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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:
TinselandGretel · 12/12/2013 23:31

I've got nothing against her, though I think her music is pretty uninspiring and certainly she is far from a gifted singer.

I don't understand the success she has had, as far as I can see it is simply based on the novelty of a better than average voice coming from a below average looking woman (I know that sounds harsh). I think the initial surprise when she first sang and everyone in the audience had made a judgement on her appearance and were shocked at her voice is to thank for her success. If she looked younger, prettier and was less socially awkward then her voice wouldn't seem so impressive.

I saw a documentary about her and am aware that she has had problems to overcome, but that doesn't make her music better.

Good luck to her though, if people like her and/or her music then she will continue to have success.

Birdsgottafly · 12/12/2013 23:55

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

She doesn't "have music", she doesn't write, produce etc.

She sings songs. I don't know whether she does that well, I (like most people) haven't heard her live.

PresidentServalan · 13/12/2013 00:01

I don't like the type of stuff she sings and I don't find her story that inspiring. I agree with a PP - if she had been in her 20s and average looking, she probably wouldn't be so successful.

bochead · 13/12/2013 02:20

Her music is not to my personal taste, BUT given that she is in industry where women are so objectified and sexualised I find it refreshing that at least she is decent family viewing.

If her back story inspires a few young people who either have AS, or just aren't the conventionally pretty T&A types then all the better. We need a few more ordinary looking women of all ages in the media to show our sons and daughters it's possible to make it big without performing in a thong.

Tabby1963 · 13/12/2013 07:19

I guess she is a niche singing act who has attracted a loyal following of people around the world who appreciate a singer who is a decent and kind individual who also has 'no side to her', rather than the usual vacuous, shallow 'pop star' that seems to typify our charts.

JapaneseMargaret · 13/12/2013 07:36

She is ubiquitous now.

But that original BGT I Dreamed a Dream is spine-chilling.

I kind of liken her to Jackson Pollock everyone thinks his paint splats are a bit shit now, but at the time it was mind-bogglingly original, inspired, and breath-taking. Familiarity breeds contempt.

I think she has an incredible voice. I don't know many untrained singers who can project like that, and do it faultlessly in tune.

fluffyraggies · 13/12/2013 08:01

I remember your thread OP.

We don't watch x factor now but we did the year she was on, and watched her audition as it was aired. It was amazing wasn't it? Complete turn around from the audience and those two knobs SC and PM.

I googled it after reading your thread last time and watched it again and got tearful! ... but it is very moving i think. She belts that song out.

TheMuppetsSingChristmas · 13/12/2013 08:01

I'm sure she's a lovely woman, but I couldn't case less about he's back story - technically she's not very good at all, she wouldn't sell a thing if all you got was the non enhanced and non over produced raw recording. I've heard he's live with no backing and she was awful. Out of tune and out of time all the way through.

JapaneseMargaret · 13/12/2013 08:04

So how did she mange to do that audition, if she was so out of tune and time?

Genuine question.

Original poster
Sparrowlegs248 · 13/12/2013 08:13

I really wasn't being nasty. I was on mn, husband was watching the telly and the ad for her xmas album came on. I though 'ugh no not this and posted'

I probably should have put more thought into my original post. I didn't say she was shit or anything like that.

The reason i say iwbu now is that several posters mentioned learning diffs, MH and anxiety which i knew nothing of. Had i known, i wouldn't have posted it.

OP posts:
SatinSandals · 13/12/2013 08:21

It was nice of you to come back and say so.

BeyondTheLimitsOfXmasability · 13/12/2013 08:24

I saw your thread, I didnt think ywbu.

She can hold a tune well enough, but she is not a good singer. Her struggle in life is not relevant.

And I disagree that it is special that she has succeeded in an industry that objectifies women. She has been successful because she was treated like some amazing freak show performer, and its awful. :( If she were an average woman, it wouldnt have happened, because an average woman singing averagely doesnt sell.

fluffyraggies · 13/12/2013 08:25

BGT not Xfactor

Hmm brain not engaged yet.

