Since appearing on the third season of Britain’s Got Talent singing “I Dreamed a Dream” from the musical Les Misérables, Susan Boyle’s name has been plastered all over television and newspapers. She has captivated people throughout the world. But what is it about Susan Boyle that fascinates us?

Boyle does not meet the standards of what a singer should look like in our current world. With her bushy eyebrows, frizzy brown hair, and frumpy image the audience was skeptical when she first walked across that stage. I was even surprised myself when I first heard her sing. Like others when I first looked at her appearance, I assumed that whatever came out of her mouth would sound really bad. My jaw literally dropped just by hearing the first few notes of her singing.

What fascinates us about this woman is her voice—it’s strong and in tune but it does not match her appearance. As excellent as her singing was, unfortunately it is her appearance that has come into question and has become controversial. Boyle does not fit the stereotypical image of an entertainer.

The old saying “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder” has become a cliché but it still rings true even for today. What is beautiful to one person may not be for another. But the media has set the standard and defines what beauty is. In show business looks do matter. The problem is that many “everyday” people do not meet these ideal standards. And Susan Boyle is one of them.

You can’t deny that she has talent but it’s unfortunate that the entertainment business is all about having the perfect face and body. It shows how superficial our society is. You can’t place a universal standard to beauty.

But when you really think about the role of a singer it’s not about the looks—it’s the voice that matters. Singers should be known for their voices. A singer should be judged upon singing abilities alone and not physical attributes. The business has always been about voice but over time image has played an increasing role.

Boyle recently responded to her appearance on Britain’s Got Talent saying, “I know what they were thinking, but why should it matter as long as I can sing? It’s not a beauty contest.”

She is right; it’s not a beauty contest or a modeling competition. If I’m going to listen to a song by a person I don’t care about the singer’s looks but it’s the voice and whether it stands out—making hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It seems rare to find the kind of singing that captivates me because it’s not about the voice anymore.

When Boyle stepped out of the shadows and onto the stage Boyle knew the question of her appearance would come into play. Boyle said in London’s The Sunday Times, “I heard people say things that weren’t very friendly. I knew what they were thinking. I saw people laughing and I knew they were laughing at me. But I thought, well, they’ll soon shut up when they hear me sing. And they did. I’ve never thought my voice was outstanding but I’ve always known I was a good singer.”

Well how does a person who can sing actually get into the business and what stops them from entering? First the singer has to look good. A singer has to embrace the public with her looks, style, and fashion. This is how they sell themselves. The image is what markets the singer, as well as talent. The singing voice is secondary. This is the music video age where the world sees singers on their television screens and they have to have both the looks and the voice—the whole package. People do care about the voice these days but it’s the looks that sells and makes the singer a star. The catch is that the entertainment business sets the standard of what beauty is and whoever matches that can enter. Perhaps The Buggles were correct as they appeared as MTV’s first video singing “Video Killed the Radio Star.”

If a female singer does not look like a Jessica Simpson, Rihanna, or Beyoncé then it’s a struggle for them to make it into the business. The media has talked about giving Susan Boyle a makeover and altering her looks. Giving her a makeover is OK with me, if that’s what she wants, but there is more talk about the image that she should portray instead of the voice that she carries.

In The Sunday Times Boyle said, “For now I’m happy the way I am—short and plump. I would not go in for Botox or anything like that. I’m content with the way I look. What’s wrong with looking like Susan Boyle? What’s the matter with that?”
In 1999, Boyle used all her savings to pay for a professionally made demo tape sending it to record companies, radio talent competitions, local and national TV, and a few copies to close friends. Her two songs “Cry Me a River” and “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” which were sung 10 years ago are now all over the Internet and can be heard by the world.

I have to admit that when I first heard them my jaw dropped open again even more then her performance of “I Dreamed A Dream.” Her vocals and pitch in those two songs are clear and pure.

I’ll end with a cliché that I know you heard before (probably in reference to Boyle): You can’t judge a book by its cover. The value of what we see is not always obvious because we are looking at the surface—the outward appearance, but not deep inside that person, knowing the hidden treasures that they hold inside.

Brian Seay is an intern for the New River Voice.