Has anyone heard this lady? This is well worth watching! Yet one more example of how we can never judge a book by its cover.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Yes, Eagle. It's all over the news here but not complete as in the video. Thank you. Even the short versions brought tears to my eyes.

It's great to see real talent win. I stopped watching the show years ago but catch highlights now and then. This woman is a highlight.

People are so quick to judge. Susan put them all in their places. Good for her. SHe deserves to win it all.

Wanna bet they pluck her eyebrows and color her hair? We'll prbably see her with a makeover soon, but her talent will remain the winner.

You can see her tonight on the Larry King Live show tonight. Catch it if you can. Theres another U-Tube where Susan sings Cry Me A River made in 1999 and it it unbelieveble.

Chatty, thanks for that heads-up about the Larry King show!

Am I invisible, Eagle?

No, Saundra...when you responded here, there were several other threads going on about Susan Boyle, and honestly, I didn't know what to do, whether to keep this one going, or let one of the other threads take over...so I did nothing. What's sort of ironic is that at the time that I started this thread I was feeling VERY invisible and out-of-place, not just here but everywhere in my life. It took me a few days (and help from Humlan over on Facebook) to help connect it to grief (triggered by recent anniversaries). I'm sorry for ignoring your post...especially since I know what it feels like not to be responded to...I need to go back to the old "do unto others as you would have them do unto you".

Dear Eagle, I get it. Thanks for pointing out that feeling invisible may be tied to grief. I've had my share this year and maybe I can deal with it now.

I love that you told me what was hapening with you and I could discover something about me and relate to your position. Thank you.

Saundra, I don't think I would have tied my feelings of invisibility to grief. But it tied in by way of family gatherings with my husband's family...yes, they're mine too, but it's not the same. Being around them reminded me of my own family gatherings, which are no longer possible. Sometimes the agony of absence just excruciates me, and I feel invisible because there is no place to share MY family stories anymore. It's right and good that they have theirs and the chance to gather and share and laugh together. And I do belong, and I'm so blessed that they all love me and accept me and that his grandchildren know and love me as their grandmother. Still, it's hard to completely ignore the sadness of how I can't share any of my history or family stories in those gatherings. That does leave me feeling invisible and out of place, and those feelings are hard to shake. But I did shake them off, and can see how they are just one more facet of grief to acknowledge and evolve myself through. Sigh.

I saw that a 12 year-old boy is going to give her a run for her money. Did anyone hear him sing? He's another amazingly talented person. A boomer and a 12 year-old look like they are the two top runners. It's a shame they both have to be in the same competition.

I hear exactly what you're saying. I've heard it from a friend who is experiencing the same pining for her own family. She is a part of her husband's family too, but it's nowhere near the same. I believe this is happening more and more to our generation as we continue to lose family members.

They announced she has a new look on the Early Show, but I didn't see it. Anyone see it?

A photo in 1 Canadian national newspaper.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090424.wboyle0424/BNStory/Entertainment/home

Yes, she looks nice. But I hope for Susan that whatever she does, she is doing it truly for herself. And in a way, that is affordable and manageable for her to upkeep. Who cares what the world thinks?

There's probably many folks just hoping she will continue to focus on voice training and practice so that she can perform /sing a full range of songs to demonstrate her singing ability.

Oh, yeah, she got her hair and eyebrows done. Too bad, I liked her old eyebrows. But she can afford some nice clothes, I like what she's wearing in the picture.

Okay, I might be unpopular with this statement, but I sang in a church choir and in a gospel group,…and quite honestly there were many singers in our local churches as good or even better than Susan.

I think this is just one huge marketing scam to get more viewers. Making a swan out of an ugly duckling is show business. They are using this poor woman, and I felt their reaction to her in the show was pure acting. No way they could have been surprised. They preview all the candidates before they go on stage.

We heard her too, and we were impressed and surprised and quite frankly, I have friends who would fit in just fine with her(like myself!), so to me she was no ugly duckling, just a good singer. I agree that there's a lot of hype with that show (she had to send a tape of herself to get in, didn't she?)
But she's sure got a great set of pipes on her!

Madelaine, "ugly ducking to swan"...meaning they want to change this woman...as in My Fair Lady or Pretty Woman....it's the transformation that draws people to watch.

That's exactly what these talent shows are, EW. They're the modern version of Pygmalion. Simon Cowell is Prof. Higgins (mostly the warts, as Cowell can be compassionate at times). And, all of us play the part of Col. Pickering.

Here's the latest from tonight's show. I like her as well. Who knows? Her future might just turn out to be like Julie Andrews'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY-BY4YNs0o

Here's Julie Andrews at 12:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV2-YGGn0y4

That was delightful, Lola! What a beautiful voice!!!

OMG, can’t believe the high tones Julie Anderson could sing, and that at 12 years old. Just amazing. Thanks for posting the link. Lola. Do you believe there is manipulation going on in these shows?

We have super Stars in Germany too. I enjoy watching it, but sometimes I can’t believe how insulting the judges are, The candidates remain and hear the insults over and over again. That’s why I think some of this is just strategy to keep the viewer statistics high.

