Susan Boyle and Anvil: Are They Real Underdogs?
With over 100,000,000 online views of her video, who isn’t moved by the story of Susan Boyle? Suddenly, it seems that after her performance last month on Britain’s Got Talent, this 48-year-old, ‘plain looking’ church volunteer Scot was an instant celebrity when she wowed everyone with her soaring rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream.”
Boyle does indeed have talent but how much of a coup was this really? As blogger polyannacowgirl noted: “Is it really that noteworthy that an unattractive woman can sing, and has the confidence and desire to share her voice? People are behaving as if a dog performed open-heart surgery, and I find that pretty alarming.”
In the context of the show, it is kind of surprising, on the surface. BGT is produced by Simon Cowell’s company SYCO (without the P). Cowell you know from another little franchise he has called American Idol. On a show like Idol, someone like Boyle would be a laughable novelty like William Hung. You might remember WH as he was also made famous by a Cowell franchise (Idol) and has more in common with Boyle than you think. Hung was someone who should have been screened out because he ain’t no singer (to put it mildly). Instead, he was put on the show as a cute distraction- the guy was lovable but he had a crappy voice. Because of that, he became an instant celebrity and got a record contract, releasing three albums. Cowell knew how to milk the novelty of the guy well.
And he knew how to milk Boyle too. She didn’t look like the pin-up’s that Cowell’s company usually favors on its shows so again he had a novelty on his hands. The fact that she could sing really well made her seem like even more of a novelty. Cowell didn’t exactly make her feel at home at first about her appearance but knowing what he already did about her voice, this was obviously a set-up. When this unlikely diva sang and made a splash with the audience, it was a home run not just for her but for Cowell. He found not just Eliza Doolittle but Hung in a dress and with a real larynx. It was the perfect set-up.
By now, the whole phenomenon around Boyle’s been trod over and dissected that it could fill several books. Writers keep trying to figure out what’s been so special about her quick rise to fame and why it’s reached so many people.
Part of Boyle’s success is that it feeds the belief that if SHE can make, anyone can have a chance. Well yes, you have a chance, as long as you have a hugely successful TV producer boosting you and setting you up, then yes you have a chance too. In other words, you really don’t have much of a chance of being a sudden star when it comes down to it but seeing it happen to someone else is intoxicating and gratifying. (actually, if you can make a ridiculously goofy YouTube video, you really can become an instant star)
I thought about this not-so-level playing field and an underdog becoming a star when I saw the movie Anvil- The Story of Anvil. This highly acclaimed documentary about a failed Canadian heavy metal outfit from the 80’s who rolled with a bunch of soon-to-be successful bands but never really succeeded is another heart-warming story.
Sacha Gervasi captures the drudgery of the band’s lives now, working day jobs and playing small clubs. But they’re also rallying for a comeback, trying to get enough money to work with their old producer again (who’s worked with Black Sabbath and Judas Priest). When they get the money, they try to shop it to labels but get the cold shoulder. While going through this frustrating process, the band squabbles and eventually comes together again in a bunch of heartfelt confessionals.
Fine film that it is, it’s obvious that some of the scenes are staged and milked for dramatic impact (i.e. the call from the producer, some of the arguments), not to mention the obvious Spinal Tap tie-in’s (the speaker that goes to 11, the band member who’s got the same name as ST’s original director, the title of the film itself). In the end, it makes a case for the band if not in terms of their music then at least in terms in of their screen persona- as influential a band as they’re thought to be, we usually only hear bits of their music in the film (which might be why it’s struck a nerve with non-metal fans too). Gervasi makes his case that Anvil should be taken seriously and deserves their comeback and the film itself is now being used to make the point more effectively than the band itself ever did. You leave the film wanting to have the band finally get its due and by seeing the film, you’ve become part of their resurgence (plus the word-of-mouth that’s helping the band and film along now).
Like Boyle, Anvil does have talent but we wouldn’t be talking about them now if it wasn’t for a smart, canny backer that they have on their side, pushing them to get recognition (Gervasi in Anvil’s case). And similarly, their attempted comeback is also a moving story that plenty of people can feel good about and get behind.
I just wish that more talented unknowns had boosters like Cowell and Gervasi to get them the recognition that they deserve. Til then, we can feel good about Boyle and Anvil but don’t think that it was only luck and talent that got them to where they are now.
Comments
You mean Cowell knew she would get 100+ million hits on YouTube; and have Ophra ask her to be on her show; and that Larry King would have her sing on his: and.. and.. Wow.. what a guy..
Comment by B. Robert from USA — May 3, 2009 @ 12:59 am
You’re presumption that Simon Cowell knew about Susan Boyle’s excellent voice before she appeared before the judges should have been qualified with an acknowledgement that is just that - your presumption. Unless you have information to the contrary, they (the judges, including Simon Cowell), maintain that have no infomation about the contestents before hand. I know that a lot of people don’t believe that - expecially in the case of Simon Cowell, but on what information are you basing that premise? Obviously, would-be crediblcontestents are screened and selected in advance, but that doesn’t mean that Cowell is part of that process. He says otherwise. The show says otherwise. Absent a report discrediting their contention based on some sort of investigation or evidence, I’m taking them at their word.
