# (Some) Susan Boyle fans need to chill out **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 28, 2010, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749 "2010-01-28T08:49:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [January 28, 2010, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/1 "2010-01-28T08:49:43Z")
There’s a storm brewing, and it may, or may not, make its way over to the United States. I’ve already seen this link on Facebook from a few people (at least one an American) and I’m already getting tired of it. There’s [an article in the UK Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1246629/Susan-Boyle-virus-claims-Elaine-Page-reveals-true-feelings-duet.html) about Elaine Page seemingly talking trash about Susan, and the Facebook fans I’ve seen so far are livid. My own take is that it all depends on how you read it. If you read it as Elaine just speaking matter-of-factly and giving her general opinions, it’s very innocuous, and not meant to hurt Susan Boyle. Everything she says is the truth. End of story. If you read it as a rabid Susan fan you’ll spout what I’ve been hearing, that Elaine is bitter, petty, bitchy and jealous. (Elaine Page _jealous_? :rolleyes:) Page has spent time with Susan, she knows all about her story. Page would know that other than entering Britain’s Got Talent, Susan had NOTHING to do with the millions of hits the video got and the whirlwind of publicity and the outpourings of love. I don’t know Elaine Page, but I can’t imagine she’d be bitter toward Susan. I think Page is getting a raw deal from Susan Boyle fans, at least those ones on my Facebook page (those I’m about ready to kick the hell off) and the Comments section of that story. The tabloids live to blow things out of proportion and fan the flames of controversy and I think that’s what they’re doing here. To me the first clue is how they highlight Page’s statement “Susan Boyle is a virus” which, with even a split second’s thought, is obviously the words of an older lady who isn’t too internet savvy, trying to get across what we all know as “going viral.” Susan’s video DID go viral and I think that’s what she’s talking about. She’s not saying Susan is some kind of a disease! Listen to this crap! (from the tabloid, not Page) > [@](#): > > For years she idolised Elaine Paige, singing along to her songs in her bedroom with a hairbrush for a microphone. > > But it seems Susan Boyle’s admiration for the 61-year-old diva may not be a mutual affair. > > Miss Paige, who boasts 40 years in showbusiness and a £12million fortune, has haughtily dismissed the instant success of the Britain’s Got Talent runner-up as ‘a virus that swept the world’. When you read the actual quote, it’s perfectly harmless: > [@](#): > > "Susan Boyle is doing terribly well considering she literally came to the attention of the world overnight with the advent of YouTube. > > She was like a virus really that spread across the world in a nanosecond." There’s not one thing in there that’s petty or nasty, it’s just the way people are reading it. Elaine seems to be a plain-spoken person who says what she thinks. It’s blunt, but not mean-spirited. It doesn’t seem that way to me anyway. I’m not even an Elaine Page fan, I don’t listen to her kind of music, and I like Susan and her story a lot, but I think Page is getting shit for no reason. Would anyone following this in the UK be kind enough to please let me know how big a deal it is there? Also if either Susan and/or Elaine come out with a followup reaction to this story, in case I don’t see it. Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/2 "2010-01-28T09:46:29Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Would anyone following this in the UK be kind enough to please let me know how big a deal it is there? It’s the Daily Mail. Taking tiny scraps of fact and twisting them into something that provokes a knee jerk reaction is their stock in trade. ---
**Author:** ![nudgenudge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9f8e36/32.png) [@nudgenudge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nudgenudge)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/3 "2010-01-28T09:47:44Z")
I am shocked, shocked to learn of a British tabloid making more of a story than is actually there. Really, I don’t think C-list celebrity gossip like this is a big deal. Unless you happen to closely follow the Daily Mail showbiz pages you are unlikely to be aware of this raging controversy. At least, it’s the first I’ve heard of it. ---
**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:** [January 28, 2010, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/4 "2010-01-28T13:37:12Z")
I understand that it’s a stinky tabloid. I said that in my OP. But obviously some Susan Boyle fans are upset, and some of them are Americans, so the word is spreading, but apparently not too far. That’s good. I have no idea how my friends heard of it. I just assumed there was some Susan Boyle fan cauldron boiling somewhere. Btw, I don’t think Elaine Page is considered C-list. Susan Boyle either. The gossip might be C-list (more like Z-list) but those two are definitely A-list. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/5 "2010-01-28T13:59:45Z")
Who’s Elaine Page? Seriously, I’ve never heard of her. ---
