Susan Boyle

[rbowser-]

If you haven't seen Susan Boyle yet --

WATCH THIS! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk)

Randy in awe B.

[marce]

Hi Randy. Very nice! The sad thing is that people appreciate mrs. Boyle because she can sing very well. But if she couldnt? still she would must be apreciated, but for sure that audience would not think that.

[rbowser-]

Yes, Marce, I understand what you mean. In the first part of the vid before she sang, I was disgusted with both the panel and the audience---typically shallow, heartless, cynical attitudes which keep me away from these kind of TV shows. Then when Ms. Boyle opened her mouth to sing - the transformation that came over everyone is an astonishingly beautiful miracle to watch. And the panel dropped their guard and all expressed themselves with genuineness after Ms. Boyle sang.

I hope everyone watches this - Apparently one of the biggest over-night HUGE Mega Hit Wonders in the history of You Tube. When you go there to YT you can find a long list of various versions of this vid. Some show her back stage before she came on, and her back stage after her song.

I think it's the most inspiring thing I've seen this year. I wish it could permanently change the attitude, look and purpose of all those godawful reality shows. At least there is this moment when somebody unknown, from humble origins, truly made magic and made a positive difference.

BRAVA SUSAN BOYLE!

Randy

[qccowboy]

I'm holding my breath to see how she'll continue on from here.
My understanding of this "reality" show is that she is now on to the semi-finals or something, yes?

With a voice like that, the proper training/coaching, she COULD have a great career. Not ALL parts in musicals are for 19-yr old beauty pageant toothpicks with generic voices.

The only issue now is that a "career" as a singer is more than singing one song. And if she is interested in doing musicals (which is a leap on my part, I'm assuming because of her choice of song) she will need to have stage presence as well as acting ability and some charisma.

[bigears]

Yes Randy, that was surely a beautiful and inspirational moment. But I'm a bit sad and fearful thinking about where it goes from here when the money machine goes to work on her, deciding how best to "market" her. I hope the lady has a good head on her shoulders and both knows and holds onto who she really is. Maybe it's time to rewrite the script for "A Star Is Born." John

[KeithW]

I believe the biggest part of this story is about what it says about Simon Cowell, his 2 shows on both sides of the Pond ("America's Got Talent, Britain
's Got Talent",) and what people are used to seeing. I think a lot of people tune in to these shows (including "American Idol") at the audition portion of the season to see people bomb, to have Simon and his other judges figuratively murder these people's dreams. Watching the judges faces when this lady comes out a belts out a Broadway standard was just amazing. I sorta restores my confidence in human nature.

For all of the Susan Boyles of the world who are not "beautiful people," but have talent, this is a great day.

Keith Walls

[rolifer]

What a surprise!!!

An ugly girl can sing.

That is what everyone is thinking on a sub-conscience level. I can almost guarantee that the panelists were thinking that as well, just not in a sub-conscience manner.

In today's world you have to be one of the beautiful people to be successful. Especially if you are a woman. Look at how many sub-par successful singers there are that have the one redeeming quality of being beautiful.

So let's all band together and boycott the beautiful people.

No, I guess not, because then I would get boycotted.

I do enjoy dreamland.

Ron

[Hippie]

I lifted this from her Wikipedia page:

" Simon Cowell is reported to be setting up a contract with Boyle with his SyCo Music (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SyCo_Music) company label, a subsidiary of Sony Music".

[Garritan]

This is very inspiring and shows that greater beauty comes from within. )(~ Thanks for posting this.

~Gary

[SteveMitchell]

This singing Angel has accumulated up to 20 millions hits on YouTube.

BRAVA!!

Stevemitchell

[rbowser-]

I'm glad you guys have tuned in. Susan Boyle's performance provided the most stunning, transformative moment that I've experienced since first seeing Obama speak.

