Susan Boyle - Britain's Got Talent - Wow

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Chris LeDrew
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Susan Boyle - Britain's Got Talent - Wow

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Mac McKenzie
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Britain's Got Talent

Post by Mac McKenzie »

Chris, thank you so much for letting us all hear an amazing performance. I liked the way Susan challenged Simon with a nod of her head, like a head butt and he knew too. She was quietly confident on the way in and the reaction set in afterwards but Susan achieved her dream. Absolutely beautiful. Thanks a million.
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Doug Beaumier
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Post by Doug Beaumier »

I noticed this clip on line last night, and I couldn't stop watching it. It's inspirational. A 47 year old unknown woman, unattractive, unemployed, walks out on stage and the audience snickers and rolls their eyes up at her. And then she blows the doors off the place with her beautiful, powerful voice... stuns the audience, bringing them to their feet, cheering. She turned the audience and the judges from ridicule to admiration. It's a LOT of fun to watch, and a good lesson in humility for naysayers everywhere.
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Jim Cohen
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Post by Jim Cohen »

I'm of two minds about this. On the one hand, I feel as you do (triumph of the 'ugly duckling', etc.). But on the other hand, I'm positive that the producers of the show set this all up for her to be the next 'Paul Potts' (remember him? exact same thing, homely, not well-dressed, a 'mobile phone salesman' at whom everyone snickered especially when he said he wanted to sing, of all things, OPERA!? He then proceeded to blow the roof off with his rendition of Nessun Dorma, and the crowd erupted into cheers and tears, as did the judges.)

Well! You just know they've been asking themselves who they could find to be the next Paul Potts ugly duckling to repeat this trick. In fact, I'll bet that neither Paul nor Susan dress as humbly as they did on the show, with hairstyles as seen, etc. I'll bet that was all a setup to make the shock of their amazing performances all the more stunning.

Hey it's show business after all.

Yes, I'm a cynic. (But the other side of me enjoyed it for sure.)
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Post by Chris LeDrew »

Jim, I noticed too that it had a "staged" feel to it. Good point. Nothing seems unscripted these days.

I was just simply blown away by her voice, and that's why I wanted to post it. The judges and producers could have been behind this - at least I think so. Still, the performance is spectacular, and I think the lyric really fits with the singer. It's truly touching.
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Doug Beaumier
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Post by Doug Beaumier »

Yes, the show is heavily edited, with background music throughout the entire clip, much like a movie, but the woman appears to be genuine and her performance was real and very inspirational. As far as scripting... I'm sure Simon knows exactly what every contestant will sound like before they come out. It's no surprise to him, although it might be a surprise to the other judges.
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Post by Les Anderson »

Come on guys. Like it or not, the woman has a very unique talent and she was given a chance to show the world what she could do. All of the negative comments in the word won't change that.

What I have to ask is would that woman or Paul Potts ever by accepted on American Idol? I hardly think so. To make it on American idol, the kids have to be under 25, have nothing but show and very little real talent. The guys have to be on the femi side and the young girls have to be painted up so much that they don't look real.

Talent should be the earmark of a performer on a talent contest, not the hype and corporate push behind him or her.

I say, "Good for her and I wish her all the success in the world."
(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)
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Archie Nicol R.I.P.
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Post by Archie Nicol R.I.P. »

I cannot watch anything with those two smug gits on it. Just caught this. She is a fine chanter, but I do agree with Jim.

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Post by Bill McCloskey »

god, you guys are cynical.

