Studio8 - Uniting the Arts

The Susan Boyle story really makes my blood boil! Why in the hell are people so surprised that she has a beautiful voice? Women in their 40's can't have beautiful voices? Since when? Women who don't fit a certain body image or have specific facial features can't have a beautiful voice? The whole story is ridiculous. LOTS of people of all ages, sizes, and appearances have beautiful voices. The story is appalling.

i don't see what you do.

altho i haven't followed every opinion on this story,
i have heard that Susan Boyle has a very touching
story that came long before her appearance on Idol
and given the amount of no-talent and near-talent
that auditions for this show, when she sang the
first words to her song, everyone was shocked and
amazed that such a wonderous voice came from within
this one unexpected moment - a gem that took all by surprise.

a tremendous moment for the audience and judges alike.

Well, Cecil, I look at it this way.

Since when does someone have to be considered physically beautiful to have a talent like singing? Or playing an instrument? Or any other musical talent! It's ridiculous for people to have expected her voice to be terrible just because of their preconceived notion of what attractiveness is! It's stupid. And it makes me angry.

Is Luciano Pavarotti considered handsome? Is Maria Callas considered a beautiful woman? How about Beverly Sills? Is Lionel Richie a handsome man? Is David Crosby a fox? ... think about it. Jesus. The woman was pre-judged for what? The story is sad and ridiculous.

There's absolutely no reason for people to have been surprised she has a beautiful voice.

There's absolutely no reason for people to have been surprised she has a beautiful voice.

Let's say you were in the audience and after seeing various folks do their thing (most average or less) and up steps this dowdily dressed woman in her late 40's (remember most auditions have mush younger people) and she begins her song - like a songstress that's been hidden all her life... and you hear this voice for the first time.

That's what most folks heard, imho.

So, because she didn't fit the show format of a beautiful young person, they were surprised?

It wasn't because she was older and "dowdily dressed"? Or because she didn't fit the image of "beautiful"?

They wouldn't have reacted like that had she come out on a stage on a different type of show?

Is that what you're saying?

So, because she didn't fit the show format of a beautiful young person, they were surprised?

No... because of the quality of her voice.

It wasn't because she was older and "dowdily dressed"? Or because she didn't fit the image of "beautiful"?

I think you see her that way. I didn't say that nor do I think the majority of the audience saw her that way.

Is that what you're saying?

I've pretty much said what I feel about the woman and nowhere in my replies have I implied anything regarding her looks other than her clothing which was dowdy.

Oh OK. That's what I was trying to find out from you. You DID say "dowdily dressed" .... but I was wondering if you thought it was because she wasn't beautiful or attractive that the audience was surprised and you said no.

So.... why were they surprised that her voice was beautiful?

Because of her age? It's not expected that a woman in her late 40s could have a beautiful voice? That can't be it. Then why? I don't understand.

You said they were surprised at the quality of her voice. Why was it a surprise?

They were laughing at her at first. Before she started singing. I'm wondering why they were laughing at her, too.

Just trying to figure the whole thing out, Cecil. Thanks for talking to me about it.

To me it looked like they were laughing at her because she was older and unattractive which was judgmental in my opinion. Maybe I'm wrong and that's not why they were laughing at her.

It also appeared to me that they were surprised because they didn't expect a woman her age who wasn't especially attractive to have a beautiful voice. And I think that's bizarre if that's true! But again, maybe I'm wrong.

Why do you think they were surprised at her voice? And why do you think they were they laughing at her?

LOL!... sorry.. I'm trying to edit this because I've been repetitive and I can't seem to edit it well. I didn't mean to repeat myself. I'm not writing well today. Sorry.

So.... why were they surprised that her voice was beautiful?

I must assume from this question that you saw the show and you saw this woman on stage and you expected her voice to be at least as good as it was..? You didn't doubt for a second that this woman would deliver a song with such power and beauty? If that is true, I'm very impressed by your ability to see this talent in Susan Boyle before she even performed. Do you give classes?

You said they were surprised at the quality of her voice. Why was it a surprise?

One more time - Firstly I do not watch American Idol. I watch other programming. BUT! I have seen a couple of acts in the show as some seasons began and I can say with certainty that many times there are no-talent people that come onto that audition area and make asses out of themselves, either thru body language, their personalities or even their behavior. There is no conclusiveness as to whether these folks I speak of do not fit the mold of beauty... that is not relevant to the show. The talent is all that matters, as it should well be.

They were laughing at her at first. Before she started singing. I'm wondering why they were laughing at her, too.

