A Star is Born

I feel like I'm the last person on the planet to have come across this, but today I finally got round to watching Susan Boyle's performance on Britain's Got Talent (thanks, YouTube). While I do quite like reality TV occasionally, and usually watch the X Factor, I've never really got into Britain's Got Talent. And have been quite grateful. But this clip was just great, although it does show Britain at both its best and its worst.

The worst bit that it shows is the reaction of the audience as she first comes on stage and starts answering questions. OK, she seems a bit of a klutz, but the collective vibe coming from the crowd is really quite aggressive, they're thoroughly enjoying having a good laugh at her. Which of course we all do at the dreadful auditionees on X Factor, but it is disturbing to see a whole theatre full of people doing that to someone directly in front of them. However, she certainly has the last laugh. Once she opens her mouth and starts to sing, the mood in the place is just transformed, and the audience really take her to their heart. And she was fantastic - tone, pitch, and phrasing all spot on. You could see the stunned reaction of the judges and one was even in tears; so was I, but that's pregnancy for you. Having said that, apparently the clip made Demi Moore cry too, so I'm not in bad company.

So, today's recommendation is to go and view the clip, and watch this otherwise run of the mill woman amaze a whole theatre full of people. It's just priceless.