Susan Boyle Restores My Faith in Humanity

• There is a lot of chatter going on analyzing why Susan is such a phenomenon. Don�t they know angels walk amongst us? True, such are rarely revealed on such a huge stage. I prefer it a lesson on how the Lord sees His children. Imperfect but for the unmistakable stamp He has place on each one. With that special gift we are made complete. I�ve watched that video at least one million times of the 50 million, and counting. Susan is perfect, and she is an angel.

• i can't believe i just read that whole thing. i watched that video once, like, aweekago.com and it actually didn't make me tingly. no, not because i don't have a heart! because i don't value proper singing. in any case, i would like to propose that this woman is the international Rita of Mangioke. also "Matt is obviously a very ugly nerd, with no friends." is my new favorite thing. SMELL MOP 4EVA

• She has the voice of a 21 year-old, and she's 47, and her speaking voice didn't give any hints of what was to come... But I think it's a little uh, dubious, to say that any of us are "above" making judgements about people based on how physically attractive or unattractive they are. It's kind of what we do. And by "we" I mean humans. It's a beautiful moment because it was unexpected. Score one for the dreamers!

• I usually never get involved in drawn out arguments like this, but I think Matt is right. Matt, the power of the viral and the written word has come back to get ya. It's amazing how words can be so easily misinterpreted in the internerd days--literacy crisis, anyone? With that, I'll add to the confusion... I think in this case the crowd going nuts in the video created a ripple effect throughout the entire world. If the crowd would have kept their cynical demeanor, then the performance probably would have been viewed as mediocre--because of her looks! On the flip side, would the crowd have went as crazy for a stereotypical "hottie"? Probably not--because, for some reason, we expect great things from pretty people. So what I take away from people's comments are that they found her inspiring because she's ugly AND talented? That's a goddamn shame. In fact, I agree with James, she's not even THAT good (her lower register is awful).

• Matt, god luv' ya for quotin' me, but you took the teefs outta it: "Screaming at a brick wall, expecting it to grow ears." Cheers! -jwwjr

• Wow you're hot.

• I've spent several hours tearfully watching and re-watching Ms. Boyle's incredible performance and surfing the web to read all I can about this remarkable moment in time. The more I watch and read, the more I realize, that like many of us, there have been so many times in my life when I cynically judged someone based on their appearance. After watching Ms. Boyle, I was ashamed of that. Now, though, I'm filled with joy at not only her stirring performance, but in the knowledge that I've been re-wired -- I cannot and will not even make the same judgmental mistake again. No doubt many, many people feel the same, and when all is said and done and the spotlight fades, changing people's attitudes will be Ms. Boyle's greatest gift to one and all.

• I admit, when I first saw her I did take note that she wasn't some young beauty pageant queen, but not because I figured it meant she couldn't sing or that it made her any less of a person. Hell, I'd still say she's better looking than myself. However, I was cringing at the idea of her facing Simon. Whether he knows his stuff or not, what I'd refer to him as probably wouldn't be appropriate to say here. I think perhaps why everyone keeps mentioning what she looks like, is as a reminder that perhaps we take outer beauty too seriously. We put beautiful people up on a pedestal, whether they really deserve it or not. Yet by even discussing that, we're still stuck in that mode, aren't we? If she puts out a CD, I'll most certainly be buying it if possible. I loved her voice and I love that style of music. Even if she doesn't "make it," she can say something about herself that many people can't. She tried.

• To who said we'd send Ms. Boyle "back to her nothing life...". Whoever said she had a nothing life? She seems to have enjoyed singing throughout her life, probably is very well-like in her village due to her charming and sassy and modest personality, and she did one of the most important things a child can do, she took care of her dying mother. Now she still has plenty of time to follow her dream to the next level. It's not just her singing but the whole story about how she got onto the show. She looks like someone's sweet Aunt. And she pinned that audience to the wall. Her "fame" will last a while.

• The woman made me believe! She made me believe it is not too late to dream, it is not too late for your dreams to come true, it is not too late to be successful, it is not too late to be triumphant, it is not too late to be famous, that external beauty and youth has nothing to do with any of it, and that hope can still live in anyone. Absolutely remarkable!

