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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
JollySantersSelectionBox · 13/12/2013 11:44

Yes I am fully aware, it was a joke Radio station on a sketch show years back. Obviously flippancy isn't allowed in your arena but do let me update the post with something more factual - I would say she is more BBC Highlands and Islands then.

What I mean is, it's local radio fodder, and she is averagely successful. She is selling tickets for the Bournemouth Pavillion and the Cambridge Corn Exchange. Not Wembley. I don't wish her any ill will. Good luck to her, but it's not life changing musical performance stuff, it's middle of the road and bland.

SirChenjin · 13/12/2013 11:52

Good grief Jolly - chillax and try to live up to the first part of your name.

Did you watch the documentary last night? She's selling out across the UK and the US, has plans to go to Australia and Asia, and (according to the Guardian) had "the No 1 album in the US and UK at the same time for the second time in a year. Only the Monkees and the Beatles have managed the same feat, in 1967 and 1969 respectively. Boyle is the first ever woman to do it" - seems pretty successful to me and more than just local radio fodder, and regardless of whether or not she's bland, millions think she's anything but. Perhaps she just doesn't see Wembley as the pinnacle of her success.

pigletmania · 13/12/2013 12:00

I knew about Susan and saw her BgT audition, she is just awesome, she really showed those sneery judges, and Michael Barremore (my kind of people). She deserves it she really does, not only is she a fantastic singer, but a beautiful person, that is why people love her. She is doing this on her own, she is not with Simon Cowell label anymore thank goodness. My dd is autistic and this lady is fantastic

pigletmania · 13/12/2013 12:06

Her music might not be for you, or her voice, that does not make her shit, what an insult! Millions love her and her music, good on her. It's not my cup of tea but others love her. Not everyone likes the Beatles, or Michael Jackson, it's a matter of taste and preferences.

alwaysregretposting · 13/12/2013 12:20

The venue she sang at in Texas was 17,000 people iirc from the documentary which is about the same as the O2

BerryChristmas · 13/12/2013 12:21

^^ THIS.

My son has Aspergers so I know what a tremendous achievement it is for SB to get up in front of a live audience of thousands! Good for her, I say Xmas Smile

CogitoErgoSometimes · 13/12/2013 12:28

It may be a tremendous achievement and very admirable but it reminds me of the misogynistic Samuel Johnson quote about women preaching, "....like a dog's walking on his hind legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all." Overcoming the adversity... the 'aww bless' effect .... shouldn't overshadow the quality of the performance.

pigletmania · 13/12/2013 12:33

Cognitio Susan is a good singer, oters love her singing and her performances. Paul Macartney is to me not a particularly god singer, or lady Gaga or Madonna, but others love them. It's not the aww bless effect at all, she is an artist in her own right

Sparklymommy · 13/12/2013 12:57

Ok, I accept that SuBo has overcome adversity. I accept what she has achieved is incredible.

HOWEVER she is not an amazing singer. She is popular for other reasons. She sings well, and is a success story.

Most popular singers actually do not sing as well as SuBo. Madonna is a prime example. She was a dancer, who got into singing, and who worked her ass off to make a success of herself. Her ability to shock made her famous. (DISCLAIMER : BIG madonna fan, just recognise that she isn't the worlds best singer!). She did, however, get better after having lessons for Evita.

Making it "big" is a combination of lots of things and comes down to luck, X factor and being in the right place at the right time.

For the record, "amazing" female vocalists include Alicia Keys, Adele, Sarah Brightman.

Birdsgottafly · 13/12/2013 12:57

"Does 'average' mean in the context of signed artists who sell loads of records? "

That's my point about different levels of performer.

I can't always afford £65+ for tickets, plus travel because they play Manchester and not Liverpool. I can get the bus in March from where I live and see SB for £35.

Her team are obviously going to maximise her publicity. It is then personal opinion about her talent, but we need different levels of performer (as I said ealier).

