Britain’s Underdog Idols

This past week, the web has been a buzz about Susan Boyle, the homely spinster from Britain’s Got Talent. The clip floating around YouTube features Ms. Boyle auditioning for the show, and being scoffed at for her looks. When she belts out an impressive rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserable, the judges and audience are flabbergasted at her voice and regret their initial judgment. A standing ovation and tears follow. Are people interested in her simply for her talent, or the fact that her looks distract from it?

I’m all for a good Cinderella story, but perhaps Susan’s sudden rise to fame is more about compensating the guilt of a wide-spread prejudice. Susan Boyle lacks the glamor or talent for the mainstream, but her underdog story pulls on the heartstrings of the overly saccharine nature of the show’s viewers. After all, the premise a talent-based reality show is being plucked from obscurity to be rewarded for talent. It’s a show that’s craving a narrative between the singing, and with Susan its there. She’s a a single, overweight, middle-aged woman that has claimed to have never been kissed. Suddenly the world focuses on her for her merits rather than her looks. It’s a Hallmark Channel movie in the making.

Britain’s Got Talent is a different beast than American Idol. The first season’s winner, Paul Potts, won the hearts of millions with his operatic styling. In the same vain as Ms. Boyle, Paul Potts intrigued the public with his schulby look and big voice. I can’t help but wonder if the people of Britain really enjoy that type of music or if they are perplexed by the “anomaly” of finding talented individuals that don’t look like models (Yes, that was a passive-aggressive jab at the media). I doubt any of this would fly on American Idol, which seems fixed on creating pop or country stars.

I’m sure Britain’s Got Talent has done well since Susan’s appearance. I couldn’t help but think Simon Cowell’s smirk after her performance was less about her singing and more about the millions that are going to be made from this “attractively challenged” woman. Isn’t she one make-over away from being like every other good singer out there? Exploiting controversy and turning it into a business opportunity is at the heart of any true entrepreneur. Good for Simon! Maybe Britain does have talent.

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