Usually I avoid adding to the commentary about "YouTube" sensations. If someone does something exceptionally well, good for them. If they are terrible or disgusting, I'm glad someone finds it amusing. A very few of them have impacted me enough to inspire me to write something. I am, however, inspired by Susan Boyle. Not by her singing, which is very good. I'm sure she could star on Broadway in any number of shows and be quite successful.
I'm inspired to write by our reaction to her. If I hear one more person say "It just goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover," I am going to scream and throw a book at them.
What is wrong with Susan Boyle's cover? Does everyone really believe that she's that unattractive? Sure, she's not Heidi Klum in the scheme of things, but I don't find her unpleasant to look at. In fact, quite the opposite. She looks like someone who is approachable and pretty in her own way. If I saw her on the street, I would not in any way look at her and say - oh look, an unattractive person.
I think it's absolutely ridiculous that we're calling her unattractive and even "ugly." This woman is not ugly. This just goes to show that we expect people on television to be the cream of the physical appearance crop and when someone who is just an average person (which means nearly all of us viewers probably look a lot like her in our own average way) appears on the screen, she becomes "ugly."
I guess I find this whole thing somewhat offensive. Sure, it's surprising when a talent goes undiscovered until someone is 47 years old and bursts out on stage. But, what does it matter if that person has the body and face of a model, or just looks like everyone else?
This entire thing feels very manipulated to me. And beyond that, it makes me lose faith in people. Sure it's inspiring to see someone who has spent their life serving their mother and living a life much like all of our lives get out there and shine, but at the same time - what kind of a tribute are you paying to her by saying - gee it's wonderful that someone so ugly could sing so well? Aka "don't judge a book by its cover."
I guess we are all under the misconception that good singers look like Miley Cyrus, at least when they're female, because we're more than happy to worship male singers that don't live up to any "standard."
Ok, enough ranting.
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