By now, it would be hard to have not heard about Britain’s Got Talent’s Susan Boyle. Already interviewed on The Today Show, Good Morning America and Larry King Live, Susan Boyle is the media’s latest darling due to a single, amazing video. For a woman who’s never been kissed, Boyle has certainly captured the hearts of millions worldwide.
Of course, the media has a tendency to focus in on feel-good fluff stories to fill in the gaps of their often depressing news coverage; just look at the media’s fascination with the Obama dog, Bo. But, there’s something special about Boyle that separates her from the usual overnight sensations. What could it be?
From the moment Boyle stepped onto that stage to audition for Britain’s Got Talent, it seemed like all the odds were stacked against her. People snickered; judges looked skeptical; eyes rolled. Then Boyle opened her mouth and, in an instant, there was no disputing the raw talent that this woman possesses.
At 47 years old, with bushy eyebrows, crazy curly hair and a less-than-perfect physique, Boyle’s image can kindly be described as amazingly average. She certainly doesn’t look like the typical media sensation. But that might be why so many people love her. We took one look at Boyle and immediately lowered our expectations. And, in just a few minutes, Boyle shattered those expectations, reminding us that you don’t have to be pencil thin or have perfect skin to wow an audience.
The truth is that the general public has more in common with Susan Boyle than with any manufactured pop star. We connect with Boyle’s charm, her innocence and her courage to stand in front of an audience of vultures, all waiting to see her fail. Susan Boyle is more than just the feel-good news story of the week. She’s an inspiration to millions, all thanks to a fantastic voice and the power of YouTube.
Will Susan Boyle continue to draw the attention of people worldwide?
Who knows? But for the moment, Boyle’s left her mark on the media landscape. And, after watching Boyle, maybe we’ll redefine the meaning of a star.
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I think that Susan Boyle and Paul Potts have really demonstrated the power of YouTube. They're both completely average people (albeit with totally extraordinary talent) that gained fame in Britain through this television show, but won a worldwide audience through YouTube postings of their performances. The first time that I heard Paul Potts was on YouTube, and I listened to it with my extended family. I ended up being one of two million people (in the world) to buy his album. And it's all because of YouTube.
ReplyDeleteYouTube can be such an amazing resource, as evidenced by Susan Boyle's newfound world fame, and by many other examples. For instance, there's a YouTube symphony orchestra that was selected entirely through recorded auditions posted on YouTube. The winners performed a piece by Tan Dun at Carnegie Hall this past Friday (I think) to commemorate the first performance of an entirely internet-selected orchestra.
It's so weird to think that the arts have moved to cyberspace so quickly. For an industry that tends to be resistant to changes in delivery mediums, it has converted to the internet age amazingly quickly and with shockingly little disturbance. It makes me wonder what this implies for the arts. It's great for Susan Boyle, but will orchestras turn into something largely internet-based (i.e., The YouTube Symphony Orchestra)?