I hadn't even thought ahead to what Susan will be facing now, offers of contracts, the whole show-biz grind. Well - that's what happens when someone with talent and has a chance to be noticed. I can only trust that things go well for her.

I really can't stomach these kind of shows, and the ones like "Survivor"--they're advertised with the hook to tune in to see who loses--Man that's negative. "Who gets axed this week!?!?" Disgusting to me that this is found to be entertaining. It's cynical showmanship that appeals to the worst in human nature.

The snide, jaded atmosphere in that auditorium before Susan sang--so creepy, with eyes literally rolling as she introduced herself.

And then the magical effect of her pure, simple confidence, instantly changing the entire atmosphere - As Patty LuPone says in a You Tube phone conversation with Susan, it's amazing that even through the small, cold video screen at You Tube, the power of the moment just reaches out and shakes you. Patty freely admitted that when she was alerted about the vid (Patty sang this "Les Mis" song initially in England) that she and her husband burst into tears over the beauty of it.

It's an amazing thing and with it breaking You Tube viewing records, it's an incredibly positive vibration that Susan has set in motion throughout the entire world.

I'm completely blown away.

Randy B.

[Hippie]

Let's not forget another story from that show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA

[SteveMitchell]

Not only was I very emotional about her singing the work, this slickly produced vignette featured what sounded like an instrumental of this song, with the triumph of the positive judging, the music bursts right on cue with Simon's last "head held high" words.

This recording is gorgeous, and I'm sure adds to the emotional impact to the entire package (lovely parts for horn).

Not being familiar with Les Miserables, my question is does anyone hear recognize this recorded version of the work?

I'd love to buy a copy.

Stevemitchell

[rbowser-]

Thanks for the link, Aram - I hadn't forgotten about the clip you posted, I'd never seen it before. Very marvelous also!- Everyone should take a look.

Steve, I don't know what the source of the recording is, but you must find a cast recording of "Les Mis" and take a listen. Powerful, crowd-pleasing, heart-grabbing show of a very simple and direct sort. The song Susan sang is one of the show's big moments which is difficult to mess up - but when it's done as honestly as she did it, well, you can see it's very strong stuff.

Randy

[ejr]

The best recording is "Les Miserables: The Complete Symphonic Recording" -- if for no other reason than it is simply the whole show (and the entire libretto in the package to boot.) The cast is huge, culled from all the productions worldwide, with every continent represented. I could quibble with some of the vocalists (especially the lead, Jean Valjean whose voice, like most of those who have played the role, sounds a little pinched and strained to me.)

This is not my favorite type of show. It was very slickly produced. The music is extremely derivitive. Virtually every song sounds like a soaring anthem. It sounded like a recipie for disaster ... yet, somehow, it wasn't. Firstly, the story is brilliant and the characters are universally appealing (a true classic that always works, no matter how it is done). Secondly, every role was designed as a showcase for the performer -- lots of "money notes" and stirring orchestral moments, calculated to send shivvers up your spine. After a few moments, you stop caring if you've heard something like this before and enjoy the perfomances as well as the story.

I was lucky enough to see the gypsy run through when the it moved from the Broadway theater to a smaller house. I had a friend in the chorus who told me that they had recast the leads from all the other productions with the performers whom the producer felt, over the years, had been the best. That -- plus the fact that the house was packed with an audience of people "in the business" (the most unforgiving when you are not up to par, and absolutely the best when you are) -- made for one of the most exiting afternoons that I have ever spent in the theater. Their Jean Valjean was the only one I've heard who sounded effortless. Their Marius and Cosette were absolutely marvelous. And I have never seen a better Thenardier.

But getting back to Susan Boyle. She sounded very much like every recording I have heard of the song. Cameron MacIntosh seems to like to press every actor playing a given part into the mold of the performer who originated the role. So that is not surprising. If she were singing it professionally, that is exactly what she would be expected to do. The challenge in this case is not to bring a new interpretation to the role, but to perform it in a way that seems fresh and genuine and has immediacy. But, of course, she would never get cast as Fantine (the character who sings this song). She is too old, too heavy set, and too unattractive. That is the sad reality of the way casting works.

