Susan Boyle; It Could Only Be Worse in Cleveland

Kate Smith (left), Susan Boyle (right) -- how times have changed.

Susan Boyle and this writer have much in common. We’re both Scottish, ugly, and some would say we make a joyful noise, though “yours truly” can’t sing a note. We are intrigued by her phenomenon, but also realize it probably would not happen in the USA on “American Idol” as Americans are so much more image and appearance obsessed that our British cousins who many stereotype for their pasty complexions and bad teeth.

It’s only natural to see the underdog get attention, and given all other considerations to see a person’s ability to maximize one’s gift can gather much favorable attention. As is so often the case, that which gives one day, takes away the next. Such is the case in the fickle world of the pop culture. Sadly, Ms. Boyle destroyed her innocent church lady persona when accosted by the hateful celebrity stalkers and paparazzi in London. She responded with some spicy language, not the kind of seasoning used in a good old Scottish meat pie, and the damage was done. Had she kept her mouth shut and hauled back and decked one of the sons of bitches, she’d probably have reached even a higher level of celebrity.

She’ll surely land a record contract and produce an album. The novelty of it should mean huge sales in the United States probably more so that Great Britain. Undoubtedly, she’ll have little input on the album’s content. It will be the domain of a record company promoter looking for an angle to maximize initial sales which translates into very crappy music. For decades, such producers have been the bane of true quality in music.

A year from now, she’ll be forgotten or touring on some evangelist’s crusade if she can be roped into that calling. Her fifteen minutes are almost up. The show biz rags and television shows will surely hype her album when it’s released and she’ll be yet another flavor of the month, gone and forgotten.

Her music’s not fitting this writer’s taste, but her story deserves a little perspective. We think of broader things how a person’s appearance and fashion sense has so much to do with the public’s reaction and how in the music industry, it’s all about having the “look” that goes along with the sound. Would Kate Smith have become such a giant star had her career not started in the days of radio when 78rpm records were often sold in brown paper sleeves? Anybody can identify a mindless fluff who has the “look” but little else, zero musical talent and an absolutely forgettable voice who can at best follow a producer’s instructions in the studio. Case in point, hello Britney Spears.

This is life in the television and video age. Think back to the Kennedy/Nixon debate in 1960. Those who watched the debate on television though John F. Kennedy won convincingly. Those who listened to the debate on radio were equally convinced Nixon won. That's back when television was still largely black and white. Today, we have high definition TV that reveals every zit and imperfection, all kinds of news and entertainment options on cable television, not to mention all the means of exposure on the Internet.

One last note to Susan Boyle’s brief moment in the spotlight, she was identified as “the woman who shut up Simon Cowell.” That’s a good thing.