Susan Boyle’s Autobiography: The Woman I Was Born To Be
Susan Boyle
By now you have definitely heard about Susan Boyle because although more than a year ago she was laughed at as she first stepped on the scene of “Britain’s Got Talent” show, now she is a star.
Although some love her while others completely hate her, Susan Boyle has a great voice. Maybe she didn’t win the British talent competition, but she did sing in front of the Queen and also for the Pope, managing to impress everyone with her singing ability, not only the judges from “Britain’s Got Talent.” Well, if you ever watched the video of her first audition you will see that people are very judgmental and she was expected to be a horrible singer. Everyone laughed at her when she said that she wants to be as famous as Elaine Paige, but finally she managed to sing together with her idol. Not to mention how the three judges Amanda, Piers and Simon remained speechless when the 49 years old woman began to sing.
“As I listened to the opening notes of my song, I became aware of the size of the audience. There were thousands of people, row upon row banked up behind the judges – all watching me,” Susan wrote about that performance in her autobiography “The Woman I Was Born To Be,” being quoted by the Daily Mail. “I’d already heard a few titters in the audience but I’ve been ridiculed a lot in my life so I’ve learned to be resilient,” she continued. “I knew what they were thinking. ‘Just look at her! She’s got a bum like a garage, a head like a mop, I’m not too sure if her teeth are her own and she’s claiming to be a singer! She cannae sing. She cannae! Well come on, let’s hear you then. . .” But, she still made it to the final and had the next performance.
Well, at some point Amanda says that people tend to be very cynical and the way they treated Susan and they way she performed afterwards should be the biggest wake up call ever. Was it? Not really. Susan continued to receive the same unjust perception and she was actually denied by Lou Reeds to perform his song “Perfect Day” in September, when Susan was supposed to make an appearance on “America’s Got Talent.”
However, since the moment when she appeared for the first time in front of the “Britain’s Got Talent” judges till now, Susan has come a long way and not only because she sang in front of the UK Queen or the Pope, or because she got the chance to sing together with her idol, Elaine Page, but because her whole life changed due to her own talent.
Susan herself admitted that people tend to be very judgmental regarding her and that was a thing constant in her life starting with her childhood, and it didn’t stop now that she has became famous. In her autobiography, Susan Boyle says that her mother was asked by the doctors to have a termination while being pregnant with her because they believed having another baby will be fatal for, then, the 45 years old woman. Still, her mother never listened and Susan was born on April 1, 1961. “The doctors considered the danger so severe that they offered a termination but, as a devout Catholic, that would have been unthinkable for my mother,” Susan wrote in her book according to the Daily Mail excerpts.
The doctors also told Susan’s mother that the baby daughter had probably suffered a brain damage and “It’s probably best to accept that Susan will never be anything, Susan will never come to anything, so don’t expect too much of her,” doctors said as Susan was held in an incubator. This is how Susan got to be very unconfident and her lack of belief in herself followed her all her life. But, “What they didn’t know was that I’m a bit of a fighter, and I’ve been trying all my life to prove them wrong,” Susan wrote.
She experienced difficulties when in school because she wasn’t able to focus. “I found it difficult to write my letters. I also suffered from what psychologists call cognitive difficulties. I knew the answers to questions, but couldn’t express what I was thinking,” Susan said. But, she found the comfort she needed in music. “I was one of those chosen to sing a solo in the school concert.” However, she became a little more confident as the years passed, when she began working as a volunteer in a hospital. And that gave her the courage to sing in a pub. “Encouraged to sing, I walked to the microphone, conscious of a ripple of surprise going round the room. I closed my eyes and imagined I was on my own in my bedroom with my record of Jesus Christ Superstar,” Susan wrote.
“People were always telling me my singing would bring a tear to a glass eye. I wasn’t bad-looking in those days, with my shoulder-length curly hair kept under control with clips, but I wore conservative skirts and blouses, chosen by my mother.”
