appearing on Good Morning America by satellite from Britain, Miss Boyle was asked by hostDiane Sawyer if she wanted to change the way she looked. “I’d like that,” Miss Boyle replied, adding, “I can’t really believe this is happening.”’
The New Zealand Herald said: ‘A middle-aged volunteer church worker with the voice of an angel is Britain’s latest unlikely showbiz star.’ Even France acknowledged her talent when the French news agency AFP (Agence France-Presse) reported on her ‘stunning musical debut’. Susan was truly on her way to becoming a global phenomenon.
CHAPTER FIVE
S USAN G OES G LOBAL
O ne of the remarkable aspects of Susan Boyle’s fame is how her appeal has transcended all nationalities and classes. She isn’t just for the section of the public known, for better or worse, as ‘the masses’, or the various outlets of the media who constantly feed the outside world with information and tittle-tattle. Even ‘celebs’ themselves have fallen under her spell. And it didn’t take long for that to happen, either. In the global village we all now inhabit, word circulated in a matter of days.
It was fitting that among the first to acknowledge her gift was Elaine Paige, the woman who had so inspired Susan throughout the years. ‘I did not see the broadcast when it went out as I was taking a little break,’ she said. ‘But when I got back from that holiday my email box was inundated with friends telling me to watch the YouTube clip, which I did – along with everyone else in the world.’
The obvious question, given Susan’s professedadmiration for Paige, was did the West End star think the Scot was any good – and was there a similarity in their voices?
‘When I first saw the YouTube clip I remember having an idea in my head, “Oh, that’s a voice I kind of recognise a bit.” I think there is a kind of similarity. It has a tone to it, a similar timbre. Yes, I can hear a similarity, most definitely. It’s slightly uncanny and a bit spooky even. Yes, I can hear it.
‘When I saw her I thought she was wonderful. She has a clear, natural voice and I was blown away like everybody else. Hearing her sing with such freedom, it was an outstanding performance. When I saw her on YouTube and heard her say that she wanted to sing like me, I was very honoured and flattered. To be an inspiration, when you are completely unaware of it and then to discover in this way, is a, is a big surprise. Well, it’s just very flattering.’
Paige thought Susan was a role model for other people who were dreaming of the same thing and, like many, found it refreshing to hear a voice that didn’t belong to someone of 25 or younger. ‘I think everyone is tired of that youth culture. Equally, in days gone by opera singers could be any shape or size or whatever and no one would comment on their appearance. It was their voice that mattered. I think it is the same with Susan. I think it is her voice that is her talent and I think she should stay true to herself. She comes from a little village in WestLothian in Scotland; she is a country girl I suppose you could say. I think for her to be glitzy and glamorous in some village in Scotland is not the way for her to go about things and would perhaps be a little unsettling.’
And of the suggestion that the two should sing a duet: ‘If it’s something that Simon Cowell would like to do then it would be my great pleasure to sing with her. Of course, to be in the theatre is a whole different ball game. You need to sing eight times a week, you need energy and stamina and some training. I would love to meet her and talk to her and maybe have tea or something.
‘She is a very natural girl you can see that in her performance. She reached out to the world, as it were. She’s a country girl. And I think she just has the most lovely, natural voice. She’s very open in her performance. And I think, you know, in such gloomy times that we’re all sort of living through
The New Zealand Herald said: ‘A middle-aged volunteer church worker with the voice of an angel is Britain’s latest unlikely showbiz star.’ Even France acknowledged her talent when the French news agency AFP (Agence France-Presse) reported on her ‘stunning musical debut’. Susan was truly on her way to becoming a global phenomenon.
CHAPTER FIVE
S USAN G OES G LOBAL
O ne of the remarkable aspects of Susan Boyle’s fame is how her appeal has transcended all nationalities and classes. She isn’t just for the section of the public known, for better or worse, as ‘the masses’, or the various outlets of the media who constantly feed the outside world with information and tittle-tattle. Even ‘celebs’ themselves have fallen under her spell. And it didn’t take long for that to happen, either. In the global village we all now inhabit, word circulated in a matter of days.
It was fitting that among the first to acknowledge her gift was Elaine Paige, the woman who had so inspired Susan throughout the years. ‘I did not see the broadcast when it went out as I was taking a little break,’ she said. ‘But when I got back from that holiday my email box was inundated with friends telling me to watch the YouTube clip, which I did – along with everyone else in the world.’
The obvious question, given Susan’s professedadmiration for Paige, was did the West End star think the Scot was any good – and was there a similarity in their voices?
‘When I first saw the YouTube clip I remember having an idea in my head, “Oh, that’s a voice I kind of recognise a bit.” I think there is a kind of similarity. It has a tone to it, a similar timbre. Yes, I can hear a similarity, most definitely. It’s slightly uncanny and a bit spooky even. Yes, I can hear it.
‘When I saw her I thought she was wonderful. She has a clear, natural voice and I was blown away like everybody else. Hearing her sing with such freedom, it was an outstanding performance. When I saw her on YouTube and heard her say that she wanted to sing like me, I was very honoured and flattered. To be an inspiration, when you are completely unaware of it and then to discover in this way, is a, is a big surprise. Well, it’s just very flattering.’
Paige thought Susan was a role model for other people who were dreaming of the same thing and, like many, found it refreshing to hear a voice that didn’t belong to someone of 25 or younger. ‘I think everyone is tired of that youth culture. Equally, in days gone by opera singers could be any shape or size or whatever and no one would comment on their appearance. It was their voice that mattered. I think it is the same with Susan. I think it is her voice that is her talent and I think she should stay true to herself. She comes from a little village in WestLothian in Scotland; she is a country girl I suppose you could say. I think for her to be glitzy and glamorous in some village in Scotland is not the way for her to go about things and would perhaps be a little unsettling.’
And of the suggestion that the two should sing a duet: ‘If it’s something that Simon Cowell would like to do then it would be my great pleasure to sing with her. Of course, to be in the theatre is a whole different ball game. You need to sing eight times a week, you need energy and stamina and some training. I would love to meet her and talk to her and maybe have tea or something.
‘She is a very natural girl you can see that in her performance. She reached out to the world, as it were. She’s a country girl. And I think she just has the most lovely, natural voice. She’s very open in her performance. And I think, you know, in such gloomy times that we’re all sort of living through
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