When you first saw her, I assume you didn't so much as crack a smile? You were not in anyway amused by your initial encounter with this woman? There was nothing in her looks or demeanor that you found to be not-run-of-the-mill?? Perhaps you did. I don't know. I did not see the pre-performance and only half of the singing this woman did... that's all the media would give me.

But I must add, Dor', you seem to be, given the tone of your posts, defending this woman when no defense is necessary - she's on the boat to fame and success should she so desire. She's quickly becoming a Cinderella story and that is WONDERFUL! The world is thrilled with her! Why argue with that? That is what I don't understand about this thread...

Cecil, I didn't think her appearance or demeanor was the least bit funny. No, I didn't crack a smile or a laugh. I didn't understand why the audience was laughing. And no, I wasn't at all surprised that she had a beautiful voice.

I am not defending her because she doesn't need any defense. I am just shaking my head at the judgmental audience. Apparently they didn't think that her appearance met up with whatever standard they expected for someone to have a beautiful voice. Their laughing at her was rude. Their surprise was surprising.

You asked me

When you first saw her, I assume you didn't so much as crack a smile? You were not in anyway amused by your initial encounter with this woman?

My answer is no. Why would I?

And I'll ask you again, what was so funny about her appearance and demeanor?

Hey, there are a lot of fabulous singers who aren't all that attractive.

Is Luciano Pavarotti considered handsome? Is Maria Callas considered a beautiful woman? How about Beverly Sills? Is Lionel Richie a handsome man? Is David Crosby a fox?

BUT... you said it had nothing to do with her looks that they found her voice surprising. Nor did it have anything to do with her age. And neither of those factors were why they were laughing at her.

I say nonsense...

I say they were laughing at her because they didn't think she was attractive, because they thought she was too old to be on the stage performing, because they thought her outfit looked frumpy, and I say they were surprised at her voice because they were judging her based on her appearance and since she wasn't a 20-something beauty, they didn't think she'd be able to sing.

The audience was rude. And their judgments were unjustified. That's my opinion.

I agree, Doreen. The world-- Western world in particular-- tends to favor surface over substance, and is generally rude and judgmental on that basis-- looks, athletic ability, material wealth, etc. I mean, look at the last election for example: Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin? Huh? She barely had a clue, yet she's an attractive woman and a hardcore Bible-thump fanatic, so she fit the desired image. What a joke.

The audience was rude. And their judgments were unjustified. That's my opinion.

Sure, this whole thread is opinion. But was it opinion when you said in the beginning:

The story is appalling.

The story is a true Cinderella story and that is not appalling, in my opinion, but a wonderful and touching story worthy of all the press she has received.

Hey, there are a lot of fabulous singers who aren't all that attractive.

But those that are are already known for their voices. Susan Boyle was a complete and total unknown to anybody except her mother. That is a big difference, wouldn't you agree?

Yeah it was my opinion that the media making a story about it is appalling because it isn't at all a Cinderella story, it's a story about judgmental people. And judgmental people are appalling.

She's not anything LIKE Cinderella.

She's just a lady who happens to have a gift of a beautiful singing voice.

And she's a lady whose been unfortunately judged because of how she looks and her age. THAT's the story. And that's appalling to me. My opinion. Yes.

.......

And no I don't agree that Susan Boyle is any different than any of those other singers I mentioned. ALL of them were at one time only known by their mothers and families. It was their voices, not their looks, that made them successful in their careers. And it was their talents that made their names and faces known.

Would the audience laugh at Sammy Davis, Jr. before he opened his mouth to sing if he came on the stage today and nobody knew who he was?

It was their voices, not their looks, that made them successful in their careers. And it was their success that made their names and faces known.

It will be Susan Boyle's voice that will make her successful in her career and it will be her success that will make her name and face known. Everything before that will be either forgotten or forgiven.

True that it is her voice and talent that will make her a success... if even only for the fact that people enjoyed one performance and it doesn't go any farther than that.

But I doubt she'll forget the way she was laughed at just because of her age and how she looks. She might forgive, yeah. But she won't forget.

And I won't forget how disgustingly rude the audience was to laugh at her. Nor can I forgive that type of behavior.

Just saying. They were rude. And rude is apparently acceptable to some people these days. That's the sad part.

Thanks for the conversation, Cecil!

......

And Mark? I thank you, too, for your reply.... and I fully agree with you about Sarah Palin and how people "tend to favor surface over substance." That was very well stated.

Nor can I forgive that type of behavior.

How much does that non-forgiving weigh upon you? I'll bet you a dollar that you'd look so much better without that strapped to your back...

Thanks for the conversation, Cecil!

You're welcome, Doreen... it's been a pleasure.