Susan Boyle Shocks "Britain's Got Talent," Takes YouTube and the World by Storm

Some things, once viewed, are anticlimactic. Such is the case of much of the "must see" video crazes that sweep across the internet seemingly on a weekly basis. But the video of Susan Boyle and her performance on stage at "Britain's Got Talent" is not one of them. In just a few days, the video of Susan Boyle on YouTube has been seen by millions. If you add the views for each entry, it soars over 10 million. Even CNN's Anderson Cooper showed almost the entire clip on his show, commenting on the amazing performance. One of the videos on YouTube had been viewed nearly 6 million times by Wednesday, April 15.

And the video is a shocker. It really is a "must see" video.

The 47-year-old, dressed in a frumpy print dress and looking every bit like Mimi on "The Drew Carey Show" -- minus all the godawful makeup , stepped out onto the stage after her filmed intro (in which we learned she had never been married, never been kissed, was unemployed and owned a cat). She said she had always wanted to perform before a large audience and that she was going to "make that audience rock." Not the most clearly enunciated conversationalist one has ever heard, she bravely confronted the "Britain's Got Talent" judges: Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and Piers Morgan.

She got off to a bit of a rocky start with Simon Cowell. She hit a mental speedbump when she was attempting to describe her hometown, the word "villages" escaping her. The audience laughed. And when Simon rolled his eyes at her age, she rolled her hips and said saucily, "And that's just one side of me." This caused Simon to look aside and Piers Morgan to lower his brow. When Simon asked her what her dream was, she said that she was "trying to be a professional singer." Some things, once viewed, are anticlimactic. Such is the case of much of the "must see" video crazes that sweep across the internet seemingly on a weekly basis. But the video of Susan Boyle and her performance on stage at "Britain's Got Talent" is not one of them. In just a few days, the video of Susan Boyle on YouTube has been seen by millions. If you add the views for each entry, it soars over 10 million. Even CNN's Anderson Cooper showed almost the entire clip on his show, commenting on the amazing performance. One of the videos on YouTube had been viewed nearly 6 million times by Wednesday, April 15.

And the video is a shocker. It really is a "must see" video.

The 47-year-old, dressed in a frumpy print dress and looking every bit like Mimi on "The Drew Carey Show" -- minus all the godawful makeup , stepped out onto the stage after her filmed intro (in which we learned she had never been married, never been kissed, was unemployed and owned a cat). She said she had always wanted to perform before a large audience and that she was going to "make that audience rock." Not the most clearly enunciated conversationalist one has ever heard, she bravely confronted the "Britain's Got Talent" judges: Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and Piers Morgan.

She got off to a bit of a rocky start with Simon Cowell. She hit a mental speedbump when she was attempting to describe her hometown, the word "villages" escaping her. The audience laughed. And when Simon rolled his eyes at her age, she rolled her hips and said saucily, "And that's just one side of me." This caused Simon to look aside and Piers Morgan to lower his brow. When Simon asked her what her dream was, she said that she was "trying to be a professional singer."

By now the audience was openly whistling and catcalling. One shot even showed a young woman rolling her eyes after the "professional singer" answer. She said had never been given the chance before but was hopeful that the night's performance would change everything. When she said she'd like to be as successful as Ellen Paige, most people in the audience looked lost. Then she announced that she would perform "I Dreamed A Dream" from "Les Miserbles." Piers Morgan openly laughed at the suggestion.

The opening strains of music and her performance were prefaced by camera shots of all three judges, all business now, and the audience, who were quiet and intent. There is little to no doubt that Susan Boyle was expected to destroy the masterpiece that is "I Dreamed A Dream," just one of the millions of pretenders and those in denial that go before the world on shows like "X Factor," "American Idol," and "Britain's Got Talent" that have got absolutely no business performing before an audience. In short, everyone was anticipating that Susan Boyle become one of the many laughingstocks that make their way to the stages of such shows.

But that would not be the case. Far from it.

Her voice belied her plain-ness. Susan Boyle is anything but plain when she sings. Just a couple of notes into the song and the crowd went wild. Simon Cowell's eyebrows rose slowly. Amanda Holden eyes widened and her mouth dropped open in unexpected surprise. On the third line, Piers Morgan was smiling and clapping. The crowd was in an uproar.

Because the dowdy little 47-year-old had become a living work of art, something beautiful to behold. "I Dreamed A Dream" was a perfect vehicle to showcase her talent, the lyrics painfully poignant and sadly beautiful when sung by this woman who had never known a kiss.

And it was priceless to see the brutally honest Simon Cowell reduced to a smitten teenager, his chin cupped by his hands and a dreamy smile on his face. All the judges were enraptured. And the audience was transfixed.

When she was done, she started to walk away. The audience, which was on its feet in a standing ovation, laughed and the judges and others yelled for her to go back. Gone were the undertones and overtones of derision and the arrogance of superficial judgment. Susan Boyle had become someone of note, someone accepted, someone they wished to spend more time with.

Piers Morgan said, "Without a doubt, that was the biggest surprise I have have had in three years on this show." He continued, "When you stood there with that cheeky grin and said, 'I want to be like Ellen Paige,' everyone was laughing at you. No one is laughing now. That was stunning, an incredible performance." After a pause, where Susan Boyle smiled and blew a kiss to the audience, Morgan said, "Amazing. I'm reeling from shock. How about you two?"

Amanda Holden took up the critique. "I am so thrilled because I know that everybody was against you. I honestly think that we were all being very cynical, and I think that was the biggest wake-up call ever. I just want to say that was a complete privilege listening to that."

Simon Cowell then said, "Susan, I knew from the minute you walked out..."

The crowd began laughing. Susan Boyle was having none of it, either, backing up with her hand on her hip, saying, "Oh, Simon," in a mock scold and smiling.

Cowell finished: "... on that stage that we were going to hear something extraordinary. And I was right."

In the voting round, Piers Morgan emphatically stated that Susan Boyle got the "biggest yes" that he has "ever given anyboy." Amanda Holden said, "Yes, definitely. Brilliant." Simon Cowell finished the trifecta with: "Susan Boyle, you can go back to the village with your head held high. It's three yeses."

Susan then did a little running-in-place dance. Simon openly laughed, enjoying the woman's exuberance.

After she left the stage, Piers Morgan said, "The most extraordinary shock we've ever had."

Backstage, Susan Boyle was finally overwhelmed. Her head shaking in disbelief, she said, "Just so emotional. Unbelievable. Fantastic."

It is quite far and above impressive. It was a splendid vocal performance. Fittingly, the video segment of that portion of "Britain's Got Talent" has gone viral. Susan Boyle not only took the audience at "Britain's Got Talent" by storm, she took the United Kingdom and the rest of the world at the same time. The video is an international hit. It is a testament to true talent, the spirit of the underdog, and a cautionary tale to not be so quick to judge.

Because Susan Boyle is a beautiful woman, a woman of great spirit. She dreamed a dream and it came true upon that stage. She shared her dream and transformed before the eyes of her audience, a butterfly burst from its casing. She dared to dream and she has become an international sensation because of it.

Married Susan Boyle may not be. But one can't help but fall in love with her.

The YouTube video is definitely a must see. Susan Boyle's moving performance is a triumph of the ability to dream and actualize one's dreams.

We should all be so fortunate...

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Source:

YouTube.com

"Susan Boyle -- Singer -- Britain's Got Talent 2009," BBC