tinhuvielartanis: (Ornate Triskele)
The Cliffs of Insanity ([personal profile] tinhuvielartanis) wrote2009-05-25 01:43 am

Susan Boyle

She's all the rage, the talk of not just the town, but of the world. I hadn't seen or heard her perform until today on You Tube (of course! That's my crack these days). I decided to view her first performance on Britain's Got Talent. What struck me was how everyone judged her by her appearance and were promptly put in their places when she opened her mouth. What people should have done was note that she is Scottish and therefore expect her to sing like an angel. It's the Celtic blood flowing in her veins. I'm not trying to stereotype here, I'm just making the observation that the Celtic tribes have, throughout history, been inclined to artistic proficiency. Hell, when the Scots were denied their musical instruments by the ruling Sassenach, they prevailed by making their voices their musical instruments. Mouth Music was born and verily, people have been rejoicing ever since. My only complaint about Susan Boyle is that she should ditch the show tunes and sing more Scottish folk music. But I'm a tad biased in that area. With her traditional Celtic voice, I think the Celtic Folk community would greatly benefit from her vocal contribution.

I'll admit that, even though I expected her to sing beautifully, I was still deeply moved by Ms. Boyle's performance. She kinda made me a little misty eyed, but just for a couple of seconds, so don't go thinking I've grown soft. Shut up.
jocosa: (Default)

[personal profile] jocosa 2009-05-25 05:59 am (UTC)(link)
Softie!!!!!

[identity profile] tinhuviel.livejournal.com 2009-05-25 04:13 pm (UTC)(link)
::kicks you::

[identity profile] purplefog.livejournal.com 2009-05-25 02:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Look up Greg Pritchard too - he knocked them backwards for a completely different reason!

[identity profile] tinhuviel.livejournal.com 2009-05-25 03:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Will do!

[identity profile] tinhuviel.livejournal.com 2009-05-25 04:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay, just looked him up. What the FUCK????

[identity profile] purplefog.livejournal.com 2009-05-25 05:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Oddly impressive, no? He's from Wales though :D Does it not not sem so suprisingly that he's a highly talented male soprano?

[identity profile] tinhuviel.livejournal.com 2009-05-25 05:30 pm (UTC)(link)
No. 9 out of 10 people of Welsh descent have golden voices and know how to use them! Almost everyone on the Evans side of my family sings and/or plays a musical instrument. Blood, sis. It's in the blood!
Edited 2009-05-25 17:31 (UTC)

[identity profile] purplefog.livejournal.com 2009-05-25 05:44 pm (UTC)(link)
That's what I was referring to. It seems my typo was so appalling you didn't realise I was actually talking about the whole 'singing in Wales' thing.

*ashamed* :x

[identity profile] tinhuviel.livejournal.com 2009-05-25 05:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Meh, don't think about it. Do you sing? I do. I got the gene, although I feel like I could do much better.

[identity profile] purplefog.livejournal.com 2009-05-25 05:51 pm (UTC)(link)
I do, but I'm not Welsh-born and I'm not great at it.

[identity profile] tinhuviel.livejournal.com 2009-05-25 05:53 pm (UTC)(link)
If I ever make it back home, we should totally sing a duet and knock everyone dead. ;)

[identity profile] purplefog.livejournal.com 2009-05-25 05:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Hehehehee... :D

[identity profile] furnacechant.livejournal.com 2009-05-25 07:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Heh. I guess I must be the 10th, then...or just took after the Danish side of the family. I sound like Bjork with a head cold. Although maybe if I didn't have all these allergies, I could sound like Bjork. That wouldn't be so bad.

[identity profile] tinhuviel.livejournal.com 2009-05-25 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Not bad at all! I love Bjork.

[identity profile] purplefog.livejournal.com 2009-05-25 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
*not seem so surprising

...heck, that has to be the worst typo I've ever made :O

[identity profile] insanity-speaks.livejournal.com 2009-05-25 08:42 pm (UTC)(link)
She has a great voice and I've heard people sound just as good or better at karaoke bars. If she wasn't on TV no one would care. I personally think talent scouts should go to karaoke bars and discover talent there instead of waiting for the overhyped TV shows to come out. You are right, she is setting herself up for failure if all she sings are showtunes though. I had this exact same discussion with a friend of mine today. She needs to sing something that will connect with a mass market if she ever wants to have a career that is beyond a broadway stage (which she will struggle to get due to her age and her looks, unless she plays like Mary Poppins or something) Her voice is amazing, but she's just not my cup of tea I will say because she is after all British :)

You fucking softy :p

[identity profile] tinhuviel.livejournal.com 2009-05-25 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
No, she's Scottish, which is a whole different ballgame ::she says, her Celtic raven feathers all ruffled::. ;)

If we lived closer, I'd so go singing karaoke with you, whether you wanted to or not. Ever have a Sith take you hostage to sing at karaoke bars? It could happen.

::kicks you:: Not.A.Softy.

[identity profile] insanity-speaks.livejournal.com 2009-05-25 10:38 pm (UTC)(link)
more karaoke partners is a good thing. If you ever visit Denver we will go too :)

[identity profile] ross.livejournal.com 2009-05-25 09:56 pm (UTC)(link)
This article is one of the better ones regarding the whole SB affair. Unfortunately accurate. In more ways than one.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8017404.stm

[identity profile] tinhuviel.livejournal.com 2009-05-25 10:34 pm (UTC)(link)
I agree with what he's saying here. It's this attitude, which is far more prevalent today than it was in the 70s, that allows for non-talents to flood the already languishing music business. Execs, with the full blessing of their consumers, would much rather have a mediocre talent with a pretty face (or, even better, a great bod) than a great talent stuffed into an unflattering biological unit. In the 70s, when the biz was driven by musicians who could actually perform live, most all these performers were pretty much butt ugly. When the music biz began to falter in the 90s, I suggested to some of these execs that they may want to toss out the Britney Spears clones and seek out more Steven Tylers and Joni Mitchells, focus on concert revenue, and let the Internet do what it was going to do regardless of their protestations. At least, that way, the business could stay afloat by becoming a parasite to unattractive talent who could actually perform. They didn't listen and I'm unemployed now. Could I get a recording contract maybe? I sing! No. But Britney Spears is still going "strong!"

::rolls eyes::

[identity profile] hipstamom.livejournal.com 2009-05-26 09:17 am (UTC)(link)
even my hardcore ass bawled like a bitch. Don't feel back.

(i'm wearing shin protectors just in case!)

[identity profile] tinhuviel.livejournal.com 2009-05-26 02:08 pm (UTC)(link)
LOL