# Britain's Got Talent meets Les Miserables **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 13, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906 "2009-04-13T01:39:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/161 "2009-04-19T20:09:01Z")
> [@jovan](#): > > It’s entirely possible that she wasn’t in on it. However, Simon almost certainly knew what he was doing. The contestant isn’t just some kid from Whales who lives with his single mother. He’s a kid from Whales… He lives in the ocean? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/162 "2009-04-19T21:20:11Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > _Late Night with Jimmy Fallon_’s take on the Susan Boyle effect: > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHwgCcj9UCU](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHwgCcj9UCU) Speaking of talentless. (And can you believe they didn’t even do the super obvious joke of having the zombies come in and be entranced by her singing?) ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/163 "2009-04-19T21:22:04Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > (And can you believe they didn’t even do the super obvious joke of having the zombies come in and be entranced by her singing?) I _know_! I was waiting for them to come shambling in. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/164 "2009-04-20T01:04:21Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > He lives in the ocean? In an octopus’s garden, as a matter of fact. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/165 "2009-04-20T01:13:13Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > _Late Night with Jimmy Fallon_’s take on the Susan Boyle effect: > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHwgCcj9UCU](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHwgCcj9UCU) Heheh, I rather liked that! And yes, I am absolutely thrilled for Susan Boyle but poking fun at a bit of over-hype isn’t the same as being nasty about her, surely. My worry about the whole thing is that I hope this lady doesn’t get dragged into too much media mess and, you know, spat out again in a nasty way. However, I suppose it would be a foolish manager indeed who would ruin her nice small-town lady “selling point” if I may put it that way. Hope so. And I truly hope she does well out of it and is very happy. Seems like such a pleasant nice woman. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/166 "2009-04-20T03:19:37Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > I’ve watched several performances on the song by other people on YouTube now, and so far Susan’s is still my favorite. I’ve watched even more now, and I’ve found one that I love just as much, in a different way. Mostly the ones I saw are in a style of singing that like some others here, I just don’t like, never have. I can appreciate and respect and admire the talent and professionalism involved, but I’m just not into it. [This version though](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvUTMvkk5Iw&feature=related), wow, I fell in love immediately. I only knew that girl from Annie. That one and Susan’s almost make me want to explore Les Miz a bit more. I can’t. I can’t. I just can’t. If I get into Les Miz and become a fan I’ll absolutely hate myself for missing my big chance to see (rather, pay attention to) the London stage performance. Since I don’t want to hate myself, I can’t do it. **RickJay** and **amarone’s** posts make me feel so much better. However, I would ask, is “Dream” THE big song from the play? Is there any other “must hear” song that I should go looking for a version I like? Or is “Dream” like the “Tomorrow” or the “I Am Telling You That This Is A Really Long-Assed Name For A Song” or “Memory” of Les Miz? Btw, speaking of Cats, [Elaine Paige wants to duet with Susan](http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/apr/19/susan-boyle-duet-elaine-paige)! > [@](#): > > \*\*It was just before her life-changing performance on Britain’s Got Talent last Saturday that Boyle revealed her dream: to become a professional singer as successful as Paige - with whom she has sung along countless times, alone, in front of her bedroom mirror, equipped with a hairbrush for a microphone. > > Now, in a message of support, Paige, the original Evita in London’s West End, has punted the idea of the pair singing together. “Ever since Susan’s appearance on Britain’s Got Talent my Radio 2 inbox has been flooded with emails,” she writes on her website. > > “It seems her performance has captured the hearts of everyone who saw it, me included … it looks like I have competition! Perhaps we should record a duet?”\*\* I would like to have seen Susan’s face when she read that. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/167 "2009-04-20T06:41:54Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Call me strange, but I preferred Susan’s version. There again, I hated Les Miserables and walked out at the interval (London West End version). They use a style of singing that doesn’t please my ear - it is as if they talk in a singing-like fashion, but nothing has any memorable melody or tune. You do realize that the talky bits take the place of dialogue, right? They are bridges between songs. There are plenty of memorable melodies. If you don’t like broadway type songs then that is your taste but there are a bunch of different melodies and tunes in the play. In fact now that I am writing this there are a few melodies that are stuck in my head. > [@Equipoise](#): > > I’ve watched even more now, and I’ve found one that I love just as much, in a different way. Mostly the ones I saw are in a style of singing that like some others here, I just don’t like, never have. I can appreciate and respect and admire the talent and professionalism involved, but I’m just not into it. > > [This version though](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvUTMvkk5Iw&feature=related), wow, I fell in love immediately. I only knew that girl from Annie. > That one and Susan’s almost make me want to explore Les Miz a bit more. I can’t. I can’t. I just can’t. If I get into Les Miz and become a fan I’ll absolutely hate myself for missing my big chance to see (rather, pay attention to) the London stage performance. Since I don’t want to hate myself, I can’t do it. **RickJay** and **amarone’s** posts make me feel so much better. > > However, I would ask, is “Dream” THE big song from the play? Is there any other “must hear” song that I should go looking for a version I like? Or is “Dream” like the “Tomorrow” or the “I Am Telling You That This Is A Really Long-Assed Name For A Song” or “Memory” of Les Miz? > > Btw, speaking of Cats, [Elaine Paige wants to duet with Susan](http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/apr/19/susan-boyle-duet-elaine-paige)! > > I would like to have seen Susan’s face when she read that. Wow. I don’t think of that as the big song. It is the big song for that character. I think the best song is probably _On My Own_. I’m on a computer that can’t go to YouTube but look for the version with Lea Solonga (in case you don’t know her she was the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in Aladin and Mulan). To me anything from the 10th anniversary concert is probably the best you are going to get. They put together a dream cast at the Royal Albert Hall. All stayed in character but it was done in concert style rather than as a play. The other big songs are _One Day More_ (the first act finale), _A Little Fall of Rain_, _Do You Hear the People Sing?_, Who Am I? and a few others. The anniversary concert is on DVD and you can probably get it from Netflix but I can’t check that either. But again, you either like broadway musicals or you don’t. But if you don’t I’m not sure why you would like Susan Boyle more(other than the Rocky storyline). She is trying for that style but doesn’t do it as well. Don’t forget these songs are being acted as well as sung. In Susan’s version it sounds like a mistake near the end when she comes in late. But that is part of the song. It makes sense when someone is acting the part. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/168 "2009-04-20T06:46:03Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > However, I would ask, is “Dream” THE big song from the play? Is there any other “must hear” song that I should go looking for a version I like? Or is “Dream” like the “Tomorrow” or the “I Am Telling You That This Is A Really Long-Assed Name For A Song” or “Memory” of Les Miz? _Dream_ is Fantine’s big solo. Most of the major characters get at least one. [This](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6-5g78Nr6Q) is probably the most famous chorus song from the show, and [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuffHRacZMQ) is the big first-act showstopper. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/169 "2009-04-20T13:28:43Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > But again, you either like broadway musicals or you don’t. But if you don’t I’m not sure why you would like Susan Boyle more(other than the Rocky storyline). She is trying for that style but doesn’t do it as well. I don’t particularly like Broadway musicals (with some exceptions, like Hair and Chicago) but for the ones you’re talking about, I don’t see that she’s “trying for that style” at all. Her’s is not trying to be operatic, and I hate opera (the singing style). Practically everyone else on YouTube was doing it as opera, which is what I couldn’t stand. That’s why I loved Andrea’s version (and I also liked Sammy Davis Jr.'s version) because it wasn’t an operatic style. And that’s one of the reasons I liked Susan’s version. And it’s only one of the million reasons I like Susan in general. And anyway, Susan isn’t a trained opera singer. Why anyone would compare her to an opera singer (or any trained professional singer with lots of experience) and find her lacking is befuddling to me. > [@Loach](#): > > In Susan’s version it sounds like a mistake near the end when she comes in late. But that is part of the song. It makes sense when someone is acting the part. The first time I watched the Susan Boyle clip and it got to that part, I cringed because I thought “Oh no, she’s forgotten the lyrics!” and thought that little smile of hers was one of embarrassment. But as soon as she started singing again I realized that it was supposed to be that way, and of course now I’ve heard so many different versions I understand completely what it’s about. I’ve also heard how she skipped some lyrics, on purpose, for time. Thanks for the titles (and the links friedo). I got called into work unexpectedly (I usually work nights) so I’ll have to listen to them later this evening. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/170 "2009-04-20T13:47:41Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > I don’t particularly like Broadway musicals (with some exceptions, like Hair and Chicago) but for the ones you’re talking about, I don’t see that she’s “trying for that style” at all. Her’s is not trying to be operatic, and I hate opera (the singing style). Practically everyone else on YouTube was doing it as opera, which is what I couldn’t stand. That’s why I loved Andrea’s version (and I also liked Sammy Davis Jr.'s version) because it wasn’t an operatic style. And that’s one of the reasons I liked Susan’s version. And it’s only one of the million reasons I like Susan in general. > > And anyway, Susan isn’t a trained opera singer. Why anyone would compare her to an opera singer (or any trained professional singer with lots of experience) and find her lacking is befuddling to me. > > The first time I watched the Susan Boyle clip and it got to that part, I cringed because I thought “Oh no, she’s forgotten the lyrics!” and thought that little smile of hers was one of embarrassment. But as soon as she started singing again I realized that it was supposed to be that way, and of course now I’ve heard so many different versions I understand completely what it’s about. I’ve also heard how she skipped some lyrics, on purpose, for time. > > Thanks for the titles (and the links friedo). I got called into work unexpectedly (I usually work nights) so I’ll have to listen to them later this evening. There is nothing operatic about it. Especially Lea Solonga. Very much a pop style nothing like opera. She has the pipes to sing opera but that doesn’t play on broadway. _And anyway, Susan isn’t a trained opera singer. Why anyone would compare her to an opera singer (or any trained professional singer with lots of experience) and find her lacking is befuddling to me._ Because most of the stories I’ve seen and any viewer comments talk about contracts and making albums. Now, not after years of training. I am happy for her. I hope she gets a lot out of this. But to call her a great singer is pushing it. Good with potential I would grant you. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/171 "2009-04-20T13:54:14Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > You do realize that the talky bits take the place of dialogue, right? Of course. > [@](#): > > They are bridges between songs. Hellingshly long bridges between songs that, for me anyway, were completely unmemorable. > [@](#): > > There are plenty of memorable melodies. If you don’t like broadway type songs then that is your taste but there are a bunch of different melodies and tunes in the play. Like **Equipoise** , I am not into Broadway-style musicals much. Also like him, I did like Chicago. I liked Rent also. Having tried and disliked Les Miserables and Cats (now there is a one-song-show with no storyline), I have become able to predict which ones I will like. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/172 "2009-04-20T14:07:50Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Of course. Hellingshly long bridges between songs that, for me anyway, were completely unmemorable. Like **Equipoise** , I am not into Broadway-style musicals much. Also like him, I did like Chicago. I liked Rent also. Having tried and disliked Les Miserables and Cats (now there is a one-song-show with no storyline), I have become able to predict which ones I will like. I haven’t been to many broadway shows. You will find me listening to Rush or Iron Maiden a lot more then showtunes. But I have seen a few and enjoyed them. 1776, Spamalot, The Full Monty, The Producers I loved. Les Miserables I have seen a couple of times. Very memorable songs and a good story and stage show. Never had a desire to see Cats. I saw the movie of Rent and was disappointed by the songs. From the hype I expected much better. I am not a fan of opera or the operatic style of singing though I do like certain arias. Just to let you know where I am coming from. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/173 "2009-04-20T14:18:51Z")
> [@Ro0sh](#): > > Hopefully she’ll turn out more albums and be a bigger success than [this guy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hung) from American Idol. I am a bit cynical, and I do hope she wins the whole thing, but I do also want to see her get more than just a single CD that sells well and then obscurity, but then again, I don’t know the names of any American Idols except for three of them And THAT guy. :shrug: > Reality TV’s kinda a harsh mistress like that. I saw a clip the other day that also mentioned Paul Potts who surprised everyone. That was two years ago and it said he is now a millionaire. Is that true? Pretty amazing to go from cell phone salesman to millionaire singing star. If it happened to Paul it can happen to Susan. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/174 "2009-04-20T14:29:22Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > The boy is good - for a 12 year old. > Susan’s just good. > Big difference. Huh?? Did you watch the same clip I did? Susan is good but she’s also 47 and not going to get much better. This kid has pitch, range, timing, sustain, at 12, with years ahead of him to develop his voice and stage presence. I’m happy for Susan’s success but this kid has more potential in the long run. Hopefully early success won’t make him go too crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/175 "2009-04-20T14:31:47Z")
