Susan Boyle's Idol Gets Nasty, Calls Her a 'Virus'

By PopEater Staff Posted Jan 28th 2010 07:00AM

Susan Boyle has always always professed a deep love for songstress Elaine Paige, with whom she shared the stage last year as they sang Paige's hit 'I Know Him So Well' together. It seems that the adoration is a bit one-sided though, as Paige has fired back at Boyle's rise to stardom and what it took to get there. "'Britain's Got Talent' and 'The X Factor' just take a bunch of people from real life who think they can sing and try and turn them into overnight "stars" with a couple of songs ... Ha ha. It's not entertainment,'" Paige said following an awards show.

According to Britain's Daily Mail, Paige spoke about Boyle's career at the South Bank Awards. When asked about Boyle's rise to stardom and the fact that the internet phenom often cites her as her key influence, Paige said: "I don't particularly feel any pride for her - I'm sure she is proud of what she has done."

Paige and Boyle Duet

Paige said that Boyle "was like a virus really that spread across the world in a nanosecond," saying that her rise to fame via YouTube and the Web doesn't mean she's cut out for showbiz.

"She is a girl with no experience of anything to do with theatrics, the music business, or art in any way ... She has done terribly well to be a major star overnight with YouTube," Paige is quoted as saying.

Terribly well indeed. Boyle's debut album 'I Dreamed a Dream' is the fastest selling female debut album ever, selling more than three million copies worldwide.

When asked about Boyle's longevity in the music industry, Paige chuckled and said that Boyle "is a major star because of YouTube. Longevity is gained through knowledge, experience and effort, so it will remain to be seen."

Still, it wasn't all harsh words aimed at Boyle. Paige says that "when I started, YouTube didn't exist but even then with 15 years of experience prior to my success with Evita it was difficult, so I admire the way she handled her sudden success."

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Susan Boyle Snapshots

Susan Boyle is seen here belting out a note during a performance on the German singing show 'Das Supertalent.' Click for More SuBo Pics >>>

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Susan Boyle Snapshots

British singer Susan Boyle poses for photographers upon arriving at Narita International Airport in Narita, east of Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Susan Boyle Snapshots

British singer Susan Boyle poses for photographers upon arriving at Narita International Airport in Narita, east of Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Susan Boyle Snapshots

British singer Susan Boyle greets fans upon arriving at Narita International Airport in Narita, east of Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Susan Boyle Snapshots

British singer Susan Boyle greets fans upon arriving at Narita International Airport in Narita, east of Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Susan Boyle Snapshots

British singer Susan Boyle greets fans upon arriving at Narita International Airport in Narita, east of Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Susan Boyle Snapshots

British singer Susan Boyle poses for photographers upon arriving at Narita International Airport in Narita, east of Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Susan Boyle Snapshots

Singer Susan Boyle arrives at Narita International Airport on December 29, 2009 in Narita, Chiba, Japan. Susan Boyle Arrives At Narita International Airport In Japan Narita International Airport Narita, Japan December 29, 2009 Photo by Jun Sato/WireImage.com To license this image (59201377), contact WireImage.com

Susan Boyle Snapshots

Singer Susan Boyle arrives at Narita International Airport on December 29, 2009 in Narita, Chiba, Japan. Susan Boyle Arrives In Japan Narita, Japan December 29, 2009 Photo by Jun Sato/WireImage.com To license this image (59201349), contact WireImage.com

Susan Boyle Snapshots

Scottish singer Susan Boyle is all smiles as she receives a flower bouquet upon her arrival at the Narita International Airport in Narita city in Chiba prefecture on December 29, 2009. Boyle, a breakout star of British TV show in April, will sing a song as a guest on the music show on New Year's Eve in Japan. AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO (Photo credit should read YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images)

Susan Boyle Snapshots

Tags: elaine paige, ElainePaige, susan boyle, SusanBoyle

Comments

(448)

Thursday 28 January

By Tina

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Considering Susan Boyle sold more cd's with her debut release than Paige probably did her entire career she should be greatful Boyle even mentioned her. Crawl back under the wicked rock in which you came Elaine.

By Taylors

Wow, you are right, Susan Boyle did sound much better. She should have done the song solo!

By Elaine who

Bitter, party of one.

By armadillo

Elaine....you're a mean girl! So Sad !!!

By S. L.

Elaine Page, how stupid of you to make this unnecessary remark about a nearly 50 year old women who sings like she is in her twenties and like a person that the angels should sound like. She deserves the recognition she is finally getting. As a youngster she was good. It is just that no one paid any attention to her until now. BGT did good in showing the world this talent.

By michaell

Hi
I do like both Susan Boyle and Elaine Paige. Both very talented ladies. I have to say that I am surprised and disappointed in Elaine's catty remarks. If she does feel that way, sometime silence is golden....
Best of luck to both and especially to Susan!!!!
Michael

By Mike Hunt

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Is Boyle a man?

By Janice

To answer your question, Susan Boyle is a LADY, but you would have known that if had been a GENTLEMAN. Obviously, like Elaine Paige, you have much to learn.

By B.B.

Are you?

By Dean

What are you Mike ?
By the way...Porky's was 30 years ago.

By Noel

No Mike...she's a class act.

By Susan

If you've seen Cats, she's the old cat who sings Memories. Love the song and the way she sings it, but who knew she was such an *itch in real life.

By Bettya

True colors revealed.

I used to think of Elaine Paige as "broadway singer". Now, when I look at Elaine Paige's picture up top of this article, it screams "egomaniacal shrew".

By Linda

what a bitter little woman to be jealous of someone that thought so highly of a has been. Susan has so much more class. It is best to say NOTHING, Elaine...absolutely NOTHING.

By jr

susan you sounded great and yes I never heard of this other women but keep on doing your songs you are great.

By BRYAN KIKTA

I had never heard of Elaine Paige until seeing her singing with Susan; while an obvious vocal talent, the sting of jealousy and resentment in her words toward someone who's good fortune has been to both there benefit eliminates any desire to know more about this person or her work.....You go Susan!

By RL

ENVY GREEN SOUR TIRED TACKY all could describe Ms Paige. To this day I can watch Susan sing that first time and am still affected by it. In a good way. Can't say that about Ms Paige.

By Kalina

Nobody even knows OR CARES who the heck Elaine Page is in the US - EVERYBODY knows who Susan Boyle is in the US - 'nuff said!

By tomad36

Elaine who? Seems she might be a little jealous of Susan Boyle. Hey Elaine - how many albums have you sold? Not too many over here in America! What a horrible and ungracious thing to say to someone who is just beginning their music career.

By Unique

Who in hell is Ellen Paige? Sound like she's a hater more than anything.

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