Actually everything I read, what we saw was the real deal. That woman has been living alone with her mother in her childhood home until her mother died in 2007 at 90 something. Her dying wish was for Susan to do something with her life. Even her neighbors didn't know how good she was: she sung in church but as part of the choir.

this is about as inspirational a story as you are likely to run across and if someone is smart they are optioning her life story for a movie as we speak.

simon is not that good an actor, either are the other judges. The absolute look of shock on their face was unfakable. and quite honestly, if you had photographed my face when I first saw it, it would have looked exactly the same. And to me the clincher: when she was so stunned that she just started to walk off stage and had to be called back, told the whole story.
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Post by Chris LeDrew »

I think she's the real deal for sure. It's just that the show is not live; therefore, the edited final version can be manipulated to build it up in amore dramatic way. There's no doubt, as I already mentioned, that she's amazing. And I'm sure her history is all totally real. I think everyone's referring to the way the show is edited. The guys on the side obviously knew what was gonna happen, by their knowing reaction when she started. But no, it definitely doesn't take away from the talent.
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Post by Archie Nicol R.I.P. »

It's very easy for us to be cynical, as there are just too many of these types of shows nowadays. For years, the only talent show we had over here was Opportunity Knocks. I remember seeing a young Sarah Jory on it. Would be nice to know if anyone has a clip of that to show us.

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Post by Jim Cohen »

Here's an interesting website y'all might enjoy. Looks like Paul Potts has already sold 15 million albums! I'm sure Susan is next.

http://www.susanboyle.co.uk/
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Post by Archie Nicol R.I.P. »

I struggle with her east coast accent.

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Post by Doug Beaumier »

god, you guys are cynical... what we saw was the real deal.
Yes Bill, it was Real. As I said above, this is Inspirational... I was just pointing out that the show is edited (as most shows are) and background music plays throughout most of the show, adding to the drama. I also believe that Simon has heard the contestants before they appear on the show... but none of that diminishes the awesome, heartfelt, and real performance of Susan Boyle, and the incredible response from the audience and the judges. I'm not a fan of these competition shows, but who wouldn't Love this performance and this story?
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Bill McCloskey
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Post by Bill McCloskey »

" I also believe that Simon has heard the contestants before they appear on the show."

Maybe, but I would doubt that. He does american idol tuesday and weds, and he does this in england on saturday. Not sure when he has all this time to hear everyone before they go on.
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Smug Gits

Post by Mitch Drumm »

Archie:

I'm nothing if not a cutting edge guy in tune with all things UK. I've recently been subjected to a lot of abuse for using "chav" as much as possible. It hasn't stopped me.

Imagine my horror when I see "smug gits".

A bit of googling indicates it is a UK-ism.

What mean? All I can discern is that you wouldn't want your daughter to marry one.

Are there non-smug gits? Examples?
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Post by Archie Nicol R.I.P. »

Mitch, I've sent you a pm.

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Joe Miraglia
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Post by Joe Miraglia »

Where is Ted Mack when you need him? Ted Mack! Wow I'm old :lol: Joe
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Post by Billy Tonnesen »

Ted Mack was preceded on the Radio by "Major Bowes Amateur Hour" in the late 30's and early 40's. He had a big "Gong" and if the singer was too bad they got gonged in the middle of the song.

Another big ole gal was Kate Smith who had a tremendous voice.
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Post by Doug Beaumier »

Another big ole gal was Kate Smith who had a tremendous voice.
Funny you should mention that... I thought of Kate Smith immediately when I watched the clip of Susan Boyle. She has similar singing style and body type.
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Post by Joe Casey »

Actually I thought of someone who use to hang out at a club on the old Apremont highway. :lol: Wasn't quite as talented couldn't carry a note... :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Post by Doug Beaumier »

Joe, you're a Bad Boy! :lol:
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Post by Pete Burak »

Wow, I found the tone/timbre of her voice to be seriously touching.
I'd like to hear what she does with some Karen Carpenter songs (maybe "Superstar").
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Post by Les Anderson »

Pete Burak wrote:I'd like to hear what she does with some Karen Carpenter songs (maybe "Superstar").
I have listened to female female vocalist do Karen Carpenter songs; however, they could not touch that sound that made Karen Carpenter the singer she was. Karen's voice was very unique and distinguishable.

In short, I feel that this British girl would have a tough time doing a Karen Carpenter song.