Don't get me wrong. I loved the video clip and was pulling for her every step of the way. But at any audition for a Broadway show, you can find a room full of people who sing it just as well. Or at least well enough to be cast. And looks matter. Often it's the only criteria. But it always is important. For all the talk of nontraditional casting it is far easier for an attractive person of a different race to be cast or an established "star" (even if they are completely wrong for it, even when it makes no sense) than to go against type. It happens. But it's rare (Kathy Bates in 'Night Mother, Nikki Blonsky in Hairspray). Hopefully the fame Ms. Boyle gets from all this exposure will be a way for her to break through. But, realisitically, it is unlikely to help the next person.

As a working actor, who has spent most of his life auditioning, what I saw is what performers encounter all to often. The people who are in a position to judge you are those who, by and large, have little or no talent themselves. They make snap judgements, based largely on appearances, prejudices and preconceptions. They cling to the most obvious stereotypes and are incapable of thinking outside the box. There is no school for training casting directors, talent scouts or A&R people as far as I know. No standards, no universally accepted skill set. How many years have they been doing this show? How many times have they found singers who didn't LOOK like they can sing? Why haven't they yet learned not to make judgements until they have actually HEARD the contestent? I hate the idea of these shows and have never watched one. This clip is the first that I have seen. But isn't this the point: to find talent that otherwise might have gone undiscovered? What this clip showed me is how incredibly shallow these people are and I can't see how giving them more exposure and more power furthers the art in any direction. But when something like this happens it is encouraging to see that talent will shine through.

My predictions for Ms. Boyle: a recording contract, win or lose. She'll probably win (because it will make a good story and the business loves good stories). There will be at least one made for TV (or made for cable) movie (starring, if they are lucky, the woman herself ... but if Bette Midler is available and wants it she'll get it ... that's what's known in the biz as "star power" or "clout".)

[Pingu]

I could quibble with some of the vocalists (especially the lead, Jean Valjean whose voice, like most of those who have played the role, sounds a little pinched and strained to me.)


They always seem to cast someone who sounds like Scott Walker

[SteveMitchell]

Found the recording used on Susan's BGT.

OF COURSE, it's John Williams/Boston Pops from their album of Broadway music - silly me.

Stevemitchell

P.S. - I sorta had a tough time verifying the version I got from Amazon was the same recording - BGT compressed the heck out of it, though still nice.

[SeanHannifin]

I like the video, and I like the song (a good song to select!), and I enjoy watching these Internet phenomenons emerge. :D

Though this is may be called a "reality show", it's not really. The editors do control the emotions immensely, from the clips of rolling eyes to the music cues. That sometimes bugs me, because the editors are really creating a story for us. But isn't that what we want? :D And it works!

Another things that bugs me is that if she was a beautiful woman and sang exactly the same way, the reaction might be different. The "triumph" here depends on our prejudice. And then we say our prejudice is a bad thing? Then why do we love getting over it so much?

(EDIT: And what if she had sung terribly? No one would say "how dare we judge a person based on their singing!" and yet that's what we do here; we're still basing her worth on something...)


people who are in a position to judge you are those who, by and large, have little or no talent themselves. They make snap judgements, based largely on appearances, prejudices and preconceptions. They cling to the most obvious stereotypes and are incapable of thinking outside the box. There is no school for training casting directors, talent scouts or A&R people as far as I know. No standards, no universally accepted skill set.

Everyone is in a position to judge. Casting directors and talent scouts make their judgments because they want a certain judgment from an audience; don't blame them, blame all humans in general! I'm sure the producers of this show love when they can find a semi-ugly person who can sing well because they know how what sort of reaction it might get. Still, they probably couldn't have predicted how this video would spread so rapidly on the net; that's an emergent property that we're taking part in right now...