Britain's Got Talent Judges, Piers, Amanda and Simon
Susan Boyle was the youngest child of her parents and the ninth one. She lost her father in 1999. Although Susan tried to make it in the music industry she never got that break through. But then, The X Factor started and her mother told Susan to go to the show. “But when I saw all the young people there I realized it was a mistake. What they were looking for was a pop singer. I didn’t stand a chance of being seen so I went home,” Susan said. However, that was also the time when her mother got sick and in 2007 she passed away. Susan found herself alone and watching “Britain’s Got Talent.” Seeing Paul Potts winning gave her the courage to make the decision to head to Glasgow for the second edition of the show.
“Do you know what they do on Britain’s Got Talent? They laugh at you! They boo you! They buzz you! Can you take all that?,” her brothers told her on the way to the audition. But, this time Susan was determined to sing in front of the three judges and nothing could stop her. “‘My name is Susan Boyle,’ I told Simon Cowell. ‘I am 47 years old.’ And then I added: ‘And that’s just one side of me.’ And I did a wiggle, which was aimed at Piers, because I like him,” Susan wrote. “Piers just stared at me. I could see they were thinking: ‘Oh my God, who is this apparition?’” But once she started singing she really shocked everybody, but with her talent. “It was the most amazing moment of my life,” Susan concluded.
Susan Boyle at the show's audition
And starting with the next day her life changed completely and only because the number of people who accessed her video on YouTube. For the semifinals Susan chose “Memory from Cats” and she made the whole room, including the judges, stand up and applaud her. However, her popularity completely changed the next day when she became the “Public Enemy Number One,” being criticized by everybody, although she was loved by the public. Some actually said that it was all a show including her first performance because definitely someone heard her singing before. She wanted to quit, but she was encouraged by both Piers and Simon to end what she started. And she, did although she didn’t get the title. After the end of the show Susan started recording for Simon’s record label, Syco and her album got to be quite successful.
Susan Boyle’s autobiography is going to be published on October 14, day in which the book will be launched in the United Kingdom. She shocked the world in 2007 with her performance and she became over the night one of the most popular singers in the UK (and not only). At some point fame was more than she could handle but she managed to handle it after all. Her performances are described as very emotional and her status as a star is undeniable today. But, still there are many people that don’t like Susan Boyle. Are you one of them?11
This article on Susan is poorly written and badly researched. Do your homework Oana.
Oh my goodness, somehow you managed to get a few facts right.
Lucky guess I imagine because you certainly didn’t do much research.
This article is so full of inaccuracies and mis-infomation that it is not really worthy of a reply. That I do so is only because it may mislead people who do not know much about the lovely songbird Susan Boyle. SHE is a STAR and will continue to be inspite of all odds.
Susan is a great singer, not a grate singer. And she has never (yet) sung for the Queen. Just a couple of the many errors in your article. Also dwelled a little too much on people who don’t like Susan, but the article will make many aware that there is a book coming out, BY SUSAN. An autobiography, that is going to be very interesting, informative, funny in places, sad in others, but CORRECT, as it is by her. I am so counting the days till it is out, as I know it will be fantastic.
No, to answer your question at the end, I’m not ‘one of them’. I think Susan Boyle is brilliant – talented, inspiring, courageous and wonderful.
Some corrections for you: Susan has not yet sung for the Queen. She was 47, not 49, at her audition. The audition was in 2009, not 2007. And she became not only the best selling UK artist of the year, but earned the best selling album in the world title for 2009 – a feat she achieved in less than 6 weeks.
Well, I am sorry if there are facts in this article that are not true. And thank you Cbill for indicating them. The sources I used for writing it said so, and if they were mistaken, I was too.
Regarding her age when I said 49, I was willing to say that today she is 49. Regarding the year 2009 of her audition, I mentioned it at the beginning of the article correctly.
And I never wanted for this article to show that I personally don’t like her as an artist, but you have to admit that there are many people that don’t, as well as there are many that love her voice.
