The title of this blog is my homage to a writer and a journalist, a man considered by many to be the conscience of his generation, Eric Blair aka George Orwell - his crystal clear prose, his felicity of language, his incisive grasp of contemporary issues. It strives as language as a clear pane of glass and this blog is an attempt, perhaps deeply inadequate, in that direction.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The "unglamourous, unfashionable, unmarried, unkissed Miss Boyle"
She is the latest sensation on "Britain's Got Talent" -- the British version of American Idol (with smart aleck Simon Cowell as one of the judges). She has been watched more than 20 million times on YouTube. She is a far cry from the beautifully made-up faces and washboard flat stomachs of the American Idol contestants. And she sings like a dream! Read about her here and watch and hear her sing on YouTube. (Watch for the judges' faces as she takes off!!)
Something similar happened last year with cellphone salesman Paul Potts who wowed Cowell & co with his Puccini performance. But, as some people have pointed out, the reaction to Boyle -- both before and after her performance -- was much more condescending and, probably, sexist.
ReplyDeleteRahul: The NYT article I linked to about Boyle also has a link to the Potts performance of Nessun Dorma. Anyway, I liked NYT's Sarah Lyall's slightly bitchy (about the judges) write up on this.
ReplyDeleteAnd, closer to home, there's this.
ReplyDeleteAmazing; and the judges are a hundred times more decent and gracious.
ReplyDeleteI think many lauded her as a freak. Almost a circus. An unusual collection of attributes not normally expected. The making of a silk purse out of a sow's ear. I felt bad. Her attitude and singing voice were great and she gave it her all. I liked that.
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