Steamed for Susan Boyle

Oh give me a break, Americans are boorish and too uncouth to know good music? I can't believe the drivel coming from the British ego. The fact is the lady has something that people want to hear and I for one enjoy all of what I have heard from her so far. So take your uppity British attitude and dunk it in a cup of tea because your all wet any way.

My comments are in reply to Jonathan.

How is it that you think that most Americans have never heard of Les Mis?

It is an extremely popular musical here even if it is no longer on tour. The first time I went to see it I was 14 & I have seen it many times since.(I am now 35).

I was first exposed to its music as a freshman on my high school's dance team. The band played several songs from Les Miserables that season & we performed to them at competitions,school football games, etc. We then went to see the musical. This was a regular public high school, not a performing arts school.

What made me stop as I was walking past the tv while Susan was being discussed on a show was the song she was singing. That is how I came to know of her. I'd of kept walking if she wasn't singing that song. Even if I don't think her vocals warrant her being the next (much older,lol)Cosette, I was still endeared to her because of the song she was singing.

I know many people like me who adore all types of musicals & it isn't as if we are the "odd men out". Many people here go to musicals regularly. It would be a rare occasion to find a person here who has never heard of Les Mis.

I have also been to operas, but personally prefer musicals and find them much more enjoyable.

Please don't make comments you have no basis for. All it does is demonstrate your ignorance.

After listening to Susan Boyle's rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream", I listened to the versions of sixteen other artists and I would say Susan's was top three. The worst version I heard was Arethra Franklin's at Clinton's inauguration but she still got a well-deserved ovation due to her wonderful past. That said, I was not impressed with Susan Boyles' performance of "Memories", but she still got a well-deserved ovation because of her first performance. I wish Susan the best but I do not envy her celebrity status at all. Britain has been known to kill celebrities.

her voice has many flaws as | said from the beginning.......unfortunately the writeup here is right on the money. A good voice but nothing exceptional

It is interesting to read all of these articles on Susan and all the opinions of different people. Personally, I feel that Susan's voice is beautiful. Her appearance was nothing to make fun of I thought and the fact that she kept her cool while being gouged by the judges and audience before she sang was a testament to her patience. Some say her voice is not that great, I have a friend who sings better, my cat sings better, whatever. You know the truth. Her voice is mesmerizing, just listen to her recording of "Cry Me a River" or "Killing Me Softly." She has been catapulted into the spotlot and I'm sure it's something that she has dreamed of, (who hasn't?) many, many times. But she is a human being. I wish people would just leave her alone and let her be in peace. I heard about her rants and raves but put yourself in her shoes. What would you do? And there are always two sides to a story. Of course she's not perfect, she faultered on the first several lines of "Memory" but quickly recovered. I felt so sorry for her, she looked so nervous. I admit that Susan Boyle came to my knowledge at a time when my life needed a lift. She has given me that lift with her voice, and I mean a major lift. There is only so low that a person can go. I thank Susan for doing this for me and I hope there are others who have accepted her and been touched by her songs. Well, I'm at work and just wanted to rant! I should have been working but what the hay! It'll get done tomorrow. Thanks for listening. Oh, I have a joke for you. There are two flies in the kitchen and one of them is a cowboy. Which one is the cowboy? (The one on the range) I know its bad but it's all I have right now.

Nonsense. Listen to her recording of "Cry Me a River" and then pass judgement. That is one of the most beautiful renditions of that song that has ever been sung. We are not deaf, we can hear her voice. It's fabulous. We, the audience aren't so stupid that we are just caught up in the package.
Disgusted with your remarks,
Lin
P.S. I was at the Broadway show Cats and the singer who sang "Miracles" was awful. She didn't get a standing ovation and everyone afterwards in the lobby was complaining. It was the big song we were all looking forward to. So don't think for a minute that seasoned Broadway performers don't have an off night. Good grief, Susan doesn't have the training and experience of these people and held up beautifully under tremendous pressure.

Nonsense. Listen to her recording of "Cry Me a River" and then pass judgement. That is one of the most beautiful renditions of that song that has ever been sung. We are not deaf, we can hear her voice. It's fabulous. We, the audience aren't so stupid that we are just caught up in the package.
Disgusted with your remarks,
Lin

Absolutely lovely voice.

