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juushikaIt's odd: I've been reading journals each night, more actively involved in LJ lately than I've been for a long time—but I've written nought other than book reviews, mostly because most of what I had to say has been said, in one way or another, by someone else.
Case in point:
Here is Susan Boyle's audition for Britain's Got Talent, which has taken at least my flist by storm. It is an incredible performance.
But what if Susan Boyle couldn't sing? And that's what got me about it all: the general idea that this performance is so incredible because it's a wakeup call, a reminder not to judge by first impressions because people may surprise us after all. That implies, of course, that if they don't surprise us, well then that first impression can become our final impression. Susan Boyle is dowdy, odd, outspoken, frumpy, foolish.
When did you fall in love with her? (Really, if you haven't watched the video then you should take seven minutes to do it.) Simon says: "The minute you walked out on that stage, I knew we were going to hear something extraordinary—and I was right." And I don't think he's being facetious. I think he's spot on. As soon as you see her, her personality shines through, unignorable light. No, she's not the average image of what we think a person is supposed to be, how a person is supposed to act. She is herself, bold and unapologetic and complete. (I was reminded of: Warning: When I am an old woman I shall wear purple / With a red hat which doesn't go and doesn't suit me because she was herself in a way that I associate with red had ladies and other people that have had their whole lives to screw their courage to the sticking place and become, boldly, themselves.) And if I felt that way just from seven minutes of a reality TV show, can you imagine how strongly she shines in real life?
Susan could sing as she does, and it would be extraordinary. She could have a voice worse than mine, and it would be extraordinary. Because she already is—extraordinary, as soon as she walks out on stage, just for being who she is. Lots of people can use the wake up, this woman they judge too quickly turning out to be completely different from what they expect—but really what they need to do is adjust their expectations. Susan is dowdy and frumpy and she wears a dress that doesn't suit her. She is outspoken and she is odd. She is beautiful, and I only wish that one day I can shine as brightly as she does.
(And ain't it amazing to see reality TV produce something beautiful, for a change?)
Case in point:
Here is Susan Boyle's audition for Britain's Got Talent, which has taken at least my flist by storm. It is an incredible performance.
But what if Susan Boyle couldn't sing? And that's what got me about it all: the general idea that this performance is so incredible because it's a wakeup call, a reminder not to judge by first impressions because people may surprise us after all. That implies, of course, that if they don't surprise us, well then that first impression can become our final impression. Susan Boyle is dowdy, odd, outspoken, frumpy, foolish.
When did you fall in love with her? (Really, if you haven't watched the video then you should take seven minutes to do it.) Simon says: "The minute you walked out on that stage, I knew we were going to hear something extraordinary—and I was right." And I don't think he's being facetious. I think he's spot on. As soon as you see her, her personality shines through, unignorable light. No, she's not the average image of what we think a person is supposed to be, how a person is supposed to act. She is herself, bold and unapologetic and complete. (I was reminded of: Warning: When I am an old woman I shall wear purple / With a red hat which doesn't go and doesn't suit me because she was herself in a way that I associate with red had ladies and other people that have had their whole lives to screw their courage to the sticking place and become, boldly, themselves.) And if I felt that way just from seven minutes of a reality TV show, can you imagine how strongly she shines in real life?
Susan could sing as she does, and it would be extraordinary. She could have a voice worse than mine, and it would be extraordinary. Because she already is—extraordinary, as soon as she walks out on stage, just for being who she is. Lots of people can use the wake up, this woman they judge too quickly turning out to be completely different from what they expect—but really what they need to do is adjust their expectations. Susan is dowdy and frumpy and she wears a dress that doesn't suit her. She is outspoken and she is odd. She is beautiful, and I only wish that one day I can shine as brightly as she does.
(And ain't it amazing to see reality TV produce something beautiful, for a change?)