But, thank you for reading it and correcting the involuntary errors.
Are you joking Oana why can’t you admit you did no research instead of blaming your source give it up you absolutely have no idea who Susan Boyle is!!!!
Now, Oana, your opening paragraph clearly says “when the 49-years old woman began singing” — I believe that was at her audition, which makes that an error because she was 47. But let’s not quibble. Your article is below average and inaccurate, and then you end it with “but there are still many people that don’t like Susan Boyle. Are you one of them?” Isn’t that a pleasant tone? Are you just asking for people to write in and write negative things about her? I’m sorry my dear, but it looks like you are one of those who can’t stand to see Susan having achieved success and would far prefer to hear something derogatory about her. I find your writing poor, your fact checking nonexistant, and the argumentative tone you’ve taken repugnant. You do a wonderful singer like Susan Boyle a disservice — stick to writing classified ads.
No, I am not one of the people who does not like Susan Boyle… she is both an incredible singer and a sweet, funny lady. Why you would want to “track down” people who do not like the woman who sold over 9-10 million of her debut album all over the world can be answered only by you, but this article is amazingly filled with inaccuracies, typos, poor grammar and obvious lack of research. Anyone who has followed Susan’s career at all (which is thousands/millions of us) can see that the writer of this article has not done so at all. You don’t even quote the book excerpts correctly and obviously have no knowledge of your basic facts, which are not hard to find by anyone with an Internet connection. Obviously you did not try.
And by the way, the doctors never told Susan’s mother “the damage was so severe” after she was born. They said Susan had been without oxygen for a brief time. Bridget had been advised by her doctors not to become pregnant again so when she did, they offered termination.
I am not willing to track down people that don’t like Susan Boyle, and all of you are the best example that I didn’t. I agree with you that it may seem that it was my intention to do so with the ending question, but it definitely wasn’t. In fact, I really am glad that so many people that like her expressed their opinions here. And as I also mentioned in the article, I think that she has a great voice and she surely is talented.
No, I am not one of those people who don’t like Susan Boyle. How could anyone don’t like her? A person who was born with learning disabilities has overcome hardship and has acheive her dream.
Those people who don’t like Susan are the heartless ones. People who were born with learning disabilities usually have some sort of physical disabilities. That is why they are always targets for bullies. Just like how Sharon Osborune laughed at Susan and said Susan has been hit with an u**y stick. Sharon is heartless and unkind, and the same for all those people made fun of Susan. They are all heartless and cruel.
Oana, you are obviously not a fan of Susan’s. Why would you ask the question at the end about “are you one of the people who don’t like Susan”? You want people to post bad comments about Susan Boyle, right? By the way, please get your fact straight before you write about somebody. Some of the information in there are inaccurate. Susan has not sung for the Queen yet. She has sung for the Pope on Sept 16,2010 in Scotland. I LOVE SUSAN BOYLE TO BITS.
I’m not a fan, but I can’t say that I don’t like this woman either. But, as I can see you all wrote here what you think about her and you are all her fans. and, you are very angry with the writer because you think that she doesn’t like this singer??? OMG!!!! it never said she didn’t, in fact I don’t see that Susan Boyle is anywhere called awful.
so, get over yourself people! You are entitle to say that Boyle is a great singer and other can’t say that they don’t like her? And by the way, there are so many negative articles about this woman on the internet that if you start reading you can really think that she is awful.
In response to Ann… I will just add here that I am not in the slightest “angry,” nor do I interpret the comments of others that they are such. We are merely pointing out the facts about this article. You might take note that it was our willingness to come on the Internet and support Susan during the time when so many tabloids (and yes, it WAS mainly the tabloids) who were trying to destroy her, which kept them from being able to do so. We are not angry… we are laughing and happy that we beat them at their own game. Susan was a global star with 24 hours of the airing of her audition, because of all her fans on YouTube and the Internet. I was thrilled recently when I heard her audio book portion acknowledging that she is now well aware that we did that, and thanking us. Angry? We are absolutely DELIGHTED with Susan’s success and with her new book and CD coming out.
