about her.
She has attracted an estimated 120 million hits — and counting — on the internet. And there’s been a Domino effect where business even loosely connected to her have been boosted.
Dominos Pizza, which sponsors Britain’s Got Talent, gets a slice of shared success with a boost in sales. (Hairy Angel pizza?)
And worldwide Les Miserables, the stage show from which her audition song came, has been enjoying a massive revival.
If this is what happens when you’re a ‘gimmick’, it wouldn’t seem to be such a bad thing. Susan’s brother John thinks it’s time she cashed in directly by releasing a single. Now.
But wily old Simon (who didn’t get where he is today by not reading the market) urges caution.
“I'm tired of hearing about the way she looks or the kissing, or this or that. The problem is with all the sub-stories about the cat and how she looks,” he says.
“It could all go horribly wrong now because there are so many other distractions.”
He has a point.
There’s only so much updating you can take on one woman’s eyebrows. That ruddy cat. Her faux leather jacket from Primark.
Ok I’ll admit it. I’m getting sick of the entire Susan Boyle circus. Not the lady herself. She deserves her moment in the sun.
But all the saccharine gush. The teary celebrity fan base. And the endless analysis of how the realisation that a middle-aged woman can sing despite not using tweezers or hair conditioner has changed the world in to a better place.
The celebs are weeping not because they spent a fortune on Botox and lipo and now realise that au natural they might have been bigger box office. Telling the makeover is going all the other way. Susan is being smartened up. In celebrity land there has been no mad run on the doughnut counter or cries to hairdressers; “Can’t you frizz the grey bits up a bit more!”
Viewers have been genuinely enchanted by Susan. But for how long? And what happens when we all get heartily sick of her? When the circus moves its spotlight on to the next ‘star’. What it Boyles down to is that Susan can go one of two ways. Lasting stardom. Or down the pan with all the other ‘overnight sensations’.
We may get over it if the latter happens. Will she?
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Comments
31 Comments
I really think that she deserves to dream. Dreaming is what keeps the people trying to do their best. Susan, if you can read this, your voice is inspirational and exceptionally beautiful. Hope you can really become a star and we can hear you not only in youtube, but forever in a record. Hope that some offensive people stops critizising her and hear and feel her voice.
Posted by rosario | 30.05.09, 05:12 GMT
i have been waiting for her CD. . . i had been playing the youtube demos of her performance and will not mind buying her CD NOW! why isnt there one out yet?
Posted by Inia | 26.05.09, 07:37 GMT
Nasty and Jealous. Susan has talent and NOW no one can take that away from her.
Posted by Jan | 15.05.09, 01:07 GMT
I also think she is cute Rick. And in the interview where she sings in front of a mirror her face positively glows with an inner light - true beauty if you ask me.
Posted by Linda | 05.05.09, 18:18 GMT
When so many believe the Susan Boyle sing is outstanding ,why is this hand full come down on her? Maybe they are in need to have the ear doctor check out their hearing. Susan Boyle, just be your self as the world listen to you. A few of their type that try to put you down remind me of a few that try to do the same to Tiger Woods. The people are for you Susan Boyle and just be your self.
Posted by phl | 02.05.09, 00:45 GMT
Awe, come on you guys, lighten up. Ms. Boyle has what it takes. If she cut a cd today. I would run out and buy it. Her voice is awesome and she is an inspiration. Get out of the doom and gloom and let a wee bit of Boyle sunshine into you life.
Cheers,
Liz in California
Posted by Liz | 30.04.09, 22:29 GMT
Yes Rick i would say you are the only one. I'd also say you are a bit of an idiot really, you have heard her sing one song, have you bought any of her recordings?
How you can say she is cruising through her new stardom, do you know her personally, what she is up to?
She has been in the public eye for less than a month and has no cash as yet, wait until a few quid rolls in and she'll be on the cover on OK getting on like an ejit.
Posted by MiHe | 30.04.09, 09:06 GMT
I would really like for Susan Boyle to make a CD. She has a beautiful voice. I don't think anything is wrong with the way that she looks. I think that what I've seen, she is a very down-to-earth person and should be very proud of herself. Thank you.
Mrs. June Arseneault.
Posted by June Arseneault | 30.04.09, 01:33 GMT
I've spent a lot of time reading about Susan Boyle, but more time listening to her. the "talent show" angle does not matter to me. I am just waiting to be able to hear her sing without back ground noise. I want to buy as many CDs as she can make. Her voice is beautiful, amazingly rich, with depth and fantastic tonal flexability.
I think her face is full of character and charm. her decision to deal with the minor "gooming" issues that have been commented on over and over....well, anyone would deal with them.
but it is in no way a full on makeover.
Posted by dmcginn | 30.04.09, 01:00 GMT
Why do people like you exist? This women can sing... Much of the talent out there these days can't sing. Criticize them and leave Susan Boyle alone. She is great. I will buy every record she makes.
