Susan Boyle
If you haven’t seen Susan Boyle’s performance of “I Dreamed a Dream ” from Les Misérables on “Britain’s Got Talent” (BG), here’s your link. Don’t walk, run.
Back? Amazing, right?
First, what’s not interesting, though this is what you’ll read about and hear from your friends:
- Over 13 million YouTube views within four days
- Tweets from Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore about how the performance made them cry
- Global mainstream media coverage of the performance and the online reaction
- Dozens of “fan sites” launched immediately in order to greedily grab those page views and Google Adwords click-throughs
None of this matters one iota compared to what really is interesting about this story.
According to the reports, Susan Boyle is unemployed. Single. By her own very public admission, never been kissed. Nearly 48 years old. Perfectly ordinary to look at. In other words, the least likely candidate to succeed in a pop music starlet identification contest one could imagine.
When asked which singing star’s example she aspired to, she stated without hesitation, Elaine Paige — merely the most successful female musical theatre performer in British history.
Admit it. If you came across an individual of similar profile in any other context, your would judge as the BGT judges admitted they had: hopeless. A disaster.
Like our economy. Like the unemployment situation in Detroit (over 12% as reported today). Leave it for dead.
But unlike so many, Susan Boyle still hangs on with hope. She sang a song entitled “I Dreamed a Dream,” a song about disappointment and despair:
I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I’m living
So different now from what it seems
Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed.
Once in a great while, a World Wide Rave [with apologies to David Meerman Scott] occurs which is more than just “cool.”
For me, this one is a lesson in humility. Susan Boyle carried out a simple act of courage and faith notwithstanding her circumstances. From the opening note, she had utterly transformed the environment around her. Those who sneered were agape in wonder. Those who judged, reversed their verdicts. Those who were seated, stood, applauded, cheered.
Our culture is an interesting and resilient thing. Just when we think we know what innovative approach or revolutionary breakthrough is going to drive us to the next plateau, some damn example of values based on permanent and immutable truths comes along and leads us in a whole new direction.
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Susan Boyle came up on twitter today and I wrote up a special Huffington Post Piece on it. I’d love for you to see it: http://budurl.com/wchg
Bravo and amen, truth is spoken.
Well said, Tim and I totally agree. I’m writing this from Wellington, NZ and this is clearly a global phenom.
BTW – Paul Potts was the original of this. 44 million views.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA
As good as Susan Boyle is, the Paul Potts video is the original. If you haven’t seen it, run. But when Paul came out it was prior to twitter. So it shows how far social media has come.
Great to hear from you, David — thanks and good get on Paul Potts.
Paul does have the edge on YouTube views. He was the first noteworthy transformation from ugly duckling.
But to paraphrase Randy from the American version of the show, “Yo, listen up. For me, dog, I find Susan’s story richer given the global economic situation, her personal condition, and the power and pain that rings through that great song choice.”
Nice post Tim. Ironically point 4 resonates as the Susan Boyle subject drew me to your post. How many hits did it generate for you?
What I find amazing about this viral stuff is how relatively minor events here in Blighty (Boyle and Daniel Hannan being the most prominent, recent examples) get equal, if not more air time in countries like the US. If we are all watching, enjoying, debating and reacting to the same stuff, aren’t we creating a ‘globalised’ cultural and political society? We are all brovvers now in this New World Order.
Talking of videos that make you cry, try this one for size.
http://www.youtube.com/v/g3y0S9Iz8zQ
Richard
Understanding that gut wrenching, heart palpitating, throat constricting phenomena happen like this with a great deal of frequency (their awareness mercifully propelled forward by the speed and momentum of web), this makes me wonder how the human condition can’t improve more quickly.
That was a wonderful post. I’ve watched this video over 20 times, and it still brings a tear to my eye. I’ve been so intrigued by her story, I can’t get enough. Yes, everyone did judge and people will continue to judge…. its human nature, I guess. The lesson here is that those sneers and chuckles have never stood in her way. As for what a viral phenomenon this has become, I see two reasons: 1) an inspiring story during hard times and 2) Who doesn’t have a dream–I can’t imagine one person who can’t relate with Susan in some way.
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