Why America Has a Crush on Susan Boyle

By Laura Ferreiro Posted Dec 16th 2009 09:00PM

Scottish songstress Susan Boyle seems poised to conquer the world. The unassuming 'Britain's Got Talent' star has already sold more than 1.8 million copies of her debut album 'I Dreamed a Dream' in its first three weeks of release in the U.S. (not to mention the millions she's sold worldwide). She also set an impressive record for the best first-week sales of any woman since SoundScan started tracking in 1991. If Boyle continues to sell albums at this pace, she'll likely steal Taylor Swift's crown as top selling artist of 2009.

So what is it about this homespun 47-year-old charity worker who lives alone with her cat that has us running to our nearest record store to pick up her debut album? We at PopEater checked in with some renowned pop music critics to see what all the fuss is about.

'Britain's Got Talent' Debut

'Oprah,' May 11

'America's Got Talent,' Sept. 16

It's Boyle's "every woman" quality that's so appealing believes Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle's Pop Music Critic. "She's ordinary. She's like us. People can relate to her," he says. "When she got onstage to face Simon Cowell she brought a million office workers' daydreams to life. I think everyone who saw the ('Britain's Got Talent') video felt moved by it wanted to be part of the story and make sure it had a happy ending."

It's Boyle's "underdog" status combined with our obsession with reality show sagas that has us rooting for her says Gaylord Fields, Senior Editor of AOL Music. "Susan Boyle's story is a classic underdog tale -- yet one that played out in front of the entire world," said Fields. "It embodies a couple of popular reality-show trends in one: it's a music competition coupled with a makeover story, with a hint of medical program savant syndrome thrown in."

"Shows such as 'American Idol' and 'Britain's Got Talent' are as interested in a potential star's looks as much as their talent," said pop music critic Stephen Humphries. "Boyle managed to up-end all that. Dowdy and close to age 50, she seemed to have no right to be trying out for a market most interested in youth and sex appeal. But her voice trumped all that. I think the fact that Boyle isn't a particularly self-confident or precocious person only added to her underdog appeal."

Fields concurs that it is these personal attributes that make Boyle so relatable. "The juxtaposition of Boyle's one-in-a-million voice with her modest looks and her seeming simplicity and innocence add up to something unique -- and ultimately relatable," he says.

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Susan Boyle Snapshots

Susan Boyle performs with gusto during a French TV show on Dec. 9. See More BoyleShots >>

ELIOT PRESS/bauergriffinonline.com

Susan Boyle Snapshots

FILE - In this undated file image released by TV Guide Network, Susan Boyle sings "I Dreamed A Dream" with the London West End cast of "Les Miserables," in a performance that will be featured in "I Dreamed A Dream: The Susan Boyle Story," airing Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, at 8:00 p.m. EST on the TV Guide Network. (AP Photo/TV Guide Network, Joel Anderson/talkbackThames 2009)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLOGNE, GERMANY - DECEMBER 12: Susan Boyle performs during the 3rd semi final of the TV show 'Das Supertalent' on December 12, 2009 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Stefan Menne/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Susan Boyle

Getty Images

In this undated image released by TV Guide Network, Susan Boyle sings "I Dreamed A Dream" with the London West End cast of "Les Miserables," in a performance that will be featured in "I Dreamed A Dream: The Susan Boyle Story," airing Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, at 8:00 p.m. EST on the TV Guide Network. (AP Photo/TV Guide Network, Joel Anderson/talkbackThames 2009)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

** RECROPPED VERSION OF NYET826 ** In this undated image released by TV Guide Network, Susan Boyle sings "I Dreamed A Dream" with the London West End cast of "Les Miserables," in a performance that will be featured in "I Dreamed A Dream: The Susan Boyle Story," airing Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, at 8:00 p.m. EST on the TV Guide Network. (AP Photo/TV Guide Network, Joel Anderson/talkbackThames 2009)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM ***NO CANADA RIGHTS*** Susan Boyle wears a beautiful sequined dress when she performs on a French TV show hosted by Michel Drucker and Anne Roumanoff. NON-EXCLUSIVE December 9, 2009 Job: 63528EW Paris, France www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

ELIOT PRESS/bauergriffinonline.com

Interestingly, Boyle is bucking current record sales trends. While most artists are selling more digital than physical copies of their albums, Boyle has people rushing out to traditional brick and mortar stores. Humphries has a theory as to why this might be the case. "Boyle's success comes down to older shoppers who still buy CDs and who only buy one album a year when they're out doing their Christmas shopping," he says. "In past years, this older demographic -- the type that gets its music fix from PBS -- has bought millions of copies of albums by the likes of Michael Bublé and Josh Groban. Her album seems perfectly suited to this market, from boomer-era songs ('Wild Horses') to show tune ballads."

So does this plain Jane songbird have what it takes to stick around and keep her music career soaring? Vaziri's not so sure. "I think most of the people who bought her album just wanted a souvenir of the moment," he says. "I'm guessing most of them probably buy one or two records a year and will have moved onto the next thing by the time they wear out this album."

Fields, however, is a bit more optimistic. "As Boyle is not packaged as any sort of visual image that can date her, there is little worry of her becoming passé as a trend," he says. "Also, she is presenting a repertoire of classic songs, so her biggest concern is to avoid being considered a novelty act. With her talent, there are literally thousands of songs she can handle with ease and comfort. The biggest thing that can hamper her career is if she's no longer willing to put up with the demands of stardom, as she does come off as emotionally fragile at times. It seems long-term success is hers to accept or reject."