To compare Susan Boyle's voice with Maria Callas is completely absurd. I have been in operatic productions and musical theatre for about 25 years, and objectively listening to Susan Boyle's two performances I can confidently state that I know at least ten women here in San Francisco in a single community theatre company who are considerably better. Her "Memories" rendition may sound wonderful to people who think that hip-hop is the height of culture, but I found it decidedly wobbly and in some places distinctly out of tune. I totally agree that it's the package surrounding her, and the reactions of the show judges, that made the "sensation".

She is doing karaoke in front of TV cameras and Simon Cowell with hundreds of people laughing at her and she nails it. Its an extraordinary performance given the circumstances that she has to do it considering that she has been doing local community singing only.

She is no Beverly Sills or Julie Andrews, but the job that she does on this song and Cry Me River indicates that she can be very good in the blues, standards, and folk areas.

I was most impressed by the final verse. At the end of a tough performance, she is able to get the emotion out of the song that a lot of professional singers would struggle to display.

I totally and completely agree with you. Most Americans have probably not heard of Les Mis or have never even been to an opera or musical. They are comparing Boyles' voice to that of modern rock or pop music, and that is wrong. Her fans probably don't know what vibrato is, so the moment they hear someone using it, they freak out and declare her as amazing. They should only compare her to real singers in opera or musicals, then they would find that while her voice is decent, it is not as great as they would think.

Susan has it all, no matter what grumblers are saying.

She has outstanding voice, fascinating personality, stunning performance. In fact, people of all cultures in the world open their hearts when they listen Susan, and it is not magic, it is power of her unique talent.

It is shame to anyone, who is trying to pretend, that they are having warrant to overtake Susan’s phenomena.

Let's just wait until May 23rd and listen to Susan sing again. I think she's going to shut all of us up and prove she's in the big leagues.

I think its the other way around. I think you are prejudiced by the audience ,her appearance and all the hoopla. I listened to her singing with my eyes closed so as not to be distracted by the video and I think she sings better than Elaine Page. Elaine Page is good but Susan has more power and range in her voice. Also in listening to her older recordings I am impresses that she sings with a lot of power without much effort. I am looking forward to hearing her sing more songs. I like her style.

I love listening to her sing. She has a beautiful, mature voice. This is her first professional appearance. Her appearance can be improved on and so can her stage presence. That will come with experience and with the help of people who want to help her succeed. I'll bet she could do opera as well as popular music and I would love to see her get some great training to develop the talent she has to its fullest potential.

I respectfully disagree with your article. My husband and I both enjoyed her singing, of course, we also enjoyed the shock to the judges and the audiences, but the truth is her voice is unique, and beautiful. I can definitely tell the difference, between her voice and others I have heard sing. And her rendition of "Cry me a River", is also one of the most beautiful I have ever heard. Even the tape when she was 22 showed much promise, even then you could hear that she has a great voice. Notice I said GREAT, not just good.

Although I've been enjoying music for almost 40 years, I have no idea what, from a technical point of view, makes a voice "great"; therefore, I'll defer to the 'experts' here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30330165/

However, I DO know what I like, and I sure like Susan Boyle's voice! Of the renditions of "I Dreamed a Dream" I have heard, I like Susan's the best; of the renditions of "Cry Me A River" that I have heard, I like Susan's the best (by a lot). Part of a singer's appeal is the ability to connect with an audience. She connected with that audience in about 3 seconds flat. There was no 'back story', and any disparity between Sound and Vision only goes so far to explain the effect she seems to have on people. Scoffing at a contestant because s/he is not the greatest artist in human history is somewhat disingenuous. Susan Boyle is quickly joining my list of all-time fave female vocalists. Good on you, Susan - well done, good luck & God bless!

if you have a problem with the audience, then listen to this, *cry me a river* (do a search) its a professional audio recording. after you listen to that, take back what you said!

