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 sherry

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Sour grapes to Paige - Susan's voice has such quality and beauty - it belongs to the world. Thank you - Susan for sharing your lovely gift with us.

By The Wrestler

Susan has a much greater voice than Page. That's the real problem.

By Becky

I find that funny considering I didn't even know who Elaine Paige was until Susan came around to be honest. When they sing together - well I'm sorry Susan out sings Elaine. Her voice is so much better....Elaine is just jealous...she doesn't have that talent - KEEP IT UP SUSAN!!

By pppsfan

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

If you don't know who Elaine Paige, that tells me you've never gone to the theater and watch a play. I don't agree with what she said about Susan but I guess if you spend your entire life in the theater working at your craft and then see someone win a game show and be held in the same light as you, I can understand how someone can feel that way. If you read the article without getting all feaked out and read what she says, it isn't as terrible as you think. Don't bother sending me a reply, I delete them. Thats my take on and if you don't like it "get a life".

By sbt

Who?????!!!! You go Susan Boyle - God Bless!!

By doublejtrain68

Like many others, I have never heard of Elaine Paige either. I will reiterate that she should be honored that Susan is a fan of hers instead of trashing her. I mean, how arrogant is that as to what she said? She DOES sound jealous of her success. She mentioned she got to where she is so fast because of YouTube -- hey Elaine, that's the world we live in, sweetheart! Susan's CD (which I bought for my wife on Christmas) is multi-platinum. She's here to stay, so deal with it, has-been!

By Noel

Not every one watches youtube. You would think a "professional" would have learned humility, good manners and to age gracefully.i never heard of Elaine until Susan.

By Bigmo

Sour Grapes you old Prune!

By LInda

Susan Boyle rocks, I love her passion for music and she did it all on her own. Elaine is jealous because the US didn't know her until Susan. Keep on Susan

By linda

Paige is just jealous-I have never even heard of her, but I Have Heard Of Susan Boyle

By kim

Sounds jealous and snarky. She sounds so snotty and is a mean girl!

By Jimbo

Sounds to me like Paige is just jelous that she didn't wait to start her career later when the internet was around... Oh but wait, she isn't even as good of a singer as Boyle so Paige would have just been put on the back burner behind Boyle. Go Susan, you rock!

By Tom Pettitt

I truly believe that Miss Paige is incredibly jealous of the fact that Miss Boyle is by far a better singer and performer than she is. I have never heard of Elaine Paige until I saw the duet with Susan Boyle, however I have watched Miss Boyle from the very beginning of her career.
I think Miss Paige should be thanking Miss boyle for introducing her to the rest of the world.
Keep up the wonderful entertaining MISS BOYLE and don't let a low class wanna be performer put you down.

By Amberina

Who the heck is Elaine Paige??? usan Boyle is the star and Paige is JEALOUS.

By Annette

Elaine has no class

By Don

Sounds like somebody is very jealous.

By Janice

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Seems that Elaine Paige has just taken a page (pun intended) out of the nasty handbook, you know, the chapter under jealousy.
Being a big star (which I presume Elaine Paige is, although I never heard of her before Susan Boyle mentioned her name) hasn't really relieved little Elaine of a mean streak. If Elaine Paige is in the news so often, why is she a virtual unknown in the USA? The green eyed monster seems to have bitten Ms. Paige in the ego. Get over it, lady. Susan Boyle is the star you would have liked to have been.

By Donna

To paraphrase: Badly done, Miss Paige.Badly done.

By Bettya

There are many good singers out there. Ms. Paige is implying that she deserves her success because she pushed the right buttons, pleased the right people, and in short 'paid her dues'.

If Ms. Paige really knew as much about show biz as she thinks she does, she would know... that true talent trumps hard sell, every day of the week. By talent I mean something special. . . think about it, Elaine.

By Ginger

Elaine Page's nickname in the show business industry, 'Poison Dwarf' was not given lightly - now we knowe whay she has that moniker. She's over the hill and jealous...Susan might be a normal, person but EP is clearly not.

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