• Matt human nature is what it is. i wish they would focus on her talent first . However her talent is undeniable its not something one can get past . Bless her heart she has the most beautiful voice i have ever heard. I for one will buy her cds and not for pit pity. Heck I dont have a voice like that she needs no pity. My very very best to her but she has been Found.I want to hear more and more of this lady. Mary Texas

• what the hell happened here? wow. matt, kudos, i agree with you. i watched the whole performance, and the whole pretense/undertone of it made me uncomfortable. thanks for saying what you did.

• what the hell happened here? wow. matt, kudos, i agree with you. i watched the whole performance, and the whole pretense/undertone of it made me uncomfortable. thanks for saying what you did.

• Whoa peeps... before you send the lynch mob out for Matt, read what he wrote. I've a strong suspicion that the anger here isn't so much from the lack of reading comprehension (of Matts posts) as from a guilt we'd prefer not to face. But it's important to judge ourselves, use the same brutality we first judged Susan Boyle with, if we're to advance. I saw the same Susan Boyle everyone did, and I thought the same thing everyone else did. And when Simon was first interviewing her, I, also, was waiting for the insults to roll. Thank goodness Simon didn't say what we all were thinking because we'd all feel even more ashamed of ourselves than we already do! I did a search and read some articles and headlines yesterday. One of the headlines struck me hard. It read (paraphrasing)- 'Woman in Dowdy House Dress Wows BGT' Huh? Dowdy house dress? She wore a gold formal dress that would have been acceptable to wear meeting the Queen. Turns out, Susan Boyle is a better person than I am. It's one of the many things I like about her. Through her, I'll try harder in the future.

• The nicest thing about that woman is that she is so modest / unaware of the extent of her talent and she was sooooo thrilled to hear the yesses from the judges!!!!! It looks like she stepped onto the stage not to compete but just to fulfill a dream of singing in front of an audience.

• I'm glad a few folks were able to realize that everything I was saying was pro-Susan the human being. Everybody else can eat a bag of dicks. "Beating my head against a wall, trying to make it grow ears." -JWW

• She was truly extraordinary! So often us 'adults' forget what we preach to kids- you can't judge a book by its cover. But Susan is walking proof of that. She made us all sit up and listen from the very first note. What's better than watching her performance is watching reactions to her performance. This video has praise from all over-http://tinyurl.com/cwew5m. You can't say she didn't touch anyone!

• Inspiring!!! Dreams do come true. She was amazing...

• As we all know! Do not judge a book by it's cover!

• Susan Boyle's courage is as inspiring as her talent.

• now everyone can re-evaluate the value of all those talentless billionaires such as madonna, spears and courtney hole, who do nothing more but make you cringe everytime the media shoves them at you and you JUST HAVE to experience their ugly talentless existance .... something is very wrong in the world isnt it. btw - she looks like an opera star.

• At a time when everything in the world seems to be going so wrong, to hear Susan's performance should remind us that there are still hidden treasures out there. Susan, you have made us smile at a time when it is hard to find much to smile about. Thank you so much for brightening our day. I wish you nothing but wonderful things in your future.

• I get what Matt is saying and I get what other folks are saying. The presentation before the actual singing made fun of her. She knew it. She knew what she had inside and she rocked it. Good for her. I will buy her albums. I love her voice and her delivery. I will hate to see article after article about her as it will destroy her eventually as it does everybody who attains celebrity. Amanda Holden says to SB, "I am so thrilled because I know everybody was against you. I honestly think that we were all being very cynical, and I think that's the biggest wake up call ever. I just want to say that it was a complete privilege--- listening to that." She was right. We are all cynical. Our culture trains us to be even though we know better in our hearts. I think she reminded some of us that heart is everything even if we aren't the most talented or prettiest or best liked- we all have something special about us. I hope she lives her dream and I hope in doing so, she is not consumed by it and lose the very things that make her so lovable and an individual. I hope we as fans do not savage her as we do everyone and everything else.