Chole, I compared Sarah Brightman and Elaine Page (Both whom I love to listen to and have seen in London "Cats') to Susan Bowles. All were singing I Dreamed A Dream. Susan simply does have a better, fuller voice. It was easy to pick out her voice too. Susan could use a little work on her lower register (something that I did notice from the first time listening to her singing). But this would simply be gilding the Lilly as far as I am concerned. Nitpicking her performance is not the point. Being able to listen to her sing IS the point. Lets hope we can get to listen to her singing a lot more soon. Better yet, look at how much positive exposure she has brought to Opera and to classical singing. Far better than some 'gangsta' rapper using shock words or a gun fight to promote their (C)rap music.

Oh I disagree with you 100%. She has the best female voice since Dinah Washington. Take away the package of the underdog and the whole story and her voice is still the most beautiful voice I have ever heard. No matter what you say, this woman's voice is extraordinary. You are wrong.

Well folks let me tell you one thing. Every person is unique. Every voice is unique. I wonder if anyone of the above commenters can sing at all. There are 3 ways to listen to susans singing. The story which she sings about is also her own story which makes the emotions so authentic. The words in the song touch everyones own story about personal tears about the love that would never die... And then, without the words and the story, if one listens to the sound itself; well, I hear a voice with a comforting, fresh, touching and loving appereance. I feel comforted - I feel inspired - I feel part.
So folks, whatever you may say. I can see love and I tell you one more thing. Also you are lovable - please believe again. Tell yourself every day - I am lovable. Maybe then, you can truly enjoy susans singing. I do enjoy it. Can you make others enjoy your singing? Great, I am looking forward to your performance.

Amazing! With anyone who rises from the masses there will always be some detractors. My first viewing of Susan came without "the package". I saw a video of her as she started to sing (with no back story). I was moved by her and her performance. A key component of music (or a musician) is the ability to move the listener. I'm sure critics can find something wrong with anyone's voice and think themselves superior for it. I think of James Taylor, an American icon of music, and I don't particularly care for his voice but I can't deny his ability to move his audience. Chloe, quit angling for Simon's job of chief critic, it's taken.

You say "...ut take away the "package" that surrounds that voice, and it's not as exceptional as many think. It's a good voice. But it's not great."
Listen to others sing the same song.
I have listened to other, well-known, singers sing "I Dreamed A Dream", and none [I mean none], can sing as well as Susan can. "
Bring up others singing the same song, even Elaine Paige, Susan's hero, and listen to them. Even the best of them cannot come close to Susan's performance.
If she never sings another note she has set a standard with her rendition of I Dreamed A Dream.

She may well be a great singer. Maria Callas didn't have a particularly outstanding voice. It was how she used her instrument. Susan Boyle could well be in Maria Callas's league.

Ach, she may not be great, but damn folks, she's damn good. And it's not just about her singing, it's about following your dreams, no matter how old you are. Or what society thinks of her looks. The woman has a pair of brass ones.

Good article. Also a nice piece I found discussing how susan b is not really an overnight sensation. Check it here.

I strongly disagree. Paul Potts is a joke, sure, but Susan Boyle's voice is pretty impressive. Sure, she needs a little work, particularly in developing her lower register; but that's a serious voice she's got.

Have you heard her "Cry Me A River"? Worth a listen.
http://tinyurl.com/djko4t

Chloe, I agree with you -- her voice is nice, but not exceptional. But when I said that to a couple of friends, I was booed!

Neither, btw, was Paul Potts's voice.

Thanks for weighing in, Everycritic.
Britain's Got Talent is a show for amateurs. But the best of them are propelled into professional spheres. Boyle should have a great voice to merit this leap. Does she have the potential to be great? I'm not so sure. People do focus on appearances all the time. But in this case it seems the "package" (not just appearance but background story too) is everything.

"It's a good voice. But it's not great. I certainly don't think it's unique in any way."

You're right but why are you expecting it would be great? I thought the point of these programs is that they feature amateurs or small-time professionals without extensive training.

Of course Susan Boyle isn’t great---she has the potential to be great with training and work, just like the other unknowns who appear on these shows.

And as for the comment about people focusing on her appearance rather than her singing voice……. Isn’t that the exact same thing that happens every time a Cute Young Thing gets up to sing?