I know that everybody has got this from Bild to Oprah Winfrey, but I'm going to post it anyway because I want to say something.
I believe what Cowell says at the end of this. I can see him thinking "a woman like this, who drips good sense and dignity, wouldn't be here if she didn't know she was actually good." Of course we have the advantage of having seen the first bit of this video, and anyone who seemed less delusional would be hard to imagine. We don't know what she's got, but there has to be something.
One phrase is enough, and his eyebrows go "YESSS!!" He's like the cat that got the cream, looking sidelong at the blithering fools beside him. He's a professional bitch, but he's no fool. Sheer poetry. I hope it lasts.
Watch it as many times as you want - he's listening to the first line with actual curiosity, unlike either of the other judges, who are merely polite. But if you're good, it really doesn't matter; either is fine. I think I'd take curiosity over politeness.
A very fine "medium belt", warm and mature sound, brilliant choice of song (low for the range) and great musical expression, dignified appearance, good amateur technique with room for a little bit of work, great breath control that delivers right to the end and right to the back seats, nerves of steel. And I rather like the dignified, elegant, well-made, well-fitting dress; I wonder who made it? It might be from a shop, but I suspect it isn't, because the hem is perfectly horizontal, broad, and probably handstitched, and the fit is equally good top and bottom. Has anyone else even mentioned this? What is WRONG with people?
On a side note, notice the lad in the wings, it's either Ant or Dec, I don't know which is which, briefly using the Northern plural you, in "Yous didn't expect that, did you? Did you?". This is a useful feature missing in Standard English now that the true singular, thou, is used only for gods and Yorkshiremen; and perhaps it deserves wider use.
Thinking about it a week later and having listened to her singing Cry Me a River at the Daily Record, in which I think she sings better and you can certainly hear her better, I don't think it's going to matter if the British press do what they do and try to turn on her. It's just not going to matter at all. The only thing they can really do is try to pretend that she was pretending to be what the school bullies thought she was; patently not the case. Not that that stops them, I just don't think it will matter.
She's right to tell the Daily Record she won't do the wiggle again. It's not necessary.
Hat tip Johanna for the Youtube link - I saw a shorter extract first somewhere else, and realised it must be the same thing Johanna had linked to and I hadn't clicked yet. So I went back and clicked for the whole performance ... Maybe I should watch more TV.
I really want to slap the blonde. "I honestly think we were all ..." yes, that's your excuse, isn't it? Did I know you at school?
Thank you for the nod, Ms. H. Reportedly, the clip has had over 5 million hits since it aired. I do believe a sizable percent of them were from me :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat's the betting she won't be successful as a singer because (i) she's too old, and (ii) she doesn't look like the "blonde"?
ReplyDeleteThis despite talent.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, writer for US celebrity magazine Entertainment Weekly, said the performance was a powerful reality check.
ReplyDelete"In our pop-minded culture so slavishly obsessed with packaging - the right face, the right clothes, the right attitudes, the right Facebook posts - the unpackaged artistic power of the unstyled, un-hip, un-kissed Ms Boyle let me feel, for the duration of one blazing showstopping ballad, the meaning of human grace.
"She pierced my defences. She reordered the measure of beauty. And I had no idea until tears sprang how desperately I need that corrective."
It just goes to show that one mustn't judge a book by it's cover. Look at Paul Potts. I think that Susan's life will definitely change for the better. There are a lot of average people that perform on the show and they are average or below par, so I don't think that what was going to come out of Susan's mouth was a sure thing. It was surprisingly beautiful though and to watch her was quite inspirational.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the judges were doing anything differently than they normally do as they tend to witness so much mediocrity which must be tedious and painful at times.
Am listening to 'Cry Me a River' and I could care less what this woman looks like. She can sing. Women have it tough already and more so as we age. I am older than Susan and not ready for the scrap heap yet.
H, you have made some interesting observations. I never thought about her dress, but you are right about that having had another look. Go Susan is all I can say.
The way to tell Ant and Dec apart is that they always but always stand in the order of their names. Ant on the left and Dec on the right. Think back to a time they were together and work it out that way.
ReplyDeleteAlternatively, Ant is the beetly-browed more uncouth one. Dec reminds me of Ernie Wise.