Comment by Deborah Cohen from Evanston IL, USA — May 3, 2009 @ 6:34 am
lol…Monday morning quarterbacks are so correct with their analysis. I’m sure Simon Cowell was just as surprised as the 200 million or so who saw the video. Some things can be promoted but Susan Boyle made it all happen with her courage, poise, and beautiful song. She is the least cynical among us - that’s why we love her.
Comment by Sigmond from United States — May 3, 2009 @ 7:00 am
What people are fascinated by is not so much Susan Boyle’s own ability, but in short, the way she challenged their own prejudices of her singing ability based on her appearance.
Comment by Richaod from Melbourne, Australia — May 3, 2009 @ 7:40 am
Do people here really believe that:
a) Susan Boyle will be more than a here-today-gone-tomorrow novelty?
b) That this whole “phenomenon” wasn’t orchestrated?
c) That Simon Cowell and his partners in crime don’t know more than a lot about manipulating the media - and therefore the public in general?
Then I’m sorry, but people here are really naive.
Comment by Ross — May 3, 2009 @ 8:27 am
Interesting comments about Cowell but I think a point is being missed here. I agree that he was probably surprised about how popular this became but it’s hard to believer that he had no clue at all that this set-up might be a great attention getter (if not to the extent that it was).
And not a word about Anvil? Surely, they deserve a brief comment.
Comment by Jason Gross — May 3, 2009 @ 9:57 am
I might have agreed that Cowell knew nothing or even a bit of something for each talent; however, after viewing Simon’s slow motion hand to buzz Hollie, yet gives her the option to begin singing; and, the setup of Shaheen change of song with immediacy for change; and, the questioning of Jaimie Pugh being so stage frightened whereby Simon knew all; I am leaning 85% that Cowell knows more than he let’s the public and even maybe the other judges realize. Of course, this is simply my humble opinion. With so many staged shots, I find it very difficult to believe otherwise.
Comment by B. Robert from USA — May 3, 2009 @ 10:53 am
Well, aren’t you the poop in the punch! Why is it so impossible for you to understand that the world is hungry for people who can actually SING without having their voices manipulated in a studio so they don’t sound like croaking frogs?
Live performances are so rare, because most of the “talent” (cough) cutting record deals nowadays can’t sing. At all.
More power to the Susan Boyles of the world. Enough with the fake blonde hair, the fake boobs, and the acrobatic dance routines. Let’s hear some SINGING for a change.
Comment by Sinnical Bahstad from Afghanistan — May 3, 2009 @ 11:21 am
No amount of promotion or prior knowledge of someone’s talent could create this worldwide interest in Susan Boyle. Believe your own eyes. Ms. Boyle not only is a fantastic songstress, she has touched the emotions of hundreds of millions of people with her courage, poise, integrity and beautiful voice. A star she will be. (No doubt Obama will try to capitalize on her appeal to figure out a way to use her to get votes.)
Comment by Sigmonde — May 3, 2009 @ 5:58 pm
Ross
1) Susan will be more than a flash in the pan. She has millions of supporters who will buy her recordings regardless of what happens on BGT.
2) Some of it was clearly orchestrated. It was a TV program after all. They had multiple camera views to use, and they editted the story for maximum impact. However, if Susan wasn’t the person she was with the personality and the talent that she had it couldn’t have worked.
3) Sure Cowell and partners know about manipulating people for effect, however, they couldn’t possibly know that Susan’s singing and her whole story would have this much effect. It isn’t the sort of thing you can control.
As Sinnical puts it, “Lets hear some Singing for a change.” and Susan delivered.
Comment by Polar Bear from Lethbridge, Canada — May 3, 2009 @ 9:22 pm
Susan Boyle IS NOT a big deal - go to any opera house or theatre and you will find equal if not better talent. People who are genuinely surprised by her voice are being duped, buying into the show’s plan. If she wasn’t extremely talented, do you think they would have put her on the show to begin with? Do you really think the show’s producers didn’t anticipate this kind of reaction and hype?
I have no problem with Susan Boyle herself - she has a great voice and engaging personality. The problem is how she is being positioned, or better yet, exploited. She was put on the show with the sole intention of shocking the audience. Surely, there are plenty of other “normal” looking people with operatic voices that have been passed over in the show’s history.
I really hope that some good comes out of this ridiculous hype machine. Maybe people will start listening to opera, attend a local musical, or take a crack at singing. And I hope those same people do it because they genuinely like her voice, and not because they saw someone on TV do it.
Comment by Rix — May 4, 2009 @ 2:29 am