Boyle 'Decent,' But Attention Is 'Condescending'

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 16, 2009 12:07 PM CDT

(Newser) – Susan Boyle just isn’t that extraordinary, Adam Markovitz writes in Entertainment Weekly. The middle-aged singer who wowed Simon Cowell on Britain’s Got Talent and sparked a viral YouTube hit is getting by on her lack of looks. Her voice is adequate, Markovitz writes, but “her talent is only really shocking if you’ve already counted her out as a squawker on account of her granny hairdo and pre-fame Julia Roberts eyebrows.”

“Am I the only one who finds this a little over-the-top and, frankly, a little condescending?” Markovitz asks. “Plenty of big-voiced PYTs sing their hearts out every week on American Idol without getting this kind of reaction. But Susan, because of her looks, because of the fact that people were snickering at her before she opened her mouth, becomes a sensation simply by being able to carry a tune.”

[Images (5)]

[Videos (1)]

Susan Boyle, 47, gives the thumbs up at her home in Blackburn, Scotland, today. (AP Photo)

Susan Boyle, whose performance on the television show "Britain's Got Talent" wowed the judges, faces the media at her home in Blackburn, Scotland, today. (AP Photo)

Susan Boyle. (AP Photo)

Simon Cowell. (AP Photo)

Susan Boyle, who's performance on the television show "Britain's Got Talent" wowed the judges, faces the media at her home in Blackburn, Scotland. (AP Photo)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 10 comments

PosterNutbag

Apr 17, 2009 10:09 AM CDT

Sure, she has a great voice, but Markovitz makes a good point, I think. The situation was totally contrived, isn't that obvious? Are people that desensitized from watching the idiotbox for so long? From reading the comments above, I am worried that our ability to discern TV-hype-and-BS from real life is now at an all time low. Wasn't it John Prine, one of Dylan's all time favorite songwriters who said, "blow up your tv...eat a lot peaches...try and find Jesus on your own..." Now is as good a time as any.

myvoice

Apr 17, 2009 3:48 AM CDT

Anyone who thinks that people are NOT judged on how they look are naive. I think the point he is trying to make is that everyone surprised that she can sing. Why? What does a so called "good" singer look like these day? Anyone who says this writer is an idiot is denial about why there so much hoopla of Susan performance.

riffran

Apr 17, 2009 3:18 AM CDT

I can see a long potential operatic future....screw Markoshits....

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Entertainment Weekly (Source Grid »)

On the Susan Boyle phenomenon
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A glowing notice, with some backstory on Boyle
San Francisco Chronicle

entertainment • music • reality TV • Simon Cowell • England • Susan Boyle • Britain's Got Talent • Les Miserables

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