[Big_Harry]

I’ve seen the clip 15 times at least since it had 11 million views and my eyes have been wet at the end of every viewing. I think that this is God’s way of honoring Miss Boyle for the sacrifice of taking care of her mother.

[Actually_in_Tokyo]

Oh, that is very nice.

[all the best]

The world fell in love with this beautiful woman. She brought so much joy to millions around the world in a matter of a few days. I’ve watched the video over and over and shared it with friends. Hope all her dreams come true.

[thesearethetimes...]

Isn’t it wonderful, the gifts God places in the most unexpected places?

I like to think, it is to help us learn, to never underestimate anything of His making :)

Tatt :)

[when the time is right]

Raw talent is what everyone was cheering. Not the person, not the clothes, not the face....the voice. Nothing else matters when you experience pure talent. It is all about the experience of feeling something so honest and unique and wonderful.

Unfortunately, American Idol is not looking for talent. It is looking for...”does it sell”. The face, the look, the salesmanship ...thinking that is the only thing that matters, the only thing that “sells”.

[Apple Pan Dowdy]

This is one of the most remarkable examples (a parable, if you will) of the kind of love that God has for us.

On first glance we saw a dowdy, plain woman (well “plain” just doesn’t do the image justice.... face it, the judges and the audience mocked her).

Then she began to sing. And we begin to see the image of her that God sees. The REAL her, the beautiful her. In her song, we saw into her soul and found something altogether different there. Suddenly her dowdyness was invisible. It was as if she had been covered over by something that now made her beautiful to look at.

Comparing this to our own lives. How does God view me? Well, no doubt He should be seeing the “warts”, the “ugly sins” ... and the truth is we all have them. But instead God sees me covered over by something else, something that hides the ugliness. Because when Jesus died on that cross, He paid the price for my ugliness and sins (it’s called atonement .... and it really happened). So now God sees me “singing” if you will. My “song” is the love of the Holy Spirit that rings as loud and clear and lovely as the song did from Susan Boyle.

We can all find our own “song” and sing it and amazing things can happen. If you need more instruction on this, just read your Bible.... it’s all there.

[Arkinsaw]

This really hit a nerve.

I think for a moment people saw that the Grand Illusion put forth by the media is not correct....and they cheered it.

At first they were laughing along with the stereotypes they are fed each day. Frumpy, dowdy, ugly, old fashioned. And then the illusion was shattered and they were glad.

A momentary reminder that Britain used to be a nation of frumpy merchants who did great things. For a moment the Madonnas, Richard Bransons, and Elton Johns didn't seem real or worthy.

I predict she will sing for the Queen whether she wins or not.

[TomGuy]

A quick tally of the ‘this week’ views of the various versions of the Got Talent appearance totals about 58 million views.

The Cry Me a River video is at 2.38 million views.

[The Great RJ]

Susan Boyle and Paul Potts represent a true musical gift and I was as much heartened by seeing the audience reaction to Ms. Boyle's performance as to hear her exquisite voice. The audience who just minutes before snickered at her appearance were brought virtually to tears when she sang in that heavenly voice.

Sad but such a true Cinderella story would likely never happen on American Idol. True talent like Susan Boyle's would go no place with a boorish American audience who's musical tastes go toward twanging country or ghetto rap and who seem more enamored with performers with strange hair and dubious talent.

[MJemison]

Her video struck me because in spite of the smug condescention of the judges, she sang with something so extremely rare- perfect grace.

[Wuli]

What people are responding to is that unlike Barack Obama and the Hollywood crowd that loves him, Miss Boyle is not in love with herself, yet her talent surpasses so many.

[avacado]

Susan Boyle - Singer - Britains Got Talent 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

[bgill]

Like you, I cry every time I listen to her. She is lovely and charming. A Scotsman would do well to give her a second look.

[aruanan]

But I don't watch "American Idol,'' other than to glimpse it while passing through a room, and I have never been alerted to or been sent a clip from "American Idol,'' which suggests to me that here in America, our amateurs have a needy sheen of entitlement.

Or that folks like Susan Boyle or Paul Potts have already been weeded out on account of their looks. They'll allow a few people on who are truly bad* so that there is some "entertainment" in watching the judges trash them, but I don't think they want to be put in the position of having to judge someone who doesn't fit the mold as far as looks but who is truly excellent in talent. If they vote against such a contestant, they'd be accused of judging based on superficialities. If the audience votes against them, it would be guilty of judging based on superficialities and the producers don't want to endanger their financial interests by putting themselves into a position of threatening to make their television audience look shallow (though Friends certainly prospered in spite of this, but it didn't make anyone look mean).

*William Hung--but have we EVER seen any act like Fabia or the Michael Jackson-singing monkey on AI?

[MuttTheHoople]

I've heard rumors that Simon Cowell KNEW she had this kind of talent, and made her up as frumpy as possible just for that effect. However, even if it WAS true, who (or precisely, WHO) put it in Cowell's mind to pick this beautiful young lady. I think the Lord was doing two things here:

- He was rewarding one of His servants for "Honoring Thy Mother and Father", ie, giving up singing to take care of her Mum and Dad.

-He uses the foolish to confound the wise. He chose David, a young small teenager to rule Israel and to be a direct ancestor of Christ. He also made this plain Scottish woman the most popular singer in the world (after only one week), while thousands of young, hungry, self-absorbed musicians, singers, and actors fight, scratch, and claw to become famous.

[comps4spice]

I have watched that video 7 or 8 times since yesterday (first time), but I’ve shared it with friends and family alike.

I think Susan Boyle would be from fly-over country if she were from the USA—and the coastal and urban elites would never see her. They are probably the ones most uncomfortable by this phenomenon.

[TET1968]

My new favorite post. Thank you.

[Paperdoll]

Saw it on U-Tube. It did my heart good to see the expressions on the faces of the judges and the audience who were sneering at poor Susan before she opened her mouth Then. ....She literally knocked them dead! Wooo Hooo! You go, Susan Boyle!

[Darnright]

Here is a clip of Elaine Page, Susan’s inspiration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s96NZoeDs68&feature=PlayList&p=9F8672B70280B693&index=4

Susan has incredibly good taste in role models, wouldn’t you agree?

[silent_jonny]

Ping to a nice article :)