Susan Boyle returned to that blazing hot spotlight yesterday when she performed at two shows in London's Wembley Arena for the Britain's Got Talent tour. Boyle had previously missed several shows and had been hospitalized for exhaustion immediately following the competition's finale. People.com reports that Boyle received standing-O's for her showstoppers "I Dreamed a Dream" and "Memory", and if the videos are any indication, her voice (if not her dress) was in fine form.
I have to confess I was getting a little weary of all the Boyle drama. My brain tends to shut down whenever I hear any celebrity — or more likely, celebrity's rep — citing exhaustion. (Yes, celebrity, it is so exhausting to be you!) Incredibly, though, it was Simon Cowell who re-ignited my sympathy for her. I read his piece in the Daily Mail this weekend in which he addressed several controversies, including Boyle's post-show breakdown, and admitted, "Looking back on it all, it has become clear to me that we didn't handle the situation with Susan as well as we could have." I thought he was characteristically blunt about the pressures of sudden fame and his own responsibilities for Boyle's welfare. It forced me to recall that for as much as we've come to view her as just another flash-in-the-pan famous person, not too long ago she was an average lady with a quiet life who was not at all prepared for a global media frenzy.
What do you think? Are you ready to give Boyle's return a standing ovation, too? Or are you just about ready to stop paying attention?
I knew it was inevitable that the media would turn on Susan, but I’ve never wavered in my support of her. I don’t think she’s the best singer that ever lived, but I’m pleased that she’s now got a platform to launch a successful redording career, and I hope she does well.
I’m more than willing to give her a standing “O”! I am among the throngs of people who think her voice is beautiful, easy to listen to even when singing the songs over and over and over. She has some sort of “magic,” and those of us who get emotional listening to the pure quality of her “notes” realize she does more than “sing them.” She enters your heart! I pray she has a long and stellar career and enough money and time to spend with family and friends and have a semi-normal life!
Why? What was wrong with her dress? She looks beautiful …
I think she looks beautiful in the gray shimmering dress also, but especially loved the dark maroon sparkly lace dress she wore for semi-final. The long gray one was made for her, and I think the long flowing dress accensuates her increasing graceful stage presence.
I admire Susan Boyle and the people around her greatly, though I confess I am getting a little tired of the same songs, the same dress, and I look forward to her CD and other performances,
I can’t wait to hear Susan perform live. She is a natural on the stage and her voice is so beautiful. I think she gets better (and more gorgeous) with each performance. I would rather her be cautious and rest rather than risk damaging her wonderful voice on this tour. Her fans are anxiously awaiting the release of her first CD and hope to see her perform on stage or concert halls. The media should leave her alone. Susan is a lovely lady. Who could have coped with all of this in such a short period of time?
The same dress and the same songs are the equivalent of a traveling stage show, in which they sing the same songs and wear the same costumes! She has a “stage” voice and has already been offered parts. By the time she finishes with this tour, she’ll have the “traveling show” thing down pat!
You cannot duplicate what happened with Susan in her debut performance.Anyone trying it will be seen as a Susan wannabee and will seem
artificial.Susan needs to sing I Dreamed the Impossible Dream at the Lincoln Memorial.She epitomizes the American spirit(that explains her vast popularity with Americans) and has a beautiful voice.(she sings from the heart and does not shout like so many singers). But it goes beyond that to the spiritual ,to the ideal attainment of one’s dreams despite the odds.The debut was the most incredible small morality play compacted into one short TV appearance.It just happened.NO ONE even with a beautiful voice can ever repeat it.
Wonderful to hear Susan Boyle, Singing. I pray we will continue to hear her beautiful clear voice.
she actually showed up for a show?? now that’s mews.
Great To Hear Susan Boyle singing, I am glad she had the courage to stand up insoite of all negative insults, I pray she may have a long prosperous singing careerGod Bless you Susan Boyle
What happened. Did she finally get rid of that nasty hair ball?
No one could go from zero miles to 100 miles an hour from a dead stop as Miss Boyle has done in less than THREE months!
Simon has repeatedly stated that she was offered the chance to NOT do the BGT tour at all- but that they decided to let her do selected shows.
Every time she misses a few shows, the media reports “comeback”- how silly is the media? You people are the ones who keep bringing up Miss Boyle and most of the time, not at all in a flattering light.
I know some people who have seen her live, and say she has a incredible charisma on stage, and I have seen all the videos of the performances and she gets better and better at each one.
She also is becoming a beauty which no one in the media mentions at all. I will be so glad when this traveling vaudeville show, BGT is OVER, so Miss Boyle can concentrate on singing songs that SHE wants to sing for her CD.
Some people have no taste
I’m so sick of the exhaustion thing, too. Try going to everyday to an office, facing the same 8 people, the same spreadsheets and same two hour commute. And now imagine doing it for the rest of your life. Or, even worse, shoveling gravel into tar in 110 degree heat. Now, imagine doing that until your body doesn’t let you anymore or retitre. Whichever comes first. That’s where real exhaustion hits–and you don’t get to go to the hospital or get a day off.
Celebrities merely have to say they want a red sweater and it appears, along with a latte-done just the way they want it, in exchange for sitting around a set and speaking a few lines. Or putting on a costume and singing. Or telling a few jokes. Hard to feel bad for them.