Even as I type this, I hear other people in this library talking about Susan Boyle! :D That's some fame! I will be hoping that she stays true to herself and that this sudden fame and attention does more good and inspiring things, and that it doesn't become the annoying beast it can often be.

Good luck, Susan! )(~

[SeanHannifin]

Found the recording used on Susan's BGT.

OF COURSE, it's John Williams/Boston Pops from their album of Broadway music - silly me.

Ooh, nice find! Something for my wish list. :D (I love a good instrumental orchestration!!)

[ernie-ventnor]

Though this is may be called a "reality show", it's not really. The editors do control the emotions immensely, from the clips of rolling eyes to the music cues. That sometimes bugs me, because the editors are really creating a story for us. But isn't that what we want? :D And it works!

Of the tens of thousands of people who have responded to this video, you are one of the few to point out the role that editing played in making this such a YouTube success (and a success on Britain's Got Talent to begin with). Virtually every second of this is tightly arranged for the greatest possible effect. And the orchestration of the song is crucial -- but by no means as casual as the "push the button" shot on the video. Notice how the music rolls again after Susan is finished singing. I would love to know where they came up with this version. It is definitely NOT the John Wiliams version someone else suggested.

This takes nothing away from Susan Boyle's astounding performance. I have no doubt had I been in the audience I would have been on my feet applauding myself silly. But the addictive impact of the video (everyone mentions repetitive viewing) is down to its very careful packaging. Irony there -- Susan's packaging was counter-intuitive, but the packaging of the performance plays such a huge role here.

[rbowser-]

The professionals who put on the show and edited the versions of the clips were seeing are doing their job, and doing it extremely well. With their expertise and talent, they have showcased Susan in the best possible light - and they should be commended for their jobs being very well done. That's what professionals should be doing, giving audiences the best version of the entertainment at hand, because audiences deserve the best presentation.

And so - I think all of that is taken for granted, and should be. The point is that it's Susan who is showcased with this slick presentation, and she more than deserves it. Beyond her control, a completely magical moment happened, and thank goodness the pros were there to support her and her talent in the best possible way.

Randy

[Pingu]

The professionals who put on the show and edited the versions of the clips were seeing are doing their job, and doing it extremely well. With their expertise and talent, they have showcased Susan in the best possible light - and they should be commended for their jobs being very well done. That's what professionals should be doing, giving audiences the best version of the entertainment at hand, because audiences deserve the best presentation.



Actually they're anything but professional, or slick. Our school big band got involved this year, so I got to experience the process first hand. Sadly the production team were just one huge shambles from beginning to end. They were dishonest, disorganised, terrible at communication,etc

For instance, we had to submit an absolute tonne of paperwork, because many of our students were minors. They suddenly told us they needed it three days after the deadline, so we busted a gut getting doctors notes, birth certificates, consent from the local education authority and a whole stack of other stuff, for 20 boys. We turned it around in one day, sent it all in, and they promptly lost most of it. No apology - just a phone call trying to claim we must not have sent parts of the paperwork, and a demand that we send it again.

When we went for the first round, we got there at 7am, and signed in, half an hour before we had been asked to arrive; we were supposed to play by midday. They put us in a room to wait, then nobody communicated with us for the next 12 hours. The band finally played at 7.30 in the evening. When my boss complained he was told it was because we had arrived late - they said that everyone who signed in by 8.30am played in the morning concert, but people who signed in after 8.30 went into a holding group who could be asked to play anytime. When he pointed out that we'd signed in at 7am they showed him the paperwork that they'd forged to show us arriving late. Someone in the know quietly told him that it was because the morning concert had been turning out to be an unmitigated pile of crap, and the production team decided that, rather than try to rescue it, they would hold back some of the better-looking acts to start the evening concert with a bang. Great for them, but from our boys' point of view, they were cooped up in a room all day, with no food, and nothing to do; never at any point did anyone say 'Hey, you're not going to be on till this evening, so go get something to eat.' They just kept them there, believing they could go on at any moment.

