Michael Jackson May Have Been The Most Googled In 2009, But Susan Boyle is My 2009 Hero.
Posted: Wednesday, December 30, 2009
by Fran Larson
http://www.franniesquotes.com/
Michael Jackson's Childhood Lacked Normalcy
Michael Jackson may have been the most googled in 2009, but I choose Susan Boyle as my celebrity hero. Michael Jackson seemed to appear more famous after his death. At the time of his death, he had been on a downward popularity slide for quite some time.
As a child, he was denied a normal childhood because of his father's desire for fame (through his children). There are also allegations that his Dad emotionally and physically abused him. Perhaps it was the culmination of these two childhood experiences that lead Michael to problems sleeping, addiction to fame and later addiction to powerful drugs.
He died with power and money but hopelessly sad, lonely and addicted to drugs. How sad that he did not get to once again rise to popularity while alive. Unfortunately, it took his death to bring him back into the limelight, under the curious eyes of the public.
http://blog.taragana.com tells us that Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video, with that unforgettable graveyard dance, will rest among the nation's treasures in the world's largest archive of film, TV and sound recordings.
The 1983 music video directed by John Landis, though still the subject of lawsuits over profits, was one of 25 films to be inducted Wednesday for preservation in the 2009 National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.
Susan Boyle Also Was Bullied During Childhood, But She Was Loved
In comparison, Susan Boyle also had a difficult childhood, although, unlike Michael Jackson, I think she always felt love from her family.
Susan Magdalane Boyle ( born April 1, 1961) Boyle was born in Blackburn, West Lothian , Scotland, to Patrick Boyle, a miner, World War II veteran and singer at the Bishop's Blaize, and Bridget, a shorthand typist, who were both immigrants from County Donegal , Ireland. She was the youngest of four brothers and six sisters.
Born when her mother was 47, Boyle was briefly deprived of oxygen during the difficult birth and was later diagnosed as having learning difficulties. Boyle says she was bullied as a child and was nicknamed "Susie Simple" at school.
Susan's father died in the 1990s, and her siblings had left home. She never married, and she cared for her ageing mother until she died in 2007 at the age of 91. I would like to emphasize the fact that Susan made many sacrifices and put her desire to peruse a singing career on hold. This is one of the reasons she is my hero. She took care of her mother, in spite of what she desired.
Susan Began To Dream Her Dream
Most of us know that she got her big break when she appeared on Britain's Got Talent on April 11, 2009. She sang I Dreamed a Dream from the play, Les Miserables.
The judges and audience were cynical and cruel before Susan opened her mouth and sang. (However, their facial expressions dramatically changed, once she began to sing). She didn't have the usual glamorous looks that most celebrities strive to achieve (being ultra-slim, made up, etc). Instead, Susan chose to just be herself. That is another reason I love her and she is my hero.
She apparently expected this reception, because this is what she said, "I knew what they were thinking, but why should it matter as long as I can sing? It's not a beauty contest." (The Sunday Times)
Her Dream Soon Became a Nightmare
Due to her disappointment in not winning first place in Britain's Got Talent and the whirlwind, life-changing stress, she was hospitalized for 5 days.
I didn't pick up on any unduly troubling signs. She was nervous, yes, but no more nervous than Paul Potts had been before his live final two years previously. She understood the significance of the night.
Then, during the final show, at the crucial point when the dance group Diversity won, I looked over at her face and thought: 'Christ, she doesn't know how to deal with not winning.'
Simon Cowell, Daily Mail
Susan Pressed On In Spite of Health Issues And on To Victory
However, once again she pulled herself up by the bootstraps and carried on. The result was that she released her first album in November 2009 and debuted as the number one best-selling CD on charts, globally.
I Dreamed a Dream debuted at #1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 with 701,000 copies sold in its first week, breaking the record for the highest debut ever for a new solo female artist in the SoundScan era. I Dreamed a Dream became the biggest opening sales week of 2009 in the United States, beating out Eminem 's Relapse , which sold 608,000. (Wikipedia)
I recently saw Susan Boyle perform on the Discovery Channel. She had the radiance of someone who had achieved her dream, in spite of making sacrifices for her family and taking care of her mother. Instead of succumbing to desperation and depression, she was victorious. When she sang, I was thrilled; I was captivated; I was able to block everything else out; everything except the words and lyrics that brought me to another world of pure heaven.
Thanks, Susan for being my celebrity hero. Thanks for standing for family values, determination and patience. Thank you for making me believe that I can achieve my dream as a writer or anything else I have the talent and determination to do. After all, I Dreamed a Dream.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Enjoyed this piece and your perspectives - good contrasts and point well made. Marijo
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