I know, we're not supposed to repost. Oh, well.
If somehow, you haven't yet heard Susan Boyle (links below), you need to NOW.
By way of providing context: I willfully avoid pop culture. Although her iconic status is well deserved, Aretha Franklin at the inauguration hurt my ears. Similarly, Fergie (who, I only then realized was NOT the Duchess of York) slaughtered our already 'difficult' national anthem at the White House Easter Egg Roll. It wasn't until Sting cut a record of Elizabethan music that I bought one of his CDs.
Favorite music? Baroque. Classical is just too contemporary for me! (Only a slight exaggeration.)
So, on Monday, when I was perusing Huffpost for articles I might want to read I saw a thumbnail of some kind of unpleasant looking woman who was supposed to be a talent show (beast I have never watched on the tube) maven, I assiduously avoided reading the article.
And then, a friend whose taste in music is different from mine, but very discerning, linked me to the damned YouTube video of Ms. Susan Boyle on the Britain's Got Talent TV show. I groaned, rolled my eyes, and watched it out of a feeling of obligation. Well, that was one of the best gifts I've received in I'm not sure how long.
(H/t to cadejo4 for an even nicer version of Ms. Boyle's performance.)
Here was Susan Boyle, an awkward woman of a certain age, who had put herself in a position to be mocked by the panel of 'beautiful people' judges and the 3,000 strong audience, in order to keep a promise to her recently deceased mother. Dowdy would be a kind word to describe Ms Boyle as she strode to the center of the stage. Her (to my Midwestern ears) heavy Scottish accent was difficult to make out, her mannerisms were...weird.
The judges were openly disdainful (which I've peripherally heard is de rigeur, but had never witnessed myself). I was embarrassed for them for their lack of manners as they overtly ridiculed this woman who seemed so painfully out of place. This weird, plain, dowdy woman with the beautiful skin (some commenter in the earlier thread thought this was harsh. Of course it is. But I'm guessing it reflected the opinions and attitudes of everyone in the hall). The editors panned to audience members who obviously thought Susan Boyle had taken leave of her senses. They laughed. AT her. Unabashedly.
And she kept smiling. Not a flicker of hurt, or disappointment crossed her face. Not a hint of hesitation. Her poise was absolutely amazing, even if weird.
After the recorded accompanying music swelled, the camera gave us a view of the judges. Bored. Thinking, no doubt: "here we go again!", trying, not very successfully, to suppress their smirks of disdain.
And then, Ms. Susan Boyle opened her mouth and began to sing. Suddenly, she was beautiful. The strength of her voice clearly reflected the strength of her character. This woman who had cared for her elderly parents till their deaths. This woman who had postponed her LIFE let alone her dreams, in favor of those she loved. This shy, unassuming woman, from a tiny village leaning on the memory of her mother for courage, poured her soul into a demonstration of musical sensitivity for which no amount of technique can substitute. She controlled the performance of a piece not easy to sing, in a rendition which has been called better than any other to date. She owned the audience, the judges, and now, just 6 days later, over 30,000,000 viewers from around the globe.
Musical theater (which isn't opera) is not my favorite genre. But I have listened to Ms. Boyle sing I Dreamed a Dream (from Les Miserables) more times than I should probably admit. Each time, eyes welling with tears for the passion contained in the remarkable performance of a shy, beautiful woman from Scotland who has shared with the world her striking talent. In doing so, she is uplifting us all, and reminding us that beauty can be found in the most unlikely places. Especially, when music is involved.
Why we seem to need constant reminders of this lesson escapes me, but I am grateful that gracious Ms. Susan Boyle of Scotland has deigned to give us that object lesson one more time.
Do yourself a favor. Take time out from the vacuousness of trumped up 'protests', evidence of man's inhumanity to man, bleakness and despair, and ride the energy of Ms. Susan Boyle's emotion-packed singing to a little higher ground.
The only thanks appropriate to the gift Ms. Boyle has given the world, is to go forth as graciously as she does.