On Sat, Apr 18, 2009 at 2:07 AM, Thomas Heald, Esquire <[email protected]> wrote: > > http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/archives/2009/04/the_susan_boyle.php
This article gave me some much needed context for this story, but I am in need of a little more. I had a vague awareness of this from a mention on the list earlier in the week - then I had to go to Los Angeles on some business. When I got home last night I noticed that my Facebook was filled with references and links to this video as some kind of profound life changing event, but I am not quite getting it. First of all - I take it this is from the British version of American Idol (did that spinoff from the US version, I infer from a comment one of the judges makes about this being the most surprising performance in three seasons)? This is a little confusing, because I know I saw Simon on AI this week, in Hollywood, and it seems this show was being done in England last week also. Does he really fly back and forth doing the same show on both sides of the Atlantic at the same time? Second - what is the real impact here of this video? She sang well, but not so well as to make it this noteworthy. Is it because she is 48? Is it because she looks frumpy, or acted kind of goofy? Is it that the British version of AI is at the stage where they usually have really bad singers on, and they assumed she would be one of those, and then tricked them into being pretty good? But, as the Village Voice guy notes (and what seems would be obvious) don't we know that at least the producers (and probably the judges) already know who she sang, so the whole thing was part of the pre-arranged narrative of the show. I am not trying to be dismissive - but it seems generally on par with the "blind guy sings pretty good" storyline line AI had going for most of this season - did that get this much play in Great Britain? I have friends and relatives on FB telling me they have watched the video 10 and 20 times and cry more each time. I mean, I admit to crying when Mrs. Landingham went to take a whirl in her new car, but this kind of histrionic emotional reaction to what must be a contrived storyline seems unusually excessive. I have resisted responding to the many comments on my FB until I understand this a little more to try and avoid being too harsh or unfeeling. What am I missing here? --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ TV or Not TV .... Smart (TV) People on Ice! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
