UNITED KINGDOM: Susan Boyle's hometown prepares to celebrate her final performance

Record ID: 1494402

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Susan Boyle's hometown prepares to celebrate her final performance
  • Date: 1st June 2009
  • Summary: BLACKBURN, SCOTLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 29, 2009) (REUTERS) VIEW OF BLACKBURN, FIELDS AND COWS VILLAGE ROAD ENTRANCE WITH SIGN SIGN OF BLACKBURN (SOUNDBITE) (English) JIMMY MCEWAN, RETIRED BLACKBURN COMMUNITY COUNCILLOR, 72, SAYING "It's a bit blown out of proportion. I would say everybody has their breaking point and Susan has obviously got to hers because of the intrusion that she's not used to." EXTERIOR OF HAPPY VALLEY PUB VIEW OF HAPPY VALLEY SIGN; GOOD LUCK SUSAN BANNER ON OUTER WALL OUTSIDE OF PUB WITH LOCALS, PARKED CARS INSIDE PUB PEOPLE PLAYING POOL, "GOOD LUCK SUSAN" BANNER IN BACKGROUND POOL BALLS IN PLAY VIEW OF "GOOD LUCK SUSAN" BANNER, SCOTTISH FLAGS PICTURES OF BOYLE ON PUB WALL SEEN THROUGH SCOTTISH FLAGS WAVING PICTURE OF SUSAN BOYLE BOYLE POSTER WITH "GO SUSAN" LOCALS SITTING AT BAR LANDLADY PULLING PINT PINT BEING PULLED (SOUNDBITE) (English) JACKIE RUSSELL, MANAGER OF THE HAPPY VALLEY HOTEL, SAYING; "Susan sings karaoke in here whenever we have karaoke on but she also sings in a lot of the other clubs and pubs around in Blackburn. Anywhere there's a microphone Susan will sing. It is her life, that's all she's ever strived to do is become a professional singer." PINT ON BAR (SOUNDBITE) (English) JACKIE RUSSELL, MANAGER OF THE HAPPY VALLEY HOTEL, SAYING; "No, Susan's never had a boyfriend. She totally devoted herself to looking after her mother and sadly she passed away so she kind of withdrew into herself after that for a little while then she gave herself a shake and said well, 'I've got to try and achieve something for my life.' For herself and for her mother. Her mother wanted her to do that as well. No, there's been no boyfriends, no dirt digging." STREET AND HOUSE OF SUSAN BOYLE WINDOW OF HOUSE OF SUSAN BOYLE WITH BLINDS DOWN VIEW OF HOUSE; ROAD WITH "GO SUSAN" BANNER PICTURE OF SUSAN BOYLE ON BANNER BOYLE BANNER "GO SUSAN"
  • Embargoed: 16th June 2009 11:30
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA699SIU0ZQ5GQ78OWOFZT545TN
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: In the hometown of 48-year-old church volunteer turned internet singing sensation Susan Boyle, residents are preparing for a party, whether she wins or loses the final of "Britain's Got Talent".
    Susan Boyle's tiny industrial village in Scotland has become the focus of world attention since its local church volunteer became an unlikely global internet superstar by singing on a British talent show and wowing doubtful audiences with her amazing voice.
    Journalists flocked to Boyle's former coal mining village of Blackburn on Friday (May 29) as locals prepared parties in pubs and the local community centre, where 500 people or about a tenth of the population, were expected to watch the final of Britain's Got Talent on Saturday.
    Boyle appeared on the front page of almost every one of Britain's popular newspapers on Friday, with journalists focusing on what they said was her erratic behaviour and concerns among executives at ITV, the channel which airs the show, over her ability to cope.
    One of the show's judges said she had threatened to quit the show.
    "It's a bit blown out of proportion," said Jimmy Mcewan, a retired community councillor in Blackburn. "I would say everybody has their breaking point and Susan has obviously got to hers because of the intrusion that she's not used to."
    Other residents said there was no way Boyle would give up on what is a life-long dream.
    "Susan sings karaoke in here whenever we have karaoke on but she also sings in a lot of the other clubs and pubs around in Blackburn," said Jackie Russell, manager of the Happy Valley Hotel in Blackburn.
    "Anywhere there's a microphone Susan will sing. It is her life, that's all she's ever strived to do is become a professional singer."
    ITV bosses threatened to withdraw Boyle from the final if they thought she would be too vulnerable to perform, Britain's Daily Mirror quoted ITV insiders as saying.
    The shock of being plunged into the limelight is all the greater for the 48 year old spinster who lives alone with her cat and said she has never even been kissed.
    "No Susan's never had a boyfriend. She totally devoted herself to looking after her mother and sadly she passed away so she kind of withdrew into herself after that for a little while then she gave herself a shake and said well 'I've got to try and achieve something for my life.' For herself and for her mother. Her mother wanted her to do that as well. No, there's been no boyfriends, no dirt digging," Russell said.
    When Boyle first walked on to the talent show stage the audience laughed at her unfashionable dress sense and roughly styled hair.
    The contrast between her small village appearance and her powerful voice, singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Miserables" in April, left some of the crowd in tears and many leaping to their feet in a standing ovation. Boyle's performance made the top 5 of the most watched viral videos of all time, having been downloaded more than 150 million times.
    Boyle later returned with a full makeover and neatly coiffed side parting after the British media had referred to her as "frumpy" and "dowdy." She stunned audiences with her rendition of "Memory" from the musical "Cats" for the talent show's semi-final after overcoming her initial nerves.
    Boyle, who was born with minor brain damage, used to be taunted by local children but is now looked up to as a great success, residents said.
    A fan site dedicated to Boyle is titled "Never judge a book by its cover."
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