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Niall O'Dowd: Ten reasons why Susan Boyle is entertainment story of the decade

By
NIALL O'DOWD,
IrishCentral.com Publisher

Published Saturday, December 12, 2009, 11:52 AM
Updated Sunday, December 13, 2009, 1:00 AM

 

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Boyle's meteoric rise to fame is barely believable
Boyle's meteoric rise to fame is barely believable

1. She made the most dramatic entry ever to the big time at warp speed, from unknown to world renowned in less than six months.

2 The 'You Tube' video of her initial performance  was the most popular ever on the world's most popular shared video medium.

3. Her back story is unlike any other in the decade –  from problems at her birth, to bullying in school to the unemployment line to worldwide fame.

4. No Hollywood producer would never have touched a fictional script based on her rise. They would say it was too unbelievable. Sometimes truth is really stranger than fiction.

5. A cast of characters straight out of a Dickens novel surround her. Simon Cowell, the tough love impresario with a heart, Amanda Holden and Sharon Osbourne the ugly sisters, Piers Morgan, the dashing gentleman. Move over Jane Austen too.

6. Drama to beat the band – success , break-down, near failure, return, revenge, success again.

7. Nattering nabobs of negativism, scores of major writers, critics, artists saying she would never succeed, flash in the pan, can't sing – not pretty enough – 4.5 million record sales later who is laughing now?

8. Transformation from dowdy Scottish lady to sparkling star of stage and screen

9.A voice for the ages – in the end what it was all about – beautiful, mellifluous, tender and utterly unique