Posted by Mark | 30.04.09, 00:24 GMT
People can be very fickle. I believe the world has discovered a real treasure in Susan Boyle. Calling her "faux" jacket and scarf a makeover outfit? Did we think she only owned the one dress? And who do we know that goes before the cameras without make up and hair dressing? I have two wishes for her...that she finds the audience she wanted to sing to, and that she is treated like the lady she appears to be and is not taken advantage of.
Posted by Shirley Fisher-Langloys | 30.04.09, 00:21 GMT
Isn't this about Susan's talent? That isn't going to change.
She has a sweet way about her, and I agree she has smiling
eyes. That is real beauty. I would vote for her. I don't
care much for music, but when I heard her voice I was
moved. I haven't been by any famous female singers, such
as Streisand.
Posted by Karen Dawson | 29.04.09, 22:41 GMT
I think Susan's voice, her winning ways, her inspiring story of a great human being, even, before she so deservedly became a household name. Her selfless life as a servant to others in a world that has scorned her is a testament to her resilience. I'd sure hate to see her dreams dashed, but, not underestimate this woman of strong spirit and determination. I agree that she doesn't need BGT anymore. They brought her to us, for whatever their motives were, and we love her. I'm one of the thousands on amazon.com'd email waiting list for her cd. I'd buy it in a heartbeat. I wish she would grace the usa asap. We love her, and she will sell plenty of albums here, with or without BGT. If they're tired of her, we the public, aren't. Let her loose as her brother says. She's made her mark, we just want her music in our mp3 and cars. I already listen to her Cry Me a River, and Killing me softly in both my player and my car. I converted the videos to mp3 and voila!! Susan sings!!!!
Posted by newyorkrican45 | 29.04.09, 21:55 GMT
I think Susan's voice, her winning ways, her inspiring story of a great human being, even, before she so deservedly became a household name. Her selfless life as a servant to others in a world that has scorned her is a testament to her resilience. I'd sure hate to see her dreams dashed, but, not underestimate this woman of strong spirit and determination. I agree that she doesn't need BGT anymore. They brought her to us, for whatever their motives were, and we love her. I'm one of the thousands on amazon.com'd email waiting list for her cd. I'd buy it in a heartbeat. I wish she would grace the usa asap. We love her, and she will sell plenty of albums here, with or without BGT. If they're tired of her, we the public, aren't. Let her loose as her brother says. She's made her mark, we just want her music in our mp3 and cars. I already listen to her Cry Me a River, and Killing me softly in both my player and my car. I converted the videos to mp3 and voila!! Susan sings!!!!
Posted by newyorkrican45 | 29.04.09, 21:54 GMT
I think Susan was given a god given talent and it will always be with her. She will go far if she remains true to herself and her faith which was something I gathered just listening to her at her audition.
Posted by carol | 29.04.09, 21:32 GMT
The Susan Boyle moment on Britain's Got Talent struck a universal chord in millions of us.Her essence was true and beautiful. Her voice was fantastic.She symbolized a counterpoint to Hollywood packaging from which we've all felt stress and abuse. The current interest and overhyping is because we celebrate her moment and want to hold on to its refreshing authenticity.
She may well disappoint in the semi finals, not because she isn't wonderful, but because we as a public pin such high expectations on her. Rarely will so many universal elements strike such a chord as the first time we met Susan Boyle.I myself will remain a fan.Her realism and talent somehow freed me from the saturation of unrealistic marketing. I celebrate the SB phenomenon and will continue to do so.
Posted by S Lewis | 29.04.09, 21:11 GMT
As long as she can put some songs on CD or DVD, I will buy every one; it is her VOICE that is so exquisite. And if for some weird reason she is never allowed to record one song, then I will personally go to house (if she would allow me to) and record every song she knows.
I hope that she receives an extremely nice income from her music sales so that she can relax and enjoy her life, but if the Record Industry does not pull through, then I'll just bet many many of her current fans would just put $20 in an envelope and mail it to her; that might be $200,000,000 right there! The people who love her will not let her down... now lets see what the commercial powers that be come up with on her behalf.
Posted by Pat Brown | 29.04.09, 20:29 GMT
I adore her whole being!!! Ah, and her smile is just beautiful complements her other attributes so well.
Thank you Susan for sharing your voice with the world!!
Go girl, you are a winner!!!
Posted by Rosy | 29.04.09, 19:32 GMT
Dear Susan,
Just stay the way you are. You would be great in a Broadway musical show.
Posted by Kathy Randall | 29.04.09, 19:28 GMT
The only thing that is going to kill Susan's stardom is if she loses on bgt. Those other performers have their whole lives ahead of them. This seems to be her last really good chance. So don't blow it for her, Simon. Ultimately, it's boils down to you guys.
Posted by Michelle | 29.04.09, 19:02 GMT
31 Comments