Daniel is my favourite candidate. Hope he wins!
http://www.rtl.de/tv/superstar_videoplayer.php?id=7332&cat=newest

Glad you enjoyed watching it as much as I did, Eagle.

I'm not sure whether manipulation goes on in BGT or similar shows in the UK because it's the public who decides on who wins it, EW. It's also popular here so it does not need the publicity it's been having. Susan Boyle's story was extraordinary because of the circumstances around it and the effect it presented to many people here and abroad.

In terms of the judges' opinions, I think many have tried to imitate Cowell's notoriety in similar shows which have sprung from here, which I think can only really work in the UK. Sarcasm is a mastered art here in some professions and occupation but, all taken in stride and context. LOL! You should hear the repartee between Cowell and some of the talents who get put down. They give as much as they get.

A different genre but, a chap from the show who I hope does well even if he does not win it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz8BvSiop5Q

Lola, I saw the precious child on the Early Show with his Mom. I'm sorry they both have to be in the same competition because they are both winners to me. This could turn in to a batlle of the ages.

An update: A shaky start but, Susan's made it to the finals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsFhq31qS5I

I think Susan is a shoe in simply because of U-tube she is now an international celebrity, and thats pretty big nimbers if they all vote. Now, whichever of them wins, the other one will be swepted up by someone wanting to make them a star as well, you'll see. Just like the losers on American Idol, they go on to do better than the winner at times.

My friends and I were actually nervy for her, Chats. When so many people root for her and wish her to do well, it takes little for it to go wrong sometimes on a live show. It would surely be lovely if she could sing for the Queen.

Lola, when will the next show be?

Lola, what a hunk. He's gorgeous and so is his family.

What ahppened to the little boy who was saw good? I saw him on the Early Show. I can't believe he's no longer on. I thought he was amazing.

I think he is, Dots...I believe the boy made it to the semi-finals. Lola can tell us for sure, though.

The next show is on Saturday, JJ.

The boy was not in the show last night, Dotsie. Might turn up in the next.

A few weeks ago, this little girl auditioned for the show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY-BY4YNs0o

Last night was the fourth heat for the finals. As a grandmother with a granddaughter who also performs on stage, my heart broke for her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smYfRmC7rgA

And, "the bravest girl in the world". Not an easy thing to do to come back and do it all over again. I'm glad she was given another chance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E91urzAkkhA

Oh boy... if this doesn't get tears in your eyes, nothing will. She is so sweet, and I thought the judges were wonderful to her.
Thanks for posting this Lola!

Watching the show at present...commercial break.

Hollie singing Edelweiss was absolutely amazing. That song makes me cry and I'm not the one singing it. God love her for having the strength to get up there and nail it!

I'm amazed at the talent that show has seen this season.

Susan Boyle won 1st place. The winner is a group of brothers and friends from different backgrounds and ages.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJIz8BgRQc0

Wow, is all I can say to that dancing group. I've never seen anything like it. Unbelievable and that from amateurs! Occasionally I'll visit plays done by amateurs. I have always been impressed by their fantastic acting. Many of the professional actors pick modern day pieces, or have rewritten classics. That and the expensive theatre tickets aren’t so impressive.

Geez…England is filled with exceptional talent.

Susan is a Scottish lassie Edelweiss .

Dancers were just great.

Loved the saxaphone

In fact the whole show stood out as first class.

Thanks for sharing. Those dancers were so creative. I love how they included the two young children. Boy are they talented. It reminds me a bit of the kids who dance on the street corners in NYC.

Talent abounds here. What is so good about shows like BGT is that it inspires many more to develop or hone their talents. Most particularly, with the young. There's always a competition here in terms of the performing arts. I love the musicians and the choirs most especially. In Wales, children are compelled to take up music or learn to play an instrument and joining choirs are encouraged. Wales is the land of artists afterall.

Here's a choir from a regular Welsh secondary school:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhG-d_YnhhU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAgs3BgTamw

I will guarantee you all one fact: We haven't seen or heard the last of Susan Boyle! That woman is going to be as big a superstar as there is, mark my words.

Todays news tell us about Susan being taken to clinic..
so there is a whole concept to be addressed.

perhaps a discussion about stress/fragility
how media and utube can project a person and
how we can learn from this wonderful Susan
that "diversity" is a part of the whole
life experience.

sending love to Susan and all who like her are fragile .

Oh, Mountain Ash. Just heard it on the news as well this morning! I do wish her well.

I heard a snippet about this this morning. Wow, and after seeing the little gal break down and cry, maybe there is too much stress involved.

They showed the little gal crying on some entertainment show on TV last night. What amazed me is that they didn't show her singing beautifully. Makes me sick. Just goes to show they're only after the rotten part of the story.

Anyone heard how Susan is doing?

Saw her on TV yesterday in an airport, and she looks quite well and seems happy enough. She had bodyguards, poor thing still seems a bit overwhelmed and frightened about all this instant fame. She has a not bad looking brother too.