Success in the arts without a pretty package.

Cafe Society
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I was going to post this in the original Susan Boyle thread, but that’s on to four pages now, and will probably begin to wind down pretty soon.

But to put Susan Boyle in context, here’s one of my favorite performers, the very successful Mary Coughlan.

Point being, I don’t think Susan Boyle’s looks are even relevant in this whole phenomenon. The key thing is the whole “never been kissed” angle. Coughlan’s singing is full of sex: she sings a sultry blues that makes it pretty clear the broad’s been around the block a few times. Boyle’s affect is quasi-Aspergerish, to some extent: she’s clearly never been laid, never mind kissed. I think her whole persona is likely to change once she becomes a little more shall we say worldly.

Of course, I could be entirely wrong. Will be interesting to see.

(ETA: cricetus covered it better than I could’ve.)

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In MY opinion, the man is totally HAWT.

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Plenty of musicians aren’t all that hot. I’m sure it helps to be for instance a great rock guitarist who’s also good-looking, but plenty of great rock guitarists aren’t. It matters more if a singer is good-looking. When it comes to performers who play instruments, especially as a member of a group, then the audience is less likely to care or even remember what they look like.

There are also a number of less-than-gorgeous but very successful singer-songwriters. Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Carole King haven’t been coasting on their movie star good looks.