I just watched this video of Susan Boyle and am sitting here with tears rolling down my cheeks. It is one of the most incredibly moving things I’ve seen. It also helps that the song is from Les Miserables, which is for me the best and most moving of all the musicals.
If this video doesn’t bring tears to your eyes you are a cold, heartless person, seriously in need of therapy š
If you press Play it will tell you that the video is disabled by request. Click on the black area and it will take you to YouTube.
If this confuses you, just click here.
There’s a longer video that shows Susan before and after the performance. You can watch this by clicking here.
Endless Curiosity 
Hmm. The subtext of this video – and the reason why the audience was so surprised – is that old, ugly women aren’t supposed to be able to sing.
I find that subtext deeply disturbing. The reason the audience had such low expectations of her talent was purely because of her appearance. If this had been a beautiful 20-year-old woman, I suspect no one would have had low expectations, and I suspect no one would have cheered wildly when it turned out – gasp! – that she can sing reasonably well.
After all, she dosen’t have an outstanding voice – she has a good voice. And packaged in a different body, she would have received moderate praise.
Comment by Tom Margolis — April 30, 2009 @ 9:25 pm