> [@cosmodan](#): > > I saw a clip the other day that also mentioned Paul Potts who surprised everyone. That was two years ago and it said he is now a millionaire. Is that true? Pretty amazing to go from cell phone salesman to millionaire singing star. If it happened to Paul it can happen to Susan. Yep. His album has sold over 4 million copies worldwide. He seems to be particularly big in Germany, with a million sales there alone. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/176 "2009-04-20T14:38:45Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Huh?? Did you watch the same clip I did? Susan is good but she’s also 47 and not going to get much better. This kid has pitch, range, timing, sustain, at 12, with years ahead of him to develop his voice and stage presence. I’m happy for Susan’s success but this kid has more potential in the long run. Hopefully early success won’t make him go too crazy. Hopefully the training won’t, either. Sometimes people who are successful too young have to go through a rude awakening when they confront the work required to keep being successful. At 12 you’re a great kid and everyone wants the best for _you_, personally. By 21 all people care about is what you produce, and you have to put that first. That means letting go of a lot of what you thought was good and valuable about yourself - but _not_ everything, so you can go on and not implode on yourself. Growing up with talent takes a very fine balance - not something life, _or_ art, necessarily encourages. Most of all you need caring people around you, but you also need luck. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/177 "2009-04-20T14:59:09Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > I’m reminded on Super Bad Brad’s [appearance on _Showtime at the Apollo_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1MYMP7xrMw&fmt=18). Legendarily tough audience, greasy-looking homeless guy with ghetto blaster… That is freaking hilarious. That song, done well, combined with that outfit is just great without saying anything else. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/178 "2009-04-20T15:03:33Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > Hopefully the training won’t, either. Sometimes people who are successful too young have to go through a rude awakening when they confront the work required to keep being successful. > > At 12 you’re a great kid and everyone wants the best for _you_, personally. By 21 all people care about is what you produce, and you have to put that first. That means letting go of a lot of what you thought was good and valuable about yourself - but _not_ everything, so you can go on and not implode on yourself. > > Growing up with talent takes a very fine balance - not something life, _or_ art, necessarily encourages. Most of all you need caring people around you, but you also need luck. Someone with talent, stage presence, and a decent work ethic can always find some level of success if they don’t go nuts or get bitter when they experience the nasty business side of the entertainment business. At some point you can hopefully put the go and the bullshit aside and be grateful for a chance to do something you love and have a gift for and get paid fr it. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/179 "2009-04-20T15:06:00Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > Yep. His album has sold over 4 million copies worldwide. He seems to be particularly big in Germany, with a million sales there alone. Wow! That can buy a lot of hookers…um I mean,… sorry, that was cynical, that can help a lot of poor people. What an amazing transformation though. cell phone salesman, sing on the show. Two years later. Millionaire! ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906/180 "2009-04-20T15:23:26Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > No doubt. And if she had been given the opportunity maybe she would be at that level. But she is not. And yet I am reading articles talking about recording contracts and tours. Now, not after training. The first clip I linked to is Ruthie Henshall. She is a successful stage performer and has been for years. Right now Susan Boyle is probably a lot more famous. She has power, pretty good pitch and range. She lacks the subtlety that you can hear in the other performances. > > Don’t get me wrong, I was very moved by the performance. It was carefully edited to get that response. She is a good singer and it is a great story. But this is similar to the Paul Potts thing. He is a good singer, but the opera experts I have heard on this board and elsewhere say he is maybe chorus level talent. But now he is more famous than most premier opera singers. After my initial reaction to Susan Boyle’s performance (which did make me misty eyed) I had to put it in perspective. There was a local talent show on in Maine years ago and we used to make jokes about how bad some of the people were. They actually did a few tours in Canada and the audience said what they liked about them was knowing they were just average people with regular jobs that liked to sing. I think that’s the attraction of some of this , especially when someone comes out of nowhere with real talent. Even if they’re not awesome compared to highly trained professionals the fact that they’re soooo good as average folks is compelling and uplifting. People like it. I thought [Andrew Johnson](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hhOXu-wSoc) was really amazing and the whole being bullied , painfully shy thing added to the story. When they say, the “voice of an angel” this kid is it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-got-talent-meets-les-miserables/492906.md?page=10)