WHy is Susan Boyle Important?

OK, you have your point and I got mine. To me this is not about rights. To me and millions of other men on this planet Susan should have won the BGT show. When Paul Potts sang his audition you heard the same amount of utter suprise by the judges as the audience as well as with Susan Boyle. He was as unassuming in my eyes and I think many others as Susan Boyle. He was also bullied in life just like Susan Boyle. The trashbloids jump one male artists as well like Michael Jackson and very unfortunately. They did it with Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley as well. Male or female, as soon some rumours can be put under a microscope by the trashbloids they will do it. There is only one remedy: don't read them, don't buy them. As a representative of millions of men on this planet I want Susan to be succesful and not being bullied or trashed. It was even a female reporter who brought the first negative news about Susan Boyle in the trashbloids claiming she shouted at her and not a male.

Hi Junebug, you've got it right. Susan doesn't transform when she sings--we do. As I've posted elsewhere, I fell in love on the spot--her hair, her face, her cheeriness remind me of a beloved auntie whom I miss terribly. So it wasn't her appearance "at odds with" her talent that surprised me; it was hearing a sound I've never heard before. That crystal, passionate, powerful voice quite took my breath away--then came the goosebumps, the tears, the impact of those tragic lyrics, the need to hear her again and again. On that day in Glasgow, in a matter of seconds, an audience turned on a dime; since then, roughly 300 million individuals have dreamed and loved and cried as I have. It happened so fast, and that fascinates me. I think Susan is important because, among many other reasons, she has connected us to one another. (Could I actually have something in common with Dick Cheney?) Teenagers, who should be listening to Britney and boy bands, are screaming and cheering for a sweet, middle-aged lady who sings Broadway show tunes. She makes grown men cry. She swears like a sailor, she breaks your heart. Things we thought were inconsistent suddenly are not. Perhaps the world is not as lonely as we thought. We can all dream dreams. We can all hear the Pied Piper, and we are following. That's important.

Skywriter, you said it better than I could. I think maybe that mass-media,: the cosmetic industry, clothing industry, cosmetic surgery industry, and hollywood, have pounded us so long with the "beauty" standard, that even Afican Americans have appologized for falling in the "put down Susan Boyle" trap. Whoopie Goldberg was someone who admits she fell in the trap. I admit that I did too as I thought she was a Minnie Pearl act, and shame on me. Really, thanks, you write so well.

Skywriter and Junebug. I agree with you,the double standard is alive and well unfortunately. Luckily most of the folks on this site agree with you on this, that Susan has earned her iconic standing in the music world. If she gets some new dresses and learns a little about make-up (which she has done) that's fine too. What inspires me though is how Susan rather innocently and sweetly invited the human race to look past appearances and see the person, her heart, her soul, and her unforgettable talent. It is so refreshing. I think that is what we celebrate here. The media upsets us all but she has enough support and love from us all over the planet that media cruelty only deepens the devotion of her fans. They won't change anytime soon I'm afraid. Have a great Sunday. Barb in Iowa

Indeed Bob! Very indeed! Susan should be seen as liberator rather than victim. I am a great admirer of Vangelis, he will never win a global test of being the most beautiful man on this planet, yet I love him:

1973.

More recent.

Not the ideal son in law, but his music is awesome. Many men on this planet only care wether a man or woman makes great music. I, like other normal thinking men do not bother wether Susan Boyle is a beauty, woman or not. Millions of men fell in love with Susan Boyle's achievements just like many women can fall for Brad Pitt. It has nothing to do with women's rights. Yeah sure, you have the trashbloids trying to hurt Susan, but you had them also in Michael Jackson's life and other male artists. Don't judge a book by its cover, male or female. That is the issue here and not rights.

Bob in Palm Springs, this is beautifully stated. Thank you for expressing what that amazing phenomenon of Susan Boyle has been in the hearts of everyone. She is a symbol of hope. And as you seemed to state, our love is helping to carry her though this stormy paparazzi maze.

Blessings to Susan and thanks to you as well.

Barb in Iowa