They got through, very emphatically, to the semifinals; standing ovations, great sets of compliments from the judges, etc. Then followed several weeks of shambolic communication from the production team, trying to organise their attendance at the semifinals. There seemed to be at least three producers doing the same job, without talking to each other, so we'd get calls that gave completely contradictory instructions. And none of them ever answered their phones, so it was impossible to get things clarified. Eventually we did get to where we knew what we were doing, had the hotel and transport organised, etc. Then, the night before we were supposed to go, we got a phone call to say they'd let too many acts through to the semifinals, so sorry, but we weren't needed. I guess that's fair enough, but we'd had a call about ten minutes earlier, from a different producer, to check that we understood the arrnagements for the next day. My boss had been very careful to check that we were still required, because he was involved with another group, who had already just got a call to cancel them. The producer assured him that we were definitely still needed - she was absolutely sure. They were simply a shambles - the right hand never knew what the left was doing.

You're right Randy - someone is very, very slick with the editing, and has a keen eye for telling the story (not least, showing everything out of order, so that they can pretend there's a sudden run of successes, or a prolonged period of poor acts, etc), and they're to be congratulated on managing to pull such a coherent show out of such a mess of a team.

I suspect the real reason we were dumped is that we were in the first round that was judged by Kelly Brook, who was promptly dumped from the panel. I'm thinking they may just edit her out altogether, which will mean they can't show any footage of her comments. We'll have to see.

[SteveMitchell]

.....It is definitely NOT the John Wiliams version someone else suggested.....

Dear Lord, Ernie - I did my best to find the "background music" from Susan's BGT performance. I thought I'd found it, with the similarly weak high-note in the third horn-section phrase, albeit severely edited/compressed, with the John Williams/BPO. If you think it's a wrong ID, then PLEASE correct me.

I want the original, above all.

I just don't think Simon's production company would pay an orchestra @ $53,000/hr to record something that's already easily available to license.

Steve

[SteveMitchell]

Ernie - I loaded the wav file of the BPO in the left channel, and the video from YouTube in the right channel, listening with headphones, synced them up at the appropriate point, and affirmed that they WERE the SAME.

I stand by my post that the background recording is from John Williams and the BPO.

Stevemitchell

[Raymond62]

If you haven't seen Susan Boyle yet --

WATCH THIS! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk)

Randy in awe B.


Why did you do this, I already told you about this wonderful voice, see:

http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/showpost.php?p=615563&postcount=1

Raymond

[PaulR]

I never watch this program but I thought she did very well.

[ernie-ventnor]

Ernie - I loaded the wav file of the BPO in the left channel, and the video from YouTube in the right channel, listening with headphones, synced them up at the appropriate point, and affirmed that they WERE the SAME.

I stand by my post that the background recording is from John Williams and the BPO.

Stevemitchell I listened to the CD version available on Rhapsody, which was distinctly different. But it is entirely possible that there is more than one John Williams version. He is nothing if not prolific (both in composition and performance).

[LFO]

The professionals who put on the show and edited the versions of the clips were seeing are doing their job, and doing it extremely well. With their expertise and talent, they have showcased Susan in the best possible light - and they should be commended for their jobs being very well done. That's what professionals should be doing, giving audiences the best version of the entertainment at hand, because audiences deserve the best presentation.

And so - I think all of that is taken for granted, and should be. The point is that it's Susan who is showcased with this slick presentation, and she more than deserves it. Beyond her control, a completely magical moment happened, and thank goodness the pros were there to support her and her talent in the best possible way.

Randy

Yeah, they said to each other. `What did we do for that podgy Paul Potts? Lets do exactly the same!'

And they did. ;)

-Kevin

[SeanHannifin]

I listened to the CD version available on Rhapsody, which was distinctly different. But it is entirely possible that there is more than one John Williams version. He is nothing if not prolific (both in composition and performance).