Dear Ms. Szakacs ~ Although your article offers good publicity for Susan’s book, which I appreciate, I find the last two sentences unnecessary and unkind. Hasn’t Susan had enough of that?
so ok, you made your point there are the Queen fact and some year wrong in this story and you corrected them. I understand you don’t want people to read the wrong thing.
But… I really don’t think that’s the problem here, but the question on whether we are fans of this woman or not and the way it was written. If it said Are you this wonderful singer’s fan? it would have been much better, right?
And good for you if you made her a superstar and beat tabloids at their own game. Does this means that I don’t have the right to say that I don’t like Susan Boyle? I have the same right as you do to say my opinion or should I be attacked for it? Watch her first song on YouTube as you say that fans did and read how many negative things people say there. I’m just saying I respect people that like Boyle, shouldn’t they respect the ones that don”t? And I used to listen to her songs and read stuff about her but now that I see I “must” like her or I am heartless maybe I will think again.
Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. There is nothing wrong with that. However, if you know Susan has a disability and kept saying negative things about Susan. You have to admit that those are not very nice or educated people. As I have said before, people who were born with learning disabilities usually have physcial disabilities and sometimes they are not in control of their emotions. Is it their fault? The answer is no. So if you are a nice person, you should feel happy for what she has achieved, not insult her or put her down.
“If you have nothing good to say about someone, just don’t say anything at all”. Susan has a disability and she has suffered enough in the life. Why can’t people just give her a break? BE KIND….
I totally disagree with you. I mean she is a celebrity and she has millions of fans as you all say. She must deal with her fame and understand that there are people that will say bad things about her. And I don’t see this story so hateful after all. But, moving on, shouldn’t that work for everybody? “If you have nothing good to say about someone, just don’t say anything at all’ if you can’t keep yourselves to the facts and say what is wrong in this story, of course besides the ending question, Why are you asking others to do it?
but, I guess this is all I had to say… and as my husband also believes there is no such thing as bad publicity, so her fans should actually be happy that this piece was written in the first place.
and there were things that could have been mentioned from Susan’s life before the 2009 moment that that are not so nice, and they weren’t and you probably know best what I am saying.
Still I can’t get it where is Susan so attacked? “managing to impress everyone with her singing” it says that people were first cynical and then they realized they made a mistake because Susan proved them wrong and before the extremely heartless question, “Her performances are described as very emotional and her status as a star is undeniable today”
I really am sorry but if this is an heartless article you read nothing.
And that thing with being unkind if you say that you don’t like Susan, i really think is too much.. I mean really Lindsay Lohan doesn’t deserve the same kindness? She is an addict and that is a disease also! SO let’s all keep to the facts or be all allowed to say what we are thinking even though it can be something bad. There are not only kind people in this world you know.
Oana, I am so looking forward to Susan Boyle’s autobiography. I just love Susan, for who she is and for what she has accomplished, not to mention her voice that touches my heart. She is truly an example of courage and humility, a person without an ounce of guile. What a breath of fresh air she is. How could anyone with a heart not like Susan Boyle?
IMHO I would classify your article as bullying words. Most of the facts were inaccurate. I hate to even reply to this, but you deserve some put down. My mother used to say “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”. I think she had a point there. A true professional should be writing facts. If not, the article should state “purely fictional”. I am so sorry I came upon this “so called” write-up. YUCKY!! I love Susan Boyle. I have 4 books on order and will be buying 2 audios. That just for a start. Go take a look and listen again, I believe you missed something.
I am definately NOT one of those people who don’t like her. I love Susan, she is just darling and sweet. She is a generous and kind person. It is ashame that most people in the world do judge people by their appearances. I feel really bad for her. I hope she will be happy for the rest of her life. Love her.
