Why is it a surprise that Susan Boyle can sing well?

[MrPerson]

[Genevieve]

1. Because some assholes think you have to be pretty to sing well.

[Wapsie B]

2. Because of the halo effect with regards to personal appearance.

Very attractive=intelligent, talented, kind, the world is their oyster
Plain or below average in looks= dull-witted, incompetent, not capable of much of anything in life

[mainegreen]

3. because 99.99% of us sounds like cats being murdered when we sing?

:D

[tigereye]

4. cuz al those folks are shallow twits?

[Tabasco_Dave]

5. I'm a fan of Janis Joplin

so i know you don't have to be a beauty queen to sing well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb4t0Mxq3J4

[jeff30997]

8. Yeah but that was the 60s man !

Now all you have to do to be called an "artist" is look good,be able to lip-sync what you squealed in

studio,and have epileptic seizures so well choreographed that it's called dancing.

[flvegan]

6. It's not.

And anyone that's "surprised" by a person's talent based on appearance, status, age, etc is just too stupid to talk to.

[Lil Missy]

7. I think you just like to stir shit.

[MrPerson]

17. I think you just don't like me.

[elleng]

9. I don't think its a surprise that she can sing well,

but I think she has an unusually memorable voice, and THAT is a surprise.

[Lil Missy]

10. And he wants to rub oil on her. That's kinda special.

[elleng]

12. Why would you mention this?

THAT is foolish.

[Lil Missy]

13. Calm down. He mentioned it in another thread.

And he always mentions shit like this.

[elleng]

14. There's no need to tell me to calm down.

.

[MrPerson]

16. Actually I didn't. I was looking for volunteers.

[960]

11. Because she can't just sing well, she's phenomenal.

Maybe some people dismiss her because of her looks/flighty personality/whatever.

I am just surprised *anyone* can sing that well.

[Tabasco_Dave]

15. Here's more average looking women who can sing

how soon people forget.

Patti Smith http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0brHGJ6xqbk

Mama Cass Elliott http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEQxEJ5_5zA

Aretha Franklin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STKkWj2WpWM

Janis Ian Singing about being average looking in high school http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efHOIT1ROk8

and i'm gen x, not a baby boomer being nostalgic.

[cwydro]

18. And nobody ever mentions the men who are not exactly

good looking who sing.

But of course, it doesn't matter with men. Riiight?

[Deja Q]

19. I too dislike labels, but the gen x mention does add merit under the circumstances.

I too am an x'er and put talent over empty image, and there's a lot from each era I can appreciate... Even today, the 00's, even if it's limited to the form of "That's a good voice, pity the lyrics are token drivel and the backing music came out of a preprogrammed $50 keyboard at walmart)...

[Burma Jones]

24. And Janis Joplin.......

[MrPerson]

20. I'm going to have to stop this discussion.

We have "offended" someone.

Please everybody leave this thread at once.

That is all.

[cwydro]

21. nah,

that's when it gets interesting!:P

[Captain Hilts]

22. Evidently, our version of the show has an age limit - we don't see older folks competing as Brits do

[Burma Jones]

23. Because folks like her are often very reticent

What with society treating her the way it has...So, to have that sort of performance come out of someone who would usually be thoroughly shamed into nothingness is truly surprising.....and Good.