Tags: american idol, AmericanIdol, britains got talent, BritainsGotTalent, I Dreamed A Dream, michael buble, MichaelBuble, simon cowell, SimonCowell, susan boyle, SusanBoyle, TaylorSwift

Comments

(232)

Sunday 20 December

By James Randi for president

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

So Boyle is a devout believer in god. How typical. No brains, a pathetic face and probably believes in the easter bunny too. Typical poorly educated, illogical, irrational thinking and mega-ignorant christian.

Thursday 07 January

By Betty

Vote down Vote up Report this

I am an Atheist and I love Susan Boyle. I respect her faith and if it gives her strength, I glad she has it. I just don't need it. She has a marvelous voice. I am a trained singer and recognize real talent when I hear it. I agree with Barbra Streisand... She is a poet singing.

By Lynnguistic

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

To Susan Boyle fans, her voice is the #1 attraction, so this 'debate' as to whether she will "last" is silly. Her appeal, of course, is even more enhanced by her personal background. She's the epitome of the "People's Choice" .. and for that reason, I hope that in a future album, she may base her next selection of songs entirely on a survey/vote of her fans' favorite choices. :)

By Cayman

She's got a fringe following of mush heads that support her. She's been way overexposed. Remember that other moron from American Idiot, that Vietnamese dude, Hung something. He sang like a slurring drunk. I don't remember his last name, but he was the talk of the town. Featured on all the junk news outlets: Fox, CNN, MSNBC.... Hung released a CD and all of a sudden show time was over for ol' Hung. People lost interest and fast. Same thing is gonna happen with Miss Boyle. Her fringe followers will begin to dwindle and she'll be forgotten fast!

By mabel eads

I love to hear Susan Boyle sing. She truly has a God given talent.

By Josh

the same people who adore susan boyle are the same ones who adore oprah winfrey. need i say more?

By C.J.

Susan's here to stay for as long as she wants to... and remember, it doesn't matter what's on the outside, it matters what's inside.

By ycav4424

An overnight sensation who will be on top as long as she wants to be, and a nice person too.

By alex

The woman has natural talent, not some made up studio voice thats being sold to the public.. she will fill the seats at concerts. god bless her.

By Sherry

You know when I watched Susan first singing on Britians Got Talent I looked at the audience and everyone looked at her and judged her as being ugly and thinking yea right this women is going to be a good one. Then when she started singing their faces were like oh wow. That's how we are as a society so judgemental. I believe this world would be a better place if we could only see beyond what people look like,and see the beauty of others talents and enjoy them. Oh and the ones who are calling her a cow, they wouldn't know real talent if it bit them in the you know what!!!!!!!!

By chuck9849

Magnifcent voice,natrual talent,down to earth person, Humanitarian, a people person, a true gift to the people, I hope that she does not get corupted by her success, Her heart is probably as big as her voice. I am willing to bet that she will put forward her rewards and give back to those around her. Un like like Taylor swift who is Pretty, sexy, hot,and has a great voice is plastic fradual and will eventually be break. Beauty is only skin deep. Sucess has gone to her head and is more interested in making more money, and has lost touch with reality, and the people who buy her music.

By razzi

Thank you bunny jamison, Exactly! She is the Kate Smith of the 1950's and then some! Kate could sing and you sat there just thinking Wow, like Susan. I always loved hearing Kate. What a beautiful voice she had. And Susan is beautiful too. God Bless you Susan. And I hope all goes well for her.

By Cindy

Great story, fantastic voice, can't wait to get her cd.

By JR

I`M IRISH AND I THINK SHE IS CUTE

By JOHN

ANYONE REMEMBER MOMS MABLEY?

Tuesday 11 May

By spmths1

To everyone who calls Susan Boyle "a cow", I'm sitting her laughing. Just wait. You may be trim, handsome, beautiful in your teens, 20s, 30s.... but when you hit 40s and 50s God lets you see he has a sense of humor. YOU will have saggy butts and boobs, you will gain weight which will settle in your butt and belly, and one day you'll notice that all the attention you used to get from interested persons just dries up. Oh, yeah, that too--your skin will get drier and more wrinkled as hormones naturally decrease in your body.... I guess, then, we can call all of you "cows" too!!! Laughing!!!!!!

By DJ

Am I the ONLY person who is
sick of all this Boyle crap?!?
Yes, she is talented, but
ENOUGH is ENOUGH!!!

Thursday 24 December

By andrew burns

Of course not dj ,your not the only one fed up with susan,you have your brothers and sisters on here from the texas chainsaw massacre brigade with Sharon osbourne as your mother as well.Now dj you may be as stupid as a hedgehogs weenie,but do not let that get you down.We will keep you and your trailer home mob informed as to how many more millions susan sells.

By mark turner

God Bless Susan! In the current age it is tough for an artist or band to make it on talent alone. I would rather listen to her than the disposable pop tarts whose vocals are studio-sweetened. She is a treat for those of us who really appreciate quality music.

By Lena

I'm so sick of these f*cking idiots giving this cow attention like this...they are F*cking soliders dying in other countries why don't you focus your attention on those men and women instead of this dumb f*cking s*ut..

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