Ann, re your comment: “I’m just saying I respect people that like Boyle, shouldn’t they respect the ones that don”t?” Yes, no problem with this, except that the ones that don’t are often cruel and hateful. There is no reason for this, and I think the people who post this kind of comment are usually poorly educated troublemakers, who cruise the web looking for someone to put down. If you like or dislike Susan’s music, and let it go at that, I have no problem. There are many singers whose music I don’t like.
I don’t think that you are entitle to make such affirmations: “people who post this kind of comment are usually poorly educated troublemakers, who cruise the web looking for someone to put down” people have passions and some just don’t like a certain person, and that doesn’t mean that they are stupid, they have no education or they are really bad human beings. I don’t think I made an unkind comment about Susan do you? And I don’t think this story is unkind either. I have the right to say it? What is really unkind here? “But, still there are many people that don’t like Susan Boyle. Are you one of them?” I believe you will say this..
and kind people could have answered “No, she is a great person I love her…. ” and so on.
But, I guess your comments weren’t that kind either. And if you can be that way yourself please don’t ask others to be. I don’t find most of the comments here being kind, but there are a few people that expressed their opinion without attacking anyone. maybe they are the best fans.
I cannot tell what your purpose was exactly in writing this article, however, I feel I must answer the question raised. I not only “like” her, but I admire Susan Boyle enormously and appreciate her incredible talent. There may be some who do not care for her music which is, of course, anyone’s perogative. However, to even pose the question “are you one who does not ‘like’ her………..that seems entirely unnecessary. Miss Boyle has ever been gracious, kind, and full of good humor. What on earth would you, or anyone for that matter, find not to “like”.
This so-called article is both pathetic and condescending. You create a bad image of Susan when you point out that many don’t like her. Evidently there are 10 million and counting who like her enough to buy her CD so you are very much mistaken. She’s got millions of fans around the world like myself who adore Susan and everything about her. She’s got a pure, angelic voice, she’s kind even to those who have bullied her, and she’s got a wonderful sense of humor and a beautiful heart. What’s there to dislike about Susan as a person? I can understand people loathing those like Britney Spears and Lindsey Lohan who have acted like bitches, but Susan’s never had an unkind word about anyone, so lay off!! Plus, your grammar is inexcusable. I would suggest you be more positive about Susan in the future and know that she has many lifelong fans around the world who love her unconditionally!!!
I like Susan Boyle i think she has a great voice, I especially liked it when she sang with Elaine Paige on a show the song which Paige orginally sang with Barbara Dickson from Chess (I know him so well) i think it is. When Susan appeared on Britain’s got talent the audience and the panel laughed when she said she wanted to be like Elaine Paige and admired her voice and singing talents. Susan soon shut the doubters up she sang beautifully and has gone on to make a DVD which i have brought and the songs on it sang by Susan are very good. I think Susan has done very well considering she has a complaint like learning difficulties, and people on this site who make nasty remarks about Susan should be more compassionate you never know what you may get yourself in life.
I have read this article along with all the comments above. I do not think that Oana is looking to denigrate Susan’s image in any way, nor do i believe she is turning people against her. It is simply a matter of opinion and I don’t find this article to be as subjective as all of you think. There are people out there that thought and said a lot of nastier things related to Susan Boyle and I think this article is gentle compared to others i’ve read…
This is just a poorly written, cobbled together review and it warms my heart to note that for any article written about Susan that is even remotely derogatory, there are countless replies that defend her. It rejuvenates my faith in humankind. Ms Boyle has stirred these feelings in us; just one of the many gifts this sweet little lady has given us. If she only knew… I hope she does.
This articIe is a mess! I have just ordered Susan Boyle’s book and I am enjoying it, and wanted to see some articles related to the book. This is the first one I came across, and I am glad that so many have written in expressing their negative feelings about the article – and positive feelings about Susan Boyle!
It is simply a matter of opinion…you all are way too aggressive…it’s this girl’s opinion…you can easily continue sleeping with Susan Boyle’s picture every night…