Unless we are going to triple the subsides for theatres and force the big "stars" to travel.

We don't all live in London, where good quality productions don't cost a fortune to see.

Unless you go to theatres and are on a limited budget, but like to see live performances regularly (I don't mind most pub singers, it better than just throwing ale down your neck), you probably are a lot more critical.

There is a large proportion of MNers who are in the baby stage and don't have time to fill, or income to go out.

So that changes your opinion on things.

Birdsgottafly · 13/12/2013 12:59

Sparkly, I don't mind listening to Sarah but I can't stand the faces that she pulls (plus she doesn't play small cheaper theatres).

montysma1 · 13/12/2013 13:10

This is the technically perfect highly trained voice live without autotuner. Other than being obviously below pitch and behind the t3rack throughout, she has no idea how to breath properly, hence the inability to sustain the longer notes lower in the voice.

I work "in the business" and have never heard any other professional singer, musician or director think that she is "brilliant". Not one. Any that said so in the media were paid renta quotes. Really, NO knowledgeable musician would think she is marvelous, really she just isnt.

I know nowt about ballroom dance or ice dance, so I think the rookys who win these shows are brilliant but the pros in those fields will probably be cringing , as they can see what is right and wrong. The same way that musical professionals can hear its wrong.

Who is better? Somebodyasked. Anybody on the back row of the chrorus or ensemble of any professional show. They will never be heard if, but they are generally highly trained highly talented performers. They have to be, the real version of "the profession" is hideously competitive. Unlike the reality show version, you actually have to be bloody good even to get through the door to audition. Nobody gives a shit about your back story.

Who else is better? Lots of am dram performers up and down the country who do it for the love of it but are quite highly trained and skilled too. Subo. Would certainly get into the chorus of an amateur show, she would not be cast as a principal. There are far better than her in the good am dram clubs. She would not stand a chance of any kind of casting in a pro show (unlikely to be able to take stage direction, follow the band, follow MD, be consistently acurate musically and spacially night after night, to avoid shafting everybody else on stage). Ditto live concerts.

Having said all that, I hope she makes a packet and that somebody with her best interest at heart is making sure she is set for life when the band wagon derails.

montysma1 · 13/12/2013 13:25

This is the technically perfect highly trained voice live without autotuner. Other than being obviously below pitch and behind the t3rack throughout, she has no idea how to breath properly, hence the inability to sustain the longer notes lower in the voice.

I work "in the business" and have never heard any other professional singer, musician or director think that she is "brilliant". Not one. Any that said so in the media were paid renta quotes. Really, NO knowledgeable musician would think she is marvelous, really she just isnt.

I am not saying she it shite. She has the raw bones of a decent voice which could be refined into something that at least wouldn't make a joke of the hype. If she is trainable. Not eveyone with a voice is. Its the musicality and ability to communicate that make a good singer, not necessarily technical perfection. She lacks both of these skills as is all to evident in live performance.

I know nowt about ballroom dance or ice dance, so I think the rookys who win these shows are brilliant but the pros in those fields will probably be cringing , as they can see what is right and wrong. The same way that musical professionals can hear its wrong.

Who is better? Somebodyasked. Anybody on the back row of the chrorus or ensemble of any professional show. They will never be heard if, but they are generally highly trained highly talented performers. They have to be, the real version of "the profession" is hideously competitive. Unlike the reality show version, you actually have to be bloody good even to get through the door to audition. Nobody gives a shit about your back story.

Who else is better? Lots of am dram performers up and down the country who do it for the love of it but are quite highly trained and skilled too. Subo. Would certainly get into the chorus of an amateur show, she would not be cast as a principal. There are far better than her in the good am dram clubs. She would not stand a chance of any kind of casting in a pro show (unlikely to be able to take stage direction, follow the band, follow MD, be consistently acurate musically and spacially night after night, to avoid shafting everybody else on stage). Ditto live concerts.

