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Susan Boyle performed for a full half hour this morning on The Today Show. She’s the first singer who’s only released a debut CD to be invited to sing on the show for so long. People lined up hours ahead of time in the cold morning for a chance to hear Boyle belt out her songs.
A huge crowd stood in the New York morning chill, cell phones and camcorders held before misty eyes to record a simple woman dressed in simple clothes singing familiar songs in a voice that penetrated deep into the spirit. Susan Boyle, seven months removed from her now legendary debut on “Britain’s Got Talent,” is no longer the shy and dowdy woman who walked on the stage that fateful night to smirks and sneers — and left to a thunderous standing ovation.
“I’ve grown up a bit. I’ve become more of a lady. I don’t swivel my hips as much, you know?” Boyle told TODAY’s Matt Lauer Monday before unleashing her extraordinary pipes on the crowd waiting for her in Rockefeller Plaza. The 48-year-old Scottish woman who was taunted and beaten as a child now laughs easily a herself and remains humbled and awed by her own fame. Never before had an artist releasing a debut album been invited to sing for a full half-hour on TODAY. Until Boyle.
On Monday, the product of that triumph, her 12-song debut CD, went on sale. Even before it hit the stores, it was already the biggest advance CD seller in the history of Amazon.com. This year alone, Boyle has sold more advance copies than U2, Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay and the Dixie Chicks. Eleven of the songs on the album are covers and one is original. They are not all show tunes, but they are all soulful, including a rendition of the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses” in a style much different than Mick Jagger could ever have imagined.
Boyle also sings a Madonna tune, “You’ll See,” that she said is her answer to the teachers who beat her regularly with a belt and the classmates who so cruelly taunted her when she was growing up. “That was a statement I was trying to make, because I was bullied a lot at school: ‘You may have done that to me when I was younger, but you can’t do it to me anymore. I’m grown up now,’ ” Boyle explained softly.
[From MSNBC]
Susan really has shown everyone. And despite all the people who tormented her in her youth, it seems that from the moment she sang her first note on “Britain’s Got Talent,” everyone’s been behind her. Her singing was just absolutely phenomenal this morning. The power of this woman’s voice is truly incredible. And it’s only made more so by her story. The entire interview with Susan will be aired on Thanksgiving, as part of Matt Lauer’s “People of the Year” special. I know some people are still suffering from Susan Boyle fatigue, but I’ve got to admit I’m still moved whenever I hear her sing.
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She’s growing on me. I like that she finally looks really happy about where she’s ended up.
Maybe I read to much into it, but when she came in 2nd on BGT and ended up in the hospital for a few days, I thought she just seemed very forlorn and a little frightened by what was going on.
Anyway, good for her. Whether it’s my thing or not, she’s got a lovely voice.
Awh… that’s sweet.
They need to apply her wig better
That song gave me goosebumps. She has such a beautiful voice!
I’m so glad that things worked out for her. I was worried about how she would handle fame after she was hospitalized but she seems to be doing good. I couldn’t imagine what it’s like to go from an unknown to a world wide sensation over night. I like her quirky sense of humor.
She was amazing.
NBC has partially redeemed themselves after Natalie Morales walk on the dark side.
I don’t think that’s a wig. She’s got a full head of hair.
She brought tears to my eyes this morning. Gotta cheer for this one. Boo, what is your reference to Natalie Morales’ dark side–what did I miss?
She is remarkable. I can’t help but get goosebumps when she sings.
Judy, the lady brings tears to my eyes everytime I hear her sing. She has such a beautiful voice. I can’t wait to get the CD.
Wow, who can sing that well first thing in the morning? Amazing. Tears to my eyes as well.
I do think she should tone it down with the wiggle business however. Takes away from the performance.
It’s about bloody time!
I had the pleasure of hearing her sing live at the Rock, yesterday morning and I think she sounds even better live, I honestly do.
Salt of the earth with an angel’s voice.
Bless her.