In my previous post, I encouraged you to click on this link (YouTube has asked that the video not be embedded, although I'm seeing some people violating that request) and hear Susan Boyle's beautiful rendition of "I Dreamed A Dream" on Britain's Got Talent. I'm not ashamed to say that I had tears in my eyes when the song ended, not just from her voice--although it's beautiful--but from the way the story played out.Susan Boyle is an unmarried, unemployed 48-year-old Scottish woman who cared for her mother until the woman died at the age of 91. Susan began singing in the church she attended every Sunday. Her mother encouraged her to sing, but Susan stopped two years ago when her mother died. Because of a learning disability stemming from oxygen deprivation at birth, she'd been ridiculed much of her life. Her TV appearance started out to be another such experience. Then she started to sing, and the sarcastic grins on the faces of the judges changed to open-mouthed amazement. Despite her appearance, despite their preconception of her, this woman was talented.
Lessons? Oh, you can draw dozens from the story of Susan Boyle. Write your own parable if you wish. For those of us who write, who struggle on wondering if our efforts will ever pay dividends, uncertain whether our sweat equity in the craft will ever be rewarded, this is just another success story that gives us a glimmer of hope. If there's true talent and if that's combined with a will to succeed, there's always a chance. And that's what keeps us going. There's always a chance.
7 comments:
My husband showed me that video yesterday. And yes, I had tears in my eyes, too. Amazing voice. I love that the two videos I've seen from Britains Got Talent (Paul Potts and Susan Boyle) are not about the "pretty people." These two have amazing vocal talent without the trendy looks and attitudes. I, too, love the myriad lessons from this!
Richard, I'm so very grateful for your post.
I saw the amazing video last night and was absolutely mesmerized by it. Now that you've given me "the rest of the story," I am moved beyond words.
I put a link to it on my Facebook page, and it embedded the video. I'm not sure how to fix that, but I'll do my best.
Watching this video for the first time this morning got my day off to a great start! Couldn't help but enjoy watching the stunned audience reaction as well.
And Simon can smile, after all. Nice to know.
What particularly got me was the general reaction to her age. The eye-rolling among the judges when she said she was 47 hit home for me, as I'm 51 and in graphic design, a trade I sometimes think is as youth-oriented as entertainment. I'm seeking a change of career and a "Susan Boyle moment" myself.
I set my reactions to the tune of "I Dreamed a Dream" in my blog post, which you're welcome to read: http://rickwolff.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/thank-you-susan-boyle/
I would say that people like to root for the underdog, but the Susan Boyle video seems to show a different picture. People like to see an underdog win.
Thank you so much for giving us the backstory. I'd seen the performance several times, but did not realize that she is mentally challenged. Bless her heart! She showed the judges that she can sing whether or not she faces other challenges. Thanks again for letting us know of her disablities. Knowing that makes the story so much more interesting.
This is an amazing video. I've seen it all over the place. Great story.
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