So-sosan Boyle?

Susan Boyle makes it to the news once again for having the YouTube video with the most views for 2009. Everybody knows her--well--almost. Her first audition clip for Britain's Got Talent has logged in over 84 million views. The woman has the pipes and give her all the commendation for the singing for that's all she has, she is, or she will ever be. Woman can't make it to covers of mags for the teen and tween market nor will she make a music video to go against the Lady Gaga (bizarre) theatrics or the Beyonce-Shakira range of hip throwing and booty shaking.A pleasant new force in pop though, Susan Boyle may just help bring back singing focus to the vocals, melody, and emotions.


So so? Not really. Her feat is enough to overwhelm stereotypes. Anyone can charge her success to luck but there's no denying she can sing -- can sing better than at least 89% of the global population. She can be annoying, she can be boring  but for someone so plain and out of the blue, reaping praises from ordinary YouTube-rs and even artists and music greats isn't something anybody can achieve. No ass-kissing here for the SuBo. She's good and she has enough of the story to provide that sentimental, charismatic backdrop in her performances. It's not too rare a thing though to find a voice like hers (or better) elsewhere.

One comment that surely tickles the imagination comes from "the diva" Barbra Streissand (oh did I spell that correctly?). For the similarly odd-faced singer (I'm sorry that's just how I see her), Susan Boyle is "like a poet singing." Good or bad comment? Really tricky. We know poets don't usually sing. They're the best with words or lyrics and there exists that box of common perception that draws the line between lyricists and real singers. Is Streissand just making some "out of the box" comment or does she really intend to be ambiguous for she herself couldn't utter a completely honest review of SuBo's craft. Can't say a word for Barbra. She must mean well and maybe she just wants people to think for a while. Hypes don't necessarily mean there's a stir because somebody somewhere is doing something really great.