# (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:** 2
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/21 "2010-01-28T15:47:27Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > In theatre Paige is an A++++list. She’s theatre royalty. [Indeed](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s96NZoeDs68). When SuBo can do that, get back to me. Or this. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciOalICSUAo&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciOalICSUAo&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/22 "2010-01-28T15:48:58Z")
Was [I know him so well](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2IkLGFiKx0) a hit in the US. It was one of the biggest hits of the decade in this part of the world. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/23 "2010-01-28T15:51:49Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Who’s Elaine Page? Seriously, I’ve never heard of her. Perhaps most importantly in this context, when Simon Cowell asked Susan Boyle at her audition who she’d like to be as successful as, Elaine Paige is the one she named. ---
**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, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/24 "2010-01-28T15:54:24Z")
I think the problem with “celebrity” is people expect you to be seen in a movie or a TV show or something that can be readily consumed. I love Bebe Neuwirth for example but most people just think of her as “Oh, Lilith from Frasier/Cheers, right?” I guess it may not be the actor’s most representative work but people respond to that sort of thing. Which kind of explains Elaine Paige’s comments. She’s worked for years and people in this very thread are all, “Who is she?” Whereas Susan Boyle sings for five minutes on youtube and people know who she is. Not being readily identified by most of the public doesn’t make Elaine Paige any less relevant or talented, but I can see how she might be a bit dismissive of someone who hasn’t worked nearly as hard as she has. ---
**Author:** ![Neverending\_Elbow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e274bd/32.png) [@Neverending\_Elbow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neverending_Elbow)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/25 "2010-01-28T16:00:57Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Edith Pilaf I’m sorry, but this typo totally made my day. 😃 And also made me hungry. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/26 "2010-01-28T16:25:22Z")
I agree that Elaine was probably mis-using the concept of “going viral.” Understanding that, her comments are not the least bit critical. Nothing to see here; move along. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/27 "2010-01-28T16:29:15Z")
> [@Neverending\_Elbow](#): > > I’m sorry, but this typo totally made my day. 😃 > > And also made me hungry. Sounds like something Hannibal Lecter would serve. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/28 "2010-01-28T16:35:41Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Who’s Elaine Page? Seriously, I’ve never heard of her. [Her.](http://lmgtfy.com/?q=elaine+page) ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/29 "2010-01-28T17:01:51Z")
Here is Elaine talking about Susan on BBC Radio. Sure seems anti-Subo :rolleyes: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hNkbTIbH_Gk/hqdefault.jpg "Elaine Paige praises Susan Boyle and proposes a duet") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNkbTIbH_Gk) ---
**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, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/30 "2010-01-28T17:09:42Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > Here is Elaine talking about Susan on BBC Radio. Sure seems anti-Subo :rolleyes: > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNkbTIbH\_Gk&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNkbTIbH_Gk&feature=related) Between this “celebrity feud” (ugh) and another talk show/journalist’s mini argument with Mel Gibson, it’s a super slow celebrity news day. Did Perez slip into a coma? ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/31 "2010-01-28T17:24:41Z")
Sorry for all the posts but I just keep finding these things. Here’s a duet with Elaine and Susan on a show in the run up to xmas. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o8PgJPUjfo) And some of the comments on that page are CRAZY. ---
**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/32 "2010-01-28T17:29:41Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > 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. **“Hurrah for the Blackshirts”** - Daily Mail headline, January 1934. If anything they’ve moved to the right since. The DM website is very popular with right-wing American bloggers for some reason. I suppose it confirms what they suspect about Britain/Europe… ---
**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, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/33 "2010-01-28T17:33:14Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > And some of the comments on that page are CRAZY. > [@](#): > > Upto now I have never really listened to a whole Boyle song. > For Elaine Paige to make this ignoble statement (“Susan Boyle is spreading around the world like a virus”) must indicate that she is feeling a little disgruntled. > See the patronisingly sickly smile to Boyle at 2.05-10 mins. From the youtube comments…I know, I know. BAD Freudian. My own fault for even reading youtube comments. ---
**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, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/34 "2010-01-28T17:58:10Z")
> [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](#): > > **“Hurrah for the Blackshirts”** - Daily Mail headline, January 1934. And the catchy **Abortion hope after ‘gay genes’ finding** from 1993. ---
**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, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/35 "2010-01-28T23:50:35Z")
> [@nudgenudge](#): > > I feel that if Elaine Paige were truly A-list, people in this thread would be spelling her name right ;). Oh argh, but it wasn’t my fault! I had the OP article open in another window, with the top of the browser showing, like up at the top left where it says Straight Dope Message Board - Reply To Topic - Mozilla Firefox (well, that’s what it says for me) and I swear on all my favorite music and movies that it said “Elaine Page” because I did think it was Paige but then I saw that, and thought, oh, I was wrong. Well, NOW it’s Elaine “Paige” up at the top of that article, so of course I look like an idiot. So what else is new? But no kidding, I was spelling it correctly at first. I think the Daily Mail did it on purpose just to make me look bad. Uh-huh. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2010, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/36 "2010-01-29T00:20:00Z")
It’s sad that Ms Paige couldn’t have been more tactful. I doubt that she meant to be malicious. What she said is true, but it’s odd that she blames youtube. A lot of pop stars gain instant fame because of one hit song. Actors like Keith Carradine, (_I’m Easy_), and Shelley Fabares, (_Johnny Angel_), had momentary musical fame. Over in England, Wendy Richard from _Are You Being Served_ had a novelty hit, (_Come Outside_), before her acting career. You don’t need 20 years of vocal training to have a #1 pop song. There are lots of singers, that aren’t classically trained, that sing pop, country, and rock. Those styles of music lend themselves well to raw voices. Elaine Paige is primarily a theatrical musical star. Raw talent and luck aren’t enough to achieve success. You need years and years of training and experience to portray a character, sing, and dance all in one production. ---
**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 29, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/37 "2010-01-29T14:30:22Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > Was [I know him so well](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2IkLGFiKx0) a hit in the US. It was one of the biggest hits of the decade in this part of the world. It’s actually the biggest hit ever for two female vocalists. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/38 "2010-01-29T14:49:33Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > It’s actually the biggest hit ever for two female vocalists. Cool. Thanks for that info. For a good laugh check out French and Saunders taking the piss out of the song as only those two ladies can. ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/b9FowpvhUJ8/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/b9FowpvhUJ8?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque If you’re not familiar with them check out the other links for their stuff. It’s well worth it. Two of the finest comic performers the UK have ever produced. Some of their movie piss takes are genius. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/39 "2010-01-30T03:30:02Z")
> [@Elaine Paige](#): > > “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.” Just goes to show that the AARP generation can understand modern concepts when others do not. Boyle’s video really did go viral: I had heard of her within 24 hours of the broadcast. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749/40 "2010-01-30T04:53:22Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Who’s Elaine Page? Seriously, I’ve never heard of her. Not only have I not heard of her, I have no idea who Susan Boyle is. Seriously. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-susan-boyle-fans-need-to-chill-out/526749.md?page=3)