• In this time of so many people umemployed and loosing everything. A woman who is out of a job takes a leap of faith to do something that makes her heart sing. And guess what she succeeds beyond our imagination. Good job Susan - I hope you inspire people to go out and do what they have a passion for - every great idea and unique individual has broken the mold of what society expects you to be. Keep inspiring us and we all will be watching and listening

• God wraps many of the most beautiful gifts in packages we never open. Thank God we all heard Susan Boyle, she is beautiful all around...I'm sure if I met her in person, with or without the singing I would love her personality, she appears shy but what a lovely smile and her inner beauty radiates for all to see....add to it her beautiful voice and we all know what an angel sings like !

• Are you off your meds again, mervat?

• This is an amazing woman with a hidden talent. From this moment on, she will have more than 15 minutes of fame. May she surely be blessed on this new path along her journey called life. Bravo!

• Totaly agree with you Victoria...

• Those who are bashing Matt (that means you, Anthony Miggiani and Mervat) should read his comments again, and this time try to fully understand them before responding.

• http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/10745 go to this link mr. smart man..Jeff she only has simple personality... and don't only listen to her but try to hear.. she was shy... very shy.. she is the one who LIFE KILLED THE DREAM THAT SHE DREAMED... don't you try to undersatnd persons around??? what happend to you people/????? are you still human??? I wonder..

• Matt, it's obvious that you are in a dark place - you didn't need to tell anyone. I'm not angry with you as some are for your comments, but I think you don't get it. Everyone is going out of their way to talk about her appearance BECAUSE of how wonderful she sounds. She represents all of us who are not models, but still have a lot to offer. She represents all those that want to be proud of themselves but allow insecurities play a part in their lives and allow their appearance to hold them back. She was not afraid to get up there, put herself before Simon to be crucified with all of her awkward attributes, and sing her ass off. I get goose bumps just thinking about how proud of herself she was and the dignity with which she stood there singing. She didn't care about her dress, her figure, her unibrow, her hair or her looks; She just wanted to sing and was probably happy just to sing and go home to her cat in her little village. My hope is that she keeps her unibrow and becomes known (and remembered) all over the world. I will remember her and I think that a lot of other people will as well. I can't wait to hear more of her. I hope you find the light someday, Matt. Life is what you make it, but it starts within you. Good luck.

• The lack of reading comprehension on here is astounding.

• This little tiger that I am listening to with non- stop.. Hundreds of times... and never.. ever wanna quit... YOU ARE SO HARD ON people MATT...Trivial person.. I wondered why such people like you in this life... and glad that I do not know you in person...

• Matt, What you're missing is that Susan Boyle will end up with a career on the stage where looks are nowhere as near as important as for the pop flavor of the month. She emotes, she sings with passion, and I can name a number of roles she could play right now. The dowdiness was a hook, but the voice is what I remember.

• Matt, they still missed it. I warned you! Personally, I think she didn't sing very well at all. inb4 "OmfgzletsHEREYOUDOITANYBETTER" and "You must be jealous and bitter and unfulfilled" and on and on and on.

• "You should be a hostage negotiator for the FBI, Matt." ROFLOL! Omg, that comment made me laugh so loud the cats jumped up! But really, I agree, Matt. I thought she was an honest-to-goodness hoot in the interview and seemed like someone who'd be fun to get to know. However, I'm also a frumpy, funny (looking) 42 year old with surprising depth as well, so I was with her from the get go. ;-) Hostage negotiator...lol...mind if I steal that one?

• You cannot buy just a part of the whole. The moment i heard the first line. I know that she will be in my heart for the rest of my life. I will follow her carrier and listen to her.

• Susan Boyle , Susan Boyle , Susan Boyle , Susan Boyle, Susan Boyle , Susan Boyle Susan Boyle ,Susan Boyle ,Susan Boyle Susan Boyle, SUSAN BOYLE ...................................................................................................................................................BRAVO , WONDERFUL , MAGNIFICO !!!!!!!!!!!

• Susan Boyle teaches us all something that we've heard over and over again, but we never seem to learn from it -"Never judge a book by its cover." Classic case of pre-judging (from the looks and reaction of the audience before she sang her first note). Wish Susan Boyle much success in her new career.

• I think she inadvertently made many people aware of a side of themselves, they would have rather forgotten about. No, I wont forget her readily.