Original poster
Sparrowlegs248 · 13/12/2013 08:30

I'm pleased that some people got what

OP posts:
Golddigger · 13/12/2013 08:36

I think that it is worth remembering in general, that a number of people have difficulties which are unseen, and sometimes undiagnosed.

Golddigger · 13/12/2013 08:37

Good thread though.

janey68 · 13/12/2013 08:38

I agree that she is a decent enough but not amazing singer. She's not a musician - she doesn't compose or even adapt... She just delivers well known songs and if it weren't for the whole 'frump turns out to have a decent voice' thing, no one would know who she was

I also remember that back when she was runner up, didn't she behave very badly, threw strops and was generally very difficult to be around? She strikes me as a woman with a lot of issues, and that's not being harsh because I know other people with Aspergers or other SN and they don't come across as difficult

fluffyraggies · 13/12/2013 08:45

I agree you janey about the frump turns out to have decent voice thing. It's true. (still always moved to watch the original audition though Grin

As to her behaviour in the finals etc., well, i wonder how 'hyped up' these contestants get by who ever is personally assigned to them for the duration of the show. Especially someone with her difficulties and background. I can imagine it is a roller coaster ride from turning up for an audition, getting laughed at, getting applauded, getting told you're going to be a star, getting a make over, being all over the papers, getting to the final ... and then loosing etc. It would mess with anyone's head.

JapaneseMargaret · 13/12/2013 08:49

So what, that she doesn't compose or adapt?

There are plenty of cellist and flautists and violinists and other orchestralists that don't compose nor adapt. No-one gives them a hard time.

No-one gives Kiri Te Kanawa a hard time for not composing nor adapting.

Why is Susan Bole held to higher standard?

DoctorDonnaNoble · 13/12/2013 08:52

I thought her audition was repellant. Not because of her. But the audience's response and then Ant n Dec's 'you weren't expecting that'. Awful.
There is no correlation between prettiness and singing talent.
Those shows are cruel and nasty. She may not be an amazing singer, but she's probably one of the best to come out of this talent show thing which is distorting the industry and making it even more risk averse and bland.

valiumredhead · 13/12/2013 08:53

Her first audition was great,I loved Simon's smug face drop as she belted it out but I can't bear to listen to her now,I agree with the bland comment. She's like a female Daniel ODonnell which is great, plenty of people like him and her, just not me.

trice · 13/12/2013 08:55

It is not my taste in music but I wish her well. Many people enjoy singing along with her albums. I bet they buy them as well and not download them for free as I suspect that her fans are an older generation. She brings people pleasure and should be applauded for that.

If you don’t like it, don't listen.

SirChenjin · 13/12/2013 09:02

Valium is spot on - she's the female equivalent of Daniel O'Donnell, or perhaps the vocal equivalent of Jodie Picoult? Her music is not to my taste, but that's just my own personal opinion. Many millions across the world disagree, and let's face it, if we all liked the same person the music industry would be a very dull place.

I would much rather have SuBo than the god awful Miley

jonicomelately · 13/12/2013 09:08

I can't believe people saying she isn't a good singer Confused
The whole thing about Susan Boyle is that she wowed the industry with her technically brilliant voice. At the time of her original audition there were lots of articles written by industry experts saying how flawless her voice is.
Obviously, a lot of her song choices are geared towards her market (not me) but to say she's not a great singer is bollocks.
the documentary last night was very moving. What a brave lady and well done to those who look after her. They seem like a very caring team.

TheMuppetsSingChristmas · 13/12/2013 09:10

Bollocks were there joni! Even Elaine Paige, her hero, said that she has an average voice, not a great one - an average one. She's just a marketing opportunity for the industry to make money off, you can bet your bottom dollar they don't have her best interests at heart. They're after the money.

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