I listened to the version from the album "Music of the Night: Boston Pops on Broadway 1990" on Rhapsody and it's definitely the same. On TV, they did turn the volume up and down (as I'm sure they did with the sound of applause), and they did cut out a few parts, like the opening chords, and I think they subtly skipped over a measure or two later on so that when Simon "You can go back to your village with your head held high..." it syncs up perfectly with a crescendo. :D

But it's definitely the same track.

(And, just to be sure, we're talking about the instrumental version that plays after Susan sings, not the karaoke version she sings to.)

By the way, I'm not sure who really orchestrated it... it might have been John Williams, but his name would be there anyway because he was the conductor for the Boston Pops Orchestra in 1990.

[ernie-ventnor]

(And, just to be sure, we're talking about the instrumental version that plays after Susan sings, not the karaoke version she sings to.)

Sorry, I have been referring to the "karaoke" version Susan sang to, not the music played afterward (apologies if I have confused everybody). I have tried listening to many karaoke versions, but haven't found hers.

[Leaf]

That first judge guy said it best, "no one is laughing now!" In fact, she made me cry. Wow, what a beautiful lady!

Thanks for posting this, Randy.

It took so long for it to load, now i don't want to close it.

[ernie-ventnor]

Does anyone happen to know how royalty rights are handled for YouTube clips? I recall there were several IPR rows over this fairly recently (I think Warner was making a big stink about it).... Anyway, Alain Boublil-Claude-Michel Schönberg-Herbert Kretzmer should be benefiting from the renewed popularity of iTune downloads of "I Dreamed a Dream," but does ITV or YouTube owe them anything? Just wondering....I know that some TV shows stop guests from the improptu singing of anything -- even "Happy Birthday" -- because they will be obligated for royalty payments as a result.

[SteveMitchell]

Well, it's not Mahler's 2nd, but if I need a visceral cry, I now have another source.

GO SUSAN!!

Steve

[Raymond62]

Last night our TV reportage broadcast an interview with her at her home. Nice to see that the singing Susan is just the same person as the talking person, modest, humble, surprised of her success and smiling.

Raymond

[SteveMitchell]

Does anyone happen to know how royalty rights are handled for YouTube clips?

Good question. Either FremantleMedia is footing the bill for all of the "streaming" performances, or ASCAP/BMI is being very gracious, which I doubt. Since only streaming is allowed from the YouTube site, then there's no need for "mechanical licenses" from "Harry Fox Agency" for copy distribution.

But you have to assume that someone is paying for the 36,590,000 and counting "performances". You can probably double that figure as far as "performances" go, because the usage of the Williams/BPO instrumental being used in the background after Boyle's rendering of the song.

Also forgot to mention that Karaoke version that Boyle sang to as well, so triple the number.

Even at only a penny a stream, that come's to a little over $1 million that's owed in "streaming fees" that should be paid to ASCAP/BMI for distribution to the various artists/composers of the work.

Stevemitchell

[LFO]

Last night our TV reportage broadcast an interview with her at her home. Nice to see that the singing Susan is just the same person as the talking person, modest, humble, surprised of her success and smiling.

Raymond

She is certainly is a lovely person. She is so genuine and nice, I think she would be a great friend to have.

-Kevin

[NDEE]

If you haven't seen Susan Boyle yet --

WATCH THIS! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk)

Randy in awe B.

WOW.

Amazing. That was magical.

I'm stunned.

NDEE

[Styxx]

Les Miserables is my all time favorite especially after playing in three productions locally in the past seven years. I Dream a Dream is probably one of the hardest songs to put across emotionally and Susan Boyle captured the emotion flawlessly. It was good to see Simon smile as he did in this clip. She has my vote! )(~)(~)(~)(~)(~ <<< a five "hand clap" rating!

Have you seen her lately with her make overs?