Having said all that, I hope she makes a packet and that somebody with her best interest at heart is making sure she is set for life when the band wagon derails.

pigletmania · 13/12/2013 13:28

I agree Monty, I hope she does well out of it. But unlike other artists she as a disability which makes it a whole lot more difficult fr her, than them! It's about luck of te draw, she had her lucky break and is riding on te crest of a wave, her circumstances certainly helped propel her. No artist is absolutely perfect, fact is despite what you and ther professionals in the industry think f her, millions around the world love her not only for her singing, but fr her as a person.

jonicomelately · 13/12/2013 14:27

You really are a charmer aren't you Beyond

BeyondTheLimitsOfXmasability · 13/12/2013 15:50

Sorry Joni, but I don't understand what your problem is here? You posted something that I misinterpreted, I agreed and explained why I misinterpreted it, and asked you not to Hmm at me when your point wasnt clear. You seemed to think that meant I was trying to stop you expressing your opinion?

I know we're posting in AIBU, but now you seem to be trying to goad me into insulting you? I'm not going to btw, I'm not here to fight, but I don't see why you didnt just agree that your point could have been clearer, giving that others had already been discussing upthread. I've admitted "my bad" that I misunderstood, why are you dragging this out?

jonicomelately · 13/12/2013 16:29

I'm not trying to goad anybody. There's just something about your tone Beyond Is something in RL making you really angry?

SirChenjin · 13/12/2013 16:35

You are stirring now Joni - give it a rest. Beyond has apologised (although personally I didn't think she needed to) and yet you still keep pushing and goading. The only person getting angry (on a thread about Susan Boyle fgs) is you.

jonicomelately · 13/12/2013 16:55

Haha. That's really funny. I haven't asked anyone for an apology Confused I've not been offensive at all! All I said was the post had been misinterpreted and the tone was a bit off. My post has been ridiculed, called 'piss poor' and now her mate's come along to back her up Grin

SirChenjin · 13/12/2013 16:59

a)you've misinterpreted my post if you think I meant to be funny, and b)she's not my mate.

jonicomelately · 13/12/2013 17:01

Fgs. I give up. There are too many angry people on here Grin

Tabby1963 · 13/12/2013 17:02

This is Susan singing Wild Horses. Blew me away when I first heard it. Still does.

Minnieisthedevilmouse · 13/12/2013 17:05

Op I don't understand.

I think you are perfectly capable of enjoying or hating music based on the music alone. I have no interest in Jamie Cullen for example I simply either like or dislike the track. I really do not see the two things as correlating whatsoever.

I can't stand the army bloke what sings "you're beautiful" I hate his music. He's on I switch off. I do the same with SB and I do know her back story. Doesn't make me like her singing!!!

I don't wish them ill. Just not my cuppa. I don't care if she had every illness under the sun or miracle cures or her hamster died when 2yrs old. It's ridiculous that a back story (thanks so much mr simon cowell for this claptrap) improves the music. Pigs ear purse etc...

I watched the doc out of curiosity. I have no idea how she got to her age without some well meaning person asking if she might have something. Bloody obvious the minute she auditioned on BGT. Surely that was part of her original appeal?

Minnieisthedevilmouse · 13/12/2013 17:06

Wild horses is out of tune and toe curling.

ElkTheory · 13/12/2013 17:09

What an odd thread. Why would your opinion of her singing change after learning her back story? It would be a bit like someone who disliked Dostoevsky's novels, then found out various details from his biography (he had epilepsy, spent years in a Siberian prison, lost two of his children as infants or young children, etc.) and decided the original opinion of his literary works was wrong. (Disclaimer: I love Dostoevsky's works!) I really don't think someone's biography should have any bearing on the reader's/listener's view of that person's artistic output.

As for Susan Boyle, I think she has a nice enough voice and I wish her well. It's refreshing to see someone succeed who isn't a 16-year-old trading on sexuality. But it seems clear that Susan Boyle is as much a media creation as all those 16-year-olds.

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