• Hey Matt... I bet we'd have a grand time - you, me and Susan Boyle having a beer (or four). I like her humor too; nearly self-effacing but never crossing the line. I appreciate your protectiveness of her. I feel the same way... gems do that to people. I watched 'American Idol' tonight waiting for the feeling SuBo (well, sooner or later we have to have a nickname for her if we're to be drinking buddies) evoked, only to realize what I knew was predetermined. Kids don't have that depth of spirit. All the best. Can't wait to hear what happens next week!

• Anthony, Watch out. Think before u say anything about Matt(a very ugly nerd, with no friends), he may turn up to be another Susan Boyle :)

• Matt is obviously a very ugly nerd, with no friends. He's pissed off because he's one of those who sustained a humiliating shock to their malicious self. I saw a TV clip here in Toronto tonight. As jaws dropped with Ms. Boyles's first notes it was obvious that this most refined singer would bring the house down. She's sure to be the toast of the world stage. I've been playing the clip several times now and I get thrilled everytime. BRAVO Susan, BRAVO indeed. Now Matt, run out and get another bottle of hooch and shutuppayourface, EH!

• True talent will last a never be forgotten - no matter what the gifted person looks like. Susan will last.

• Dang, Mick, it seems that you're seeing her as a human being & not as a flavor of the minute internet feel good story with a sick aftertaste of pure manipulative media evil. I kinda fear you're one of the exceptions, though, but hopefully I'm wrong. You, me, & Susan should get together for beers sometime, cuz she seems like she'd be a hoot. Cheers!

• Well said, Mick. Thank you.

• I too cringe, Matt, at the unkind words spewed about Susan Boyle's appearence, but that's where my agreement with you ends. Remember her? Yes! I'll remember, as I'm listening to her recordings, the grace and dignity with which she carried herself. Dignity and humility are a rare combination. I'll remember that she seemed nearly as surprised by the adoration from the judges as I was at the strength of her voice and character. She didn't merely make us 'feel better' for 10 seconds: she inspired us. Inspiration is something feeling humans never forget. And Matt - it didn't sound to me as though she had a 'nothing life' (before this happened). It sounded to me like she filled her life with honorable and charitable work. I will remember Susan Boyle.

• I am in love. The beauty that comes from her voice brings me to tears .

• No no no no no no. You miss the point completely. I'm not the one calling her unattractive & awkward. It's everybody who's supposedly rooting for her that feels the need to talk condescendingly about her before praising her. I don't care what my popstars or movie stars or writers or anyone else looks like. I thought she was hilarious in the interview part. Good for her. But here's the thing. The story being presented isn't "Woman Has Talent". Everyone has made the story "Ugly Old Woman Has Talent" & I just think that that's shitty & cruel.

• Damn, Matt. Take some Xanax or something. She has no training and sings like an angel. Ever hear of Josh Groban? Guy looks like your next door neighbor's nerdy kid brother and he's now a gold-record performer wowing 'em in Vegas. He was fugly and unknown, now he's fugly, rich and famous. Ummm Barbra Streisand? Beverly Sills? Charlotte Church? KD Lang? Heck, how about last year's "Got Talent" phenom, Paul Potts? Not beauty contest winners by any stretch (well, Charlotte is cute but not all that), but nobody buys their CDs out of "pity", they buy because of their once-in-a-generation voice. Susan Boyle has such a voice, and I'm glad it did not go quietly to her grave with her. I'll buy her album, and not out of pity.

• You should be a hostage negotiator for the FBI, Matt.

• Okay, here's the thing that's pissing me off about all the coverage this poor woman is getting: Everyone has to keep going out of their way to point out how unattractive & awkward she is before praising her singing. It's like you're giving with one hand but slapping with the other. It's patronizing at best. You're dooming her to never being anything more than this year's version of that siamese twin who sings country songs. Remember her? Nope? Will you remember what's her name up there in a year? Nope? I'm sure she's gonna get a "record deal" out of this & a small handful of people will buy her cd out of pity & never listen to it. Glad she made us all feel "better" for 10 seconds before we send her back to her nothing life, huh? Jeezus. I'm in a fucking dark place right now...

• Interview with Susan Boyle on Scottish TV today.

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