Musical musings: Keeping Susan Boyle-ant

After much rah-rah over the American Idol, all eyes should be turning towards the British equivalent in “Britain’s Got Talent” for an equally interesting phenomenon–Susan Boyle. From the initial disdain to the raving compliments now, I cannot help but buckle under the heavy weight of (in)fame. Her latest rendition of  “Memory” from Cats got her the ticket to the final this Saturday, 30 May 09. Having gleaned snippets of news on Susan Boyle, I cannot help but worry for her. It’s scary what fame can do to you. Bringing Boyle high up on the pedestal–transforming a dowdy auntie clad in frumpy garb, complete with untamed brows to one elegant lady donning designer brands (the brows are of course, trimmed). Then sullying her “angelic” image by reporting her unleashing of a foul tirade under the stress, threatening with a withdrawal from the mayhem. It’s being a hell of a ride. I used to think she was riding out of hell. Now, I’m not too certain.

Image taken from here.

 Her naïve, almost insane remark below is not going to do her much help either.

I know what they were thinking, but why should it matter as long as I can sing? It’s not a beauty contest. ~ Susan Boyle, The Sunday Times

My personal advice to Susan: I’m sorry to say that as with the development of things, image is everything. In your case, sadly, it’s the lack of it. Get out of it before you lose yourself–and the talent that brought you where you are now. The mass frenzy with your dressing, family history, right down to your brows is fame fleshed out in full-fleged madness. So, keep yourself Boyle-ant and not Boyl(e)-ing.

A Friday teaser to cap it off. If this is talent, I dare not think what is NOT talent. Yes, she can sing but it’s all marred by the overt, err, showmanship. For those who think (or used to think) that the passé William Hung (if you can even remember) with his “She Bangs” was a TALENT, please do all of us a favour–rein in your imagination. It should never go this wild. Not even on a Friday. 

 

 

 

Musical musings: Susan Boyle as the epitome of musical triumph

Music is the only language in which you cannot say a mean or sarcastic thing. ~ John Erskin, 1879–1951

If you haven’t heard about the sensational tale of Susan Boyle in the talent show “Britain’s Got Talent”, you’re likely to be on another (wrong) side of the planet. Her meteoric rise, the mayhem in the wake, and the upcoming avalanche of hoo-ha–Susan Boyle, an unlikely global star, has taken the entertainment industry by storm with her rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” from the musical “Les Misérables”.

Already in a league of her own now, Boyle has fan clubs mushrooming (gosh!) and millions viewing her YouTube video. Her legendary and almost unbelievable rise is precisely as what she has commented to the Observer: “. . . indescribable and completely mad . . .” I won’t even blink if Boyle’s search rates rival that of the world’s most powerful man–U.S. President, Barack Obama.

To better understand my next line of thought, I beseech you do this for the next five minutes. Click on Bolye’s mp3 link on imeem. Better still if you’re listening to this for the first time. This is going to be a real treat (maybe also because it’s without the visuals!)–let the music speak to you. Try to shut out any stubborn visual images threatening to invade your mind. Not easy if you already seen the video, I must say.

Please give music its due and listen to it. I’m not anti-MTV, though I often incessantly ponder the term, making futile attempts to reconcile it with my romantic and perhaps even philosophical perspective of music. Let’s say I’m essentially a traditionalist. I prefer listening first to music (be it the vocals, instrumentals, or a combination of both) without the distraction of other senses to appreciate it in its truest form. Of course, further atomisation would entail separating the melody from the lyrics or even the voice but I shall not delve into this here. It has been generally argued that sight is the most dominant amongst our five senses. Naturally, the music is often relegated to a secondary role when visuals come into play. To a certain extent, I feel unexplainably indignant for music.

To Susan Boyle, good job, I say. I hail her as the epitome of musical triumph though it’s nowhere near the end. It has been a hell of a ride for her and a more bumpy journey undoubtedly awaits her. But with the strength of music fully behind her, she is already a winner in her own way. May the Force be with her. Now, watch Susan Boyle (and her cynics do double takes).

Instrumentals work its magic on me the way vocals make me go soft.  The same way a lover speaks to my heart without words. Let me leave you with two of my favourites–the classic “Over the Rainbow” executed with breathtaking perfection by jazz saxophonist, Richard Elliot. The second one being a laudable touching fusion of vocals and instrumentals–“If Tomorrow Never Comes”, also by Elliot.  Dim the lights (to first shut out the visuals), sit back, relax, and be serenaded by the amazing gamut of emotions. Enjoy.