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Susan Boyle: The first review of 'I Dreamed a Dream'

By
Niall O'Dowd

Published Saturday, November 21, 2009, 8:38 AM
Updated Monday, November 23, 2009, 11:07 AM

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Susan Boyle: The first review of 'I Dreamed a Dream' | Irish News | IrishCentral




Susan Boyle's album "I Dreamed A Dream" is Amazon’s largest global CD pre-order ever
Susan Boyle's album "I Dreamed A Dream" is Amazon’s largest global CD pre-order ever

Folks, she hits it out of the park, slams it into the bleachers, belts it onto the Beltway, hammers it into the night sky.

This is the "Big Lebowski," the big kahuna, the big enchilada, the big deal.

It is all there in Susan Boyle's new album, "I Dreamed a Dream." Her vulnerability, her spirituality, her hard times and driven dreams, losses and loves, her belief in family, faith and friendship.

This is the best-selling album ever in Amazon's pile for a reason.

Any worries that Susan might not be able to duplicate her extraordinary success so far are quickly removed once you slip this CD into your player.

What we find is Susan the person, interpreting the songs as if her life depended on it.

Imagine if you could choose 12 songs that reflect your own life, and then sing the socks off them. This is what Susan has done.

Her voice has never sounded better, especially on the slow ballads, in which she seems to hold the lyrics for an eternity before letting it slip away into the next lyric.

It is exquisite and extraordinary.

I am certain she had a major hand in selecting every one, which reflected best on her own life experiences, her complex emotions and her life dream. She gets it just right.

Yes, it is a big album, but it is an intimate experience listening to it, as if she was in the next room explaining her life to you.

I thought I would mainly like the old favorites, but I found myself much preferring those songs that speak to the Susan we have come to know and love.

Let me take you through it, from my favorite track on down.

"Who I Was Born to Be"

When she opens with "I am not a girl / I have known the taste of defeat / and I have finally grown to believe / It will all come round again" — you feel like Susan has welcomed you into her life. It is that intimate, unique and personal. This is her story. The song is pure poetry in her hands. My favorite. It is also the only original song on the album, written by Audra Mae, a relative of Judy Garland. Its connection to Susan's life is evident.

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Susan Boyle: The first review of 'I Dreamed a Dream' | Irish News | IrishCentral


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Posted by 3BlueStars on Dec 12, 2009, 10:05 PM EST
It's curious you would dismiss "Daydream Believer" as having very little resonance about Susan or her life. Huh? Did you listen to her sing it? When those words and tones pulse from the heart, up through the vocal cords and over the lips of the QUEEN of Daydream Believers, it's ALL about her. And by the way, it's NOT at all about you, anyway. Once again, "I Dreamed a Dream" comes crescendoing off that CD as gloriously as when she wow'd us on BGT. The song is her's. "You'll See" is a little dark for me. Her longing and wistfulness in "The End of the World" and "Daydream Believer" seem way more like the Susan we know and love. Thank you, Susan, for daydreaming AND believing. It gives me encouragement to continue dreaming and believing, too.
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Posted by kickstar on Dec 03, 2009, 07:07 AM EST
I think Susan is Genuine Original Fresh and absolutely something New A breath of fresh air into an otherwise dull world of music. And I certainly will be putting my money where my mouth is.
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Posted by katladyd on Nov 25, 2009, 04:15 PM EST
I agree with your favorites. Proud is my very favorite song on this album! It plays in my head constantly and I find myself humming it at work. I love all the songs except, like you, Daydream Believer. There was no "Susan" in this song and she deserves great songs, not bubblegum, to showcase her awesome powerful, beautiful, voice. I love all the others, though. Amazing Grace just mesmerizes me, love it!!!! Now, on to the next great Susan Boyle album. This one is awesome, powerful, and great. Bravo, Susan!!!
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Posted by Watereskhill on Nov 24, 2009, 12:53 AM EST
Susan Boyle: The 'frump' that eveyone laughed at on Britains Got Talent at her Audition. A beautiful soul. A heart-touching voice. A woman without the crap of 'Diva' or ego. I just plain love her. Sing Susan sing.
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Posted by JACarlonOffutt on Nov 24, 2009, 12:03 AM EST
I'm glad we are here to hear it too! And, there are a lot more songs out there for Susan to sing to us....at least for many years to come.
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Posted by marydobish on Nov 23, 2009, 08:51 PM EST
I am thrilled for Susan Boyle, and I am so proud of her! This CD is extraordinary. My favorite on the album is "Who I Was Born to Be."






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