10. A story for the age, in tough times an underdog comes through – Rocky had it easy compared to Susan Boyle.

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Posted by JustineCase on Dec 15, 2009, 08:47 PM EST
Fantastic ,,I FEEL SO PROUD OF HER ,i got her CD AND DVD ,well done Susan
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Posted by MalcomAC on Dec 15, 2009, 07:14 PM EST
Two high pressure points: the first was singing THAT infamously difficult song under the most tense of circumstances - especially after being bullied by the three judges before she began. That took tremendous poise to not let that affect her vocal ability. So, choir masters tell me. Second: within 10 days of that video - and the Cry Me A River 'video' being on Youtube, the Guardian and LATimes are flogging Boyle to sing the next Bond theme. The Times of London is flogging her to sing "God Save the Queen" at the Olympics. She's hailed as Britain's answer to Streisand. All within two weeks. Much of it within ten days. This was barely two years since her mother died and the bullying intensified. She was reported to have thrown a bicycle at a bunch of yobs that wouldn't leave her alone. That was not that long ago, yet it's ancient history now. Cheers!
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Posted by MarieUrsula on Dec 14, 2009, 09:22 PM EST
All so true, Mr. O'Dowd. What's remarkable for all of us fans is our involvement and contribution to the astonishing unfolding of events, all coming from the heart. Susan brings that forth from us.
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Posted by Betteboop on Dec 14, 2009, 07:36 PM EST
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Susan is a great perormer and I think as a person too.
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Posted by dublingausafan on Dec 14, 2009, 06:24 PM EST
enjoyed this artiicle--so true
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Posted by Calamity on Dec 14, 2009, 02:03 PM EST
I think your article epitomises what we all feel. I agree with the comment made (can't remember who, I must be getting old!) that Susan should be in line for the Nobel Peace Prize. She has managed to bring the world together through her beautiful voice, beautiful disposition and beautiful goodness.
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Posted by ksdust2009 on Dec 14, 2009, 02:02 PM EST
and there is the important number 11, her many fans that visit online and meet others from far away places. many have been able to travel long distances, even to another country, to see her, wearing red scarfs so she'd know them. if we could all go there would be more than 4000 people just representing one forum online. then we have the new fans, those that haven't been following her every movement since April but now hear her sing and buy her cd! Susan always thanks those who support her! she appreciates us and we thank her for the lift she gives us, the light she's brought into our lives. it's both her personality and her wonderful voice that makes us love her.
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Posted by LinLinisme on Dec 14, 2009, 01:56 PM EST
Susan Boyle deserves all the praise and success. Thank you for writing a good article.
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Posted by mcginleynj on Dec 14, 2009, 09:16 AM EST
Great article. In summary it was on the mark. Susan is remarkable. She got what she needed a Simon to put her over any bumps. Good for her!
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Posted by pomsarepeople on Dec 13, 2009, 07:54 PM EST
"Simon Cowell - tough love impresario with a heart" Ha Ha! LOVED YOUR ARTICLE! Susan Boyle is an original, that's for sure. No one, in our lifetime at least, will ever again hold us unwittingly in her thrall and then deliver the goods beyond our wildest dreams as has she. Thanks for all of your pitch perfect articles, Niall.
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Posted by jdePonceau on Dec 13, 2009, 11:08 AM EST
At the start it was a feel-good story; but it is still a feel-good story. I still take pleasure in all that she says and does and sings. This is a valuable thing for us all in a time of insecurity, worry, and war. Give HER a peace prize.
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Posted by brianmack on Dec 13, 2009, 09:33 AM EST
Great article! I personally find Ms. Boyle to be a tremendous inspiration and hopefully, those who "lose hope" will as well!
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Posted by ChrisinPAUSA on Dec 12, 2009, 10:08 PM EST
Wonderful article, Mr. O'Dowd! Thank you! Watching this story unfold for the past eight months has been just incredible. Other stars use plastic surgery and botox and Susan has stayed Susan. Joking around and wrapping the US and Scottish flags around her at her home, the others would never do this! Her voice is like none other. The whole story is magical. We're watching history in the making.
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Posted by aburns28 on Dec 12, 2009, 09:47 PM EST
i would like some comment on this,barbara walters named her top 10 of 2009 and adam lambert wass one of them but not susan.where on earth did this woman pick that 10 from.i guess next yr she will pick tiger woods.a commentator asked what his hadicap was,his answer 11 women lol
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Posted by SusanJapanfan on Dec 12, 2009, 08:48 PM EST
She should be because she inspired the whole world that nothing should stop us in pursuing our dream. She is a role model for those who are losing hope that their dreams may not come true anymore for one reason or another. She is a symbol of hope.
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Posted by marydobish on Dec 12, 2009, 07:24 PM EST
Of course, Susan Boyle is the entertainment story of the decade! I mean this as a compliment to this wonderful lady: Her voice is like that of the Sirens (in a good way). She draws you in, and you cannot escape her captivating voice. I listen to IDAD over and over again, and now that I own the IDAD CD containing Wings to Fly, I am totally mesmerized. No singer has ever drawn me in like that. It is due to three factors --- a powerful voice, melodious tone, and a wonderful passion as she sings.
