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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

IWBU - re Susan Boyle.

138 replies

Sparrowlegs248 · 12/12/2013 21:30

I posted a few weeks ago. I saw an ad for her christmas album and thought 'jesus. Give up with bland versions of nice songs' (and stop giving my tone deaf mother something to wail along to)

So i got flamed. I knew NOTHING about her. Hadn't even seen her original x factor audition (or BGT?) i don't watch much telly.

I'm watching the documentary about her. And yes i see now that iwbu.

OP posts:
oharaharlot · 12/12/2013 21:40

Good.

I took my mum to see a play about her life for her birthday.

It brought me to tears it was that emotional. She's a pretty inspiration woman.

Shame on you for judging someone so quickly on very little.

lougle · 12/12/2013 21:44

I'm going to watch it at 10pm. Thank you for coming back to post, OP. I think my DD has similar issues and I hope that she is met with kindness as an adult.

sammythemummy · 12/12/2013 21:47

Where's it on lougle

BrianTheMole · 12/12/2013 21:48

Good.

lougle · 12/12/2013 21:48

It's just finishing on ITV, starting on ITV+1 at 10pm.

lilyaldrin · 12/12/2013 21:49

What's wrong with not liking her bland versions of nice songs? Why were you flamed?

mistermakersgloopyglue · 12/12/2013 21:50

I don't get it either, why were you flamed for thinking her songs were bland? They are. I know she has overcome a lot but as a recording artist I don't think she is all that.

Original poster
Sparrowlegs248 · 12/12/2013 21:59

I said ' aibu for wishing susan boyle would give up?'

I was basing it on hearing her fairly souless version of I dreamed a dream (I am a massive les mis fan) and i think, if i remember rightly, the advert i saw had her singing 'oh come let us adore him' That is what i based my judgement on, and i was flamed by those who knew her back story. Fair enough. I didn't know it. I do now and almost certainly wouldn't have posted had i known.

OP posts:
WestieMamma · 12/12/2013 22:01

I don't like the music she performs, it's too 'old' for me, but as a trained singer myself I do think she has a phenomenal voice. There's no auto-tuning going on there.

mistermakersgloopyglue · 12/12/2013 22:09

Really westie? Of course she is a 'good' singer in that she can hold a note, but she isn't phenomenal is she? no music training here whatsoever

I don't think if she had been that plain, slightly odd lady on bgt and had just been a regular mid 20s semi attractive singer, she would have even got past the producers?

SatinSandals · 12/12/2013 22:21

I was one that flamed you, so that it is nice that you have come back. I realised half way through that you knew nothing about her, but at the start it seemed cruel.

bigtimerush · 12/12/2013 22:34

I like Susan Boyle and think she has done amazingly well to perform live under what is obviously so much pressure for her BUT I did find her singing on the documentary particularly bland and dull

Birdsgottafly · 12/12/2013 22:36

I also took offence at you and other posters trying to say that her shows had been canceled because of poor sales.

I posted at the time that it was because of her anxiety issues (I know her backstory well).

I have tickets to see her in March, I hope that she can perform.

I like musical theatre, even amateur performances.

I have heard "I dream a dream" sung many times, I hope to hear SB's version live, one day, if she does sound like she did on BGT, I will be more than happy.

I get annoyed when any performer/band/dancer is compared to someone mega famous, especially dead people.

Some of us like live performances and I include concerts such as "The Austrailian Pink Floyd Show" etc, I enjoy Opera, also.

I want to see people live, not watch them on a screen, even if they aren't as good as someone else, once was.
Every few years, we need a new people.

Some of us have limited budgets. I could not afford to fly around the world and pay hundreds for tickets (many small Football Club etc fans feel the same).

If you don't like someone, you don't have to watch/listen/read about them, OP your attack if SB was unnecessary.

I did wonder if you had been one of the bully's that had tormented her as a child and it was sour grapes, otherwise, what was the need for your thread?

WestieMamma · 12/12/2013 22:39

To clarify: I think she's phenomenal from a technical perspective. To my now slightly old and going a bit deaf ear she's pitch perfect and never misses a note. I find the music really 'old' though because there's no vibrancy which makes it as dull as ditch water. It's all down to that elusive x-factor. She doesn't have it. You could have someone who is a much poorer singer who does and so their music will be much more captivating.

SatinSandals · 12/12/2013 22:39

I likened it to bullying because a 5 yr old on these threads is supposed to be nice to all at all times, even though they are just learning about friendships etc, and yet adult women can be nasty on line about whoever they like and it doesn't matter!

WestieMamma · 12/12/2013 22:43

Saying that, I do admire her achievements. I have Asperger's too and there's no way I could get on stage in front of audiences of the size she is pulling in. It's the reason I gave up, I couldn't cope with the performance anxiety.

FannyFifer · 12/12/2013 22:51

So are we not allowed to say her music is shite then?

I don't think she is a great singer, I would still not think she was a great singer regardless of if she has Aspergers or not.

SatinSandals · 12/12/2013 22:52

I would be quite happy if I could sing like that! I would love to join a choir but I don't think they would want me!

SatinSandals · 12/12/2013 22:53

That wasn't what was said-it was the fact that 'she should give up'. If she didn't sell she would give up.

Tabby1963 · 12/12/2013 23:09

I think she has got that certain something, and she has a massive world-wide following to prove it without the need for sexually explicit dancing/clothing/lyrics either.

revivingshower · 12/12/2013 23:11

I do like her singing have heard her on the radio without knowing who she was and liked her.

WorraLiberty · 12/12/2013 23:13

I think Susan Boyle is an amazing woman and has a great voice.

However, I don't get why you now think you were BU just because you know her back story.

If you don't like her voice and the songs she sings, you were not being unreasonable at all imo.

montysma1 · 12/12/2013 23:17

Westie, she is not technically perfect, in fact she is technically appalling. She is an amateur and not even a particularly good one. I know her back story and good luck to her, hope she makes a packet and is set for life. But at a singer she is not much cop. She is no cop at all.

Scarletohello · 12/12/2013 23:18

Thank you for coming back and apologising. I posted on your original thread. As you said, you didn't know her history but now that you do, you see it differently. I really appreciate your humility, it takes a big person to do that!

deepfriedsage · 12/12/2013 23:19

I like her voice. I am not keen on her song choices. I would not pay to see her, if I got a free ticket I would go.Subo is harmless enough, good luck to her.

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