**Author:** ![MJinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@MJinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MJinks)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/6 "2010-01-28T14:07:47Z")
I check out the leading stories on the BBC webpage daily, I listen to Radio 5 Live for hours a day, I leave BBC News 24 on in the background when playing games on the PC. I had not heard a thing about this story until I opened this thread. The Daily Mail in particular like to take a small story and blow it all out of proportion. They prefer to _make_ news instead of report it. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/7 "2010-01-28T14:10:30Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Who’s Elaine Page? Seriously, I’ve never heard of her. She was the original Eva Peron in Evita, and the original \ in Cats, amongst loads of others. She’s really well known in the UK at least. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/8 "2010-01-28T14:11:57Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Who’s Elaine Page? Seriously, I’ve never heard of her. Really huge theatrical actress. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/9 "2010-01-28T14:15:54Z")
Tempest. Teapot. To be forgotten the next time Prince Harry goes to a costume party. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/10 "2010-01-28T14:18:08Z")
Quote from Susan Boyle’s brother in [The Sun](http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/britain_got_talent/2828047/Susan-Boyles-brother-fears-she-will-be-assassinated.html). > [@](#): > > “I fear my sister will be shot like John Lennon.” Took me about 5 minutes to stop laughing at that one. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/11 "2010-01-28T14:38:54Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Who’s Elaine Page? Seriously, I’ve never heard of her. Nitpick: It’s Elaine Paige and she is one of the top musical stars in Britian. She was the original London Evita, Grizabella in CATS, Edith Pilaf, Florence in Chess, and played Norman Desmond in Sunset Boulevard in London and on Broadway. She carried on a very long term relationship with lyricist Tim Rice, mostly noteable because Elaine is 4’10’ and Tim is 6’4". Forbidden Broadway’s Sunset parody had her saying “I’m not small. It’s the sets that got bigger.” Extremely talented lady. ---
**Author:** ![nudgenudge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9f8e36/32.png) [@nudgenudge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nudgenudge)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/12 "2010-01-28T14:40:51Z")
I feel that if Elaine Paige were truly A-list, people in this thread would be spelling her name right ;). These thinks are subjective, I suppose, but I would place her more as a B-lister. As for SuBo, no way is she an A. I’ve nothing against her and am glad for her that she’s had her moment of fame and fortune, but she just isn’t especially talented and will soon fade from view one the novelty wears off. Or, what Ms Paige said. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/13 "2010-01-28T14:48:04Z")
Paige has been a musicals star for over thirty years. Boyle is so far a “flavour of the month.” ETA: [Paige’s wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_Paige) ---
**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/14 "2010-01-28T15:00:22Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Quote from Susan Boyle’s brother in [The Sun](http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/britain_got_talent/2828047/Susan-Boyles-brother-fears-she-will-be-assassinated.html). > > Took me about 5 minutes to stop laughing at that one. I know. Nobody uses .38 snubs anymore, especailly not a Charter Arms. It’s 9 mil Glocks all the way now. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/15 "2010-01-28T15:04:04Z")
> [@nudgenudge](#): > > I feel that if Elaine Paige were truly A-list, people in this thread would be spelling her name right ;). These thinks are subjective, I suppose, but I would place her more as a B-lister. Well, she may not be an A-list in terms of recognizability unless you follow theater. In terms of talent she’s probably a lot better than most of the Hollywood celeb types that most people think of when they think “A-list celebrity.” Then again, we live in a world where someone named Snookie can be a celebrity for getting smacked in the face. I’m starting to think celebrity might not be such a compliment. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/16 "2010-01-28T15:05:13Z")
In theatre Paige is an A++++list. She’s theatre royalty. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/17 "2010-01-28T15:10:07Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Nitpick: It’s Elaine Paige and she is one of the top musical stars in Britian. She was the original London Evita, Grizabella in CATS, Edith Pilaf, Florence in Chess, and played \*\*Norman Desmond \*\*in Sunset Boulevard in London and on Broadway.\ Who’s Norman Desmond? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/18 "2010-01-28T15:19:50Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Really huge theatrical actress. hugely talented, not morbidly obese. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/19 "2010-01-28T15:22:46Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > hugely talented, not morbidly obese. 😉 Like I posted, she’s 4’10". Huge talents in a tiny body. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/20 "2010-01-28T15:40:48Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Who’s Elaine Page? Seriously, I’ve never heard of her. I think she was in that movie _Juno_. And she hosted SNL once. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749.md?page=2)