…in another post to avoid spoilers.
Diversity: first. Susan Boyle: second. Link.
I’unno. The whole thing feels so scripted. Then again, I’m a Yank only getting the highlights on the net.
Here’s the link to her performance today on Youtube:
Wow, I’m only the 52nd person to view that link. Within a few days there will doubtlessly be several million views for that link.
I think there were two key things in why Boyle didn’t win.
Firstly, people had the impression that she will be succesful no matter what the result of the final. Simon is already setting her up with a recording career, and she is now one of the most famous people worldwide to ever compete on the show. Many people love the underdog, but while she made her first performance as the underdog, she was certainly not one anymore in the final.
Secondly, she chose the same song she sang in her first performance. In a show like this you only get so many chances to show what you can do. Making the same performance twice is a safe way out, and it’s unlikely to get you any admiration.
Yeah, that’s what I thought too. Happens on American Idol sometimes: people think a particular contestant doesn’t need their vote to win, or doesn’t need to win to succeed. And as I said back when she first appeared on the show, she’ll perform for the Queen one way or another.
Plus, look at past winners of AI, and compare them to some of the runners up from the same year. Neither Clay nor Reuben have tore up the charts, but the latter’s definitely done a hell of a lot better, and Daughtry is at least on my non-AI-watching radar while I have no idea who actually won the year he lost.
These shows are as much for exposure as they are for the guaranteed contracts of nebulous worth.
In short, she’s no longer the underdog; she’s already a winner, worldwide. Clinching this title would have no additional impact on her career.
And she shouldn’t have repeated the same song (although she did a totally different rendition of it this time).
There’s also the fact that Diversity is a dance group, and doesn’t have as many performance opportunities as a singer. This win will have a greater impact on their success.
If Susan Boyle had to lose to someone, I’m glad it was diversity. The two acts are apples and oranges, however diversity had that it quality. For Susan herself, I hope that she would be able to give a private show for the queen, I think that for someone like her, performing for the queen would top, what ever she might make commercially, unlike diversity( and I am really being unfair since I don’t know them) dancing for liz would just be another show.
While I have no idea how they placed, I would hope that ecala will get something in the way of fame, their semi final act blew me away with live and let die. Be nice if Sir Paul were to have them do back up if he performs that song again.
I don’t doubt that holley is going to be looked at by Disney, they would be idiots not too, however I think that she will have some sort of career in her future.
What to say about stavros flatley, I have no idea what they should be able to parley their act into, but wow, that was fun.
Declan
I agree with both points, and think the fact that she sang the same song twice is what really hurt her. She should have shown that she has more material.
In any case, she will be a multi-platinum recording artist within the next couple of years. Perhaps at some point the queen will have her invited to perform, and thus she can realize that dream as well.
You don’t think the negative media attention during the week had more to do with it? The same media that built her up as a wonderful, charming, shy older lady who then decided she was a foul mouthed, arrogant, trouble-causing spinster?
Really? All I heard this side of the pond was that she was stressed out and thinking of leaving.
I watched BGT while checking out an online betting page.
Before Diversity performed their act they were available at 14/1. Immediately following the dance, and subsequent to Simon Cowell’s favourable comments about it, the price shrank to 2/1. This market move occurred before the phone lines opened. Either the bookmakers believed Cowell’s endorsement would be a telling factor with voting viewers, or they were advised by a street dance expert who believed he had just seen the winners of the competition.
The former is more likely.
Susan Boyle came 2nd overall in a popular contest to a very good dance group including likeable kids.
I don’t think the publicity or repetition mattered much.
If the British public don’t like someone, they can easily show it (see other reality shows, including Big Brother).
Yes, I saw Diversity as close second favourites over 7 listed bookmakers (when I looked at a general betting page during the final).
(But I don’t see why a street dance expert would know what 1 million viewers would prefer.)
Here’s a link to Diversity’s performance yesterday:
Its a manipulative show. Doesn’t stop me enjoying it but still
Among other things - Hollie & Shaheen both being given second chances (& Shaheen’s in the audition certainly felt staged) & the fact that some of the acts have arguably already had their big break (Shaheen, Julian Smith & Flawless) up against genuine amateurs like Susan Boyle Stavros Flatly. I’ve got no problem with that - just feel the show/acts shouldn’t be implying they are amateurs.
I disagree. I think it was very fitting of her to sing “I Dreamed a Dream” Her Dream came true, even though she didn’t come in first.
More likely, the change in the odds showed a lot of bets placed during their performance. It’s what the smart kids were doing while the rest were waiting for the phone lines to open…
I watched all the semis and most of the auditions.
I thought Susans first audition was good, mostly for the drama and less for the singing ability.
The dancers where always excellent.
In the final I found myself willing Susan to fail. The group I was with all said they would prefer anyone else to win, this was all down to the negative media she has recieved in the last week.
That twin with the fact that she truly came over as completely unstable (Flashing her bum on live TV etc) and that Diversity were brilliant and I think we chose a worthy winner.
The bit where the little boy danced and the reast of the group buzzed him off was just genius.
Either Susan has some serious ‘problems’ or she believes her own hipe and has become a major diva.
As the news is now reporting that she has been sent to the priory by police under the mental health act I fear it is the former.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090601/tuk-fears-as-boyle-is-rushed-to-clinic-6323e80.html
10 year old Hollie Steel also had a meltdown during the semi finals. This show is a lot of pressure.
I don’t what they could do to protect adults but I think they maybe need to make a minimum age for contestants. I think 13 myself.
the NZ version of the show also had a couple of very young contestants in tears.
You do need to monitor if anyone is getting upset.
However Holly did recover and clearly enjoyed the whole experience overall.
Plus Shaheen and Aiden (both finalists and about 12 years old) had no problems.
Diversity and Susan Boyle got nearly 45% the votes cast (about 24% and 20% respectively).
Therfore there was no ‘backlash’, just recognition of two excellent acts.