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Posted by Respectfully on Dec 12, 2009, 05:48 PM EST
You always manage to come up with such interesting phrases to hold the reader’s attention! I love the adjectives for describing Amanda and Sharon “the ugly step sisters” and several weeks ago “ooze”! Truth plus Humor! You and Susan - “one of us!”
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Posted by Rupert1 on Dec 12, 2009, 05:26 PM EST
Thank you for another great article, Mr. O'Dowd! And yes, like so many others, #9 is the #1 for me in truth.
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Posted by graysea on Dec 12, 2009, 04:43 PM EST
Dear Niall, WHAT A CINDERELLA STORY. You even have the ugly step-sisters. You forgot,"spinster "boiling-over", "cracking up", "hairy a....", not to mention a few more slants thrown during these last months. Susan sang her feelings in a song: "You'll See" and did we the world ever. Susan has proven to be the best singer in the world. This great fun-loving lady had a real story to tell, with a lot of inspiration to go along with it. Her story and recent interviews should be a lesson taught in schools. GO SUSAN. YOU HAVE ROCKED THE WORLD. IT'S NO CINDERELLA STORY, IT'S FOR REAL. THANK YOU.
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Posted by CanadianBill on Dec 12, 2009, 04:22 PM EST
Bang on Niall - #5 so Right! And to me one of the biggest reasons she is such a world wide success story - she's REAL. Head to toe, inside and out, nothing fake about Susan. What an amazing new concept!
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Posted by aburns28 on Dec 12, 2009, 04:18 PM EST
I would also like to add the courage it takes to be a journalist who still has integrity in all things that he reports on and never makes statements to please the masses at the expense of the few,Nial is a rare individual,he does not say what he says to please susan or her fans,He does it because it is simply the truth,there are no other standards in his book.The tragedy is he is one of a few left of a dying breed.Those whose reporting can only be surpassed by the character,honesty,principles,which others have left floundering in there search for the truthless headline. thank you nial for being you.
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Posted by aburns28 on Dec 12, 2009, 03:55 PM EST
Nial ,great article.Susan boyle came along when the world needed a hero to look up to,it was falling apart,rising jobless,homelessness,the world shattered by wars and misery,almost every day was a never ending saturation of bad news with little to lift the spirits.Then along comes this person who only believes in herself because no one else ever did except her mother.On stage she made frank spencer look like an oxford professor,I remember sitting with my head in my hands,propably like so many others,not to judge her but just to say please god do not let these despicable people tear her apart.Then came the voice,and if dollars were counted by tears then there would not be enough money in the world to pay her.not one of us in here will ever understand the oustanding courage it took to stand and do what she did on stage that day.susan became a phenomenon overnight.It was her time,the timing was not of her choosing but it was the right time and history will be all the better for it.And to watch her break down at the quilt presentation was as humble as any human being could be.if she ends it all tomorrow,she will have achieved in 7 months what most superstars will never achieve in there lifetime.congrats susan your really a lovley lady and all happiness to you for the future
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Posted by maryjob on Dec 12, 2009, 02:27 PM EST
Bravo,, Niall! I love your literary analogies, & would add one more--Little Orphan Annie, winning over Daddy Warbucks, and now protected by some serious bodyguards!
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Posted by mdanata on Dec 12, 2009, 02:10 PM EST
Yet again a fantastic insight by Niall! Well done & well said. Mike Danata
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Posted by JoMichael on Dec 12, 2009, 01:30 PM EST
LOVE your article, Niall! It was stated perfectly and it's all true. We are so very happy for Susan Boyle. She is a woman of beautiful voice and beautiful character, and I have every reason to believe she will conquer her demons of depression and mood swings. Feeling loved and secure and having purpose will cure all that! Thank you again for your wonderful support of Susan.
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Posted by stevieboy49 on Dec 12, 2009, 01:29 PM EST
Spot on, Niall, although whilst I do not question your 10, I might have placed them in a slightly different order. The three most inspiring in a story that is truly an inspiration for millions throughout the world are your last three, and I would have placed them at the very top.... but your devotion and constant love of Susan continues to shine through and I do hope that you get the opportunity to marvel at her show tomorrow night for it will confirm just how far Susan has come in just 8 short months! To be sure, yes, the story of the decade!
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Posted by ohiocathy on Dec 12, 2009, 01:25 PM EST
She is the most lovely person in the entire world. Niall, You have great insight into everything she has done. I can't wait until they do a BIG movie of her life. I know this special on TV guide will be wonderful, but, I also want there (eventually) to be a big box office movie. I think we have lots of wonderful things yet to experience with Susan.
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Posted by carol0911 on Dec 12, 2009, 01:20 PM EST
Niall, you said it all and better than anyone. We can add to your list the true journalistic champion, Niall O'Dowd.
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Posted by PWattis on Dec 12, 2009, 01:18 PM EST
Well put, Mr. O'Dowd!
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Posted by Mistisea on Dec 12, 2009, 01:16 PM EST
You did it again, niall! Well said. Let the scoffers take note, ha


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