Comments on: The Susan Boyle Factor

By: Fawn Keppel

Fawn Keppel — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 09:06:33 +0000

Susan boyle really has a very nice voice and she is very talented. ..

http://www.prettygoddess.com/index.php?board=3.0

By: Cutting the Treacle

Cutting the Treacle — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:32:09 +0000

Radnor: “it would be impossible to expand the age range however they could do an over 30’s Idol show”

Me: Why would that be impossible?

By: Leeann Ward

Leeann Ward — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 11:36:22 +0000

They *have* now expanded the age range though…to younger, fifteen.

By: radnor

radnor — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 11:01:47 +0000

Up to now Idol contestants have moved forward on their vocal ability to make it to the top 24 if you had watch the beginning of the show when they went through the many judges auditions to even make it on the show -and those auditions were based on singing ability – if you watched the Idol finale this year when the Idol winners came on stage with some of the former seasons top Tens – you didn’t see Hollywood faces and figures – you saw ordinary, average sized people like Kelly Clarkson, large sized people, Ruben Studdard and Fantasia, Jordin Sparks and a top ten finalist this year, average looking people – but they all had one thing in common – great voices – one exception to the looks dept is Carrie Underwood – she is really the only winner to have the whole package, talent, beauty, and an incredible work ethic – so to say Idol bases it’s decisions on looks is not correct in my opinion. If you go back and check out all the Top ten finalists and the winners – you will see that I’m right. As for age – they have to limit it somewhere or auditions would be chaos – they already have 100′s of thousands of people auditioning – it would be impossible to expand the age range however they could do an over 30′s Idol show

By: Raintown

Raintown — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:31:13 +0000

Hey

Really enjoyed the article and agreed with the points made. However, Susan Boyle was found on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ which is an open audition to everyone at any age much like your new series of X-Factor, I suspect, will be. We have had X-factor over here in the UK for many years now. But never forget it is a TV show!

I am one half of a Pop/country duo, called Raintown, which is difficult in this country (UK), but if we went in for X-Factor we would not get through regardless how good or bad we were because we do not fit the pre-conceived need for the show to produce a mainstream pop act. Susan Boyle differed due to the way she was initially treated by the panel (including Mr Cowell) and how she was perceived by the audience, before opening her mouth to sing. It was the incredible mainstream press and YouTube reaction that made record bosses and Simon sit up and take notice, not just her talent.

I guess what I am saying is, Susan Boyle has done great and more power to her for breaking the mould. But for the record she did not win the show. (Although it is fair to say she is a winner.)

As for American Idol, it is what it is, a TV show. Just like the coming X-Factor will be. It might be different because the audition process will not be ageist, but it will still have a similar format of cringe worthy auditions and it will be interesting to see who actually wins the show.

Anyways, enjoyed the article!
Best wishes
Paul
Raintown

By: K

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:36:09 +0000

This is a great topic. But I’m going to take the unconventional road with my personal opinion on the topic. I think some people have sensationalized the success of Susan Boyle so much, they just have to blame her lack of success on record companies, rather than sharing in the mindset they forced the music industry to create.

Artists who don’t look and sound a certain way are forced to become the factory model of a star because the public won’t accept anything less, just as labels themselves refuse to do. Look at the way so many people snickered and laughed when she walked onstage; if they chose to accept her for means beyond her pysical appearance, they would’ve just embraced and shown they were willing to give her a chance without judgement.

Yes, Susan is an older talent, but I also think record labels are smart enough to refrain from signing her because the public is just as shallow as they are. She may have had a shot being marketed to an older generation, but when young artists who tell another generations stories are successful, why would they take a chance? Miley, Taylor, Justin Beiber, and most others like them have proven to be what the public wants to hear; they’re not going to be persauded to accept someone who is the complete opposite of themselves and identifies more with thier parents and grandparents genration than thier own.

Yes, the curelity on shows like Idol and America’s Got Talent has been crossed. But it wouldn’t be so harsh if the public hadn’t shown it gets them watching for an episode or two.

When the measure of sucess is aided with a televison show, I think the public holds an even bigger responsibilty. Idol gives us the oppertunity to make stars out of unconventional and odd people who don’t find the mold. When America still choses to vote those unconventional contestants, they are showing their own jugements to be just as narrow as those of the companies that wouldn’t take a chance on them.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 05:41:20 +0000

@Casey, that’s not going to happen in my house. Not until talent shows stop exploiting vulnerable people who have absolutely no talent, just for entertainment and to fill Cowell’s pockets even more.
These people go through preliminary auditions before they get to the live shows, and are put through to Live TV where they’re humiliated.
I’ll never understand the mentality of people who watch that and think it’s funny.

By: Casey

Casey — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:45:58 +0000

It sounds like everyone one here needs to watch Simon Cowell’s “X-Factor”, coming to Fox in Fall 2011. :^)

By: Julia Hughan

Julia Hughan — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:59:45 +0000

I consider the success of Susan Boyle to be quite the anomaly. However, I strongly agree that we need to extend the bounds of these platforms in order to properly utilise the talent that wouldn’t otherwise have a shot.

Of course, it will then evolve into a discussion of marketability as well as sustainability etc, especially in the context of older performers catering to a consumer demographic that is much younger and far more transient in nature.

By: bll

bll — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:20:16 +0000

I choose to not watch AI as I find it very mean spirited. The labels need to wake up and support true talent rather than the next ‘hot young thing/studly young guy’. It’s truly a shame when talent like Mary Chapin Carpenter and Trisha Yearwood are putting out music that is not heard on radio in favour of autotuned 20 year olds and Barbie look a likes.