Susan Boyles dream still in the making

There are numerous variations of the Cinderella story all over the world, but nothing

Singer Susan Boyle is back with a Christmas album called “The Gift.” The 49-year-old says that anyone can fulfill their dreams with drive and determination, something she learned a year ago on the stage of the U.K. TV program “Britain’s Got Talent.”
/ Courtesy of SonyBMG

‘People like me exist all over the world and sometimes our determination is not allowed to be brought out.’

By Han Sang-hee

There are numerous variations of the Cinderella story all over the world, but nothing quite touches the heart like the tale of Scottish singer Susan Boyle.

Although the 49-year-old made her first television appearance just over a year ago, she has already become a household name around the world and also has popular albums to prove that it wasn’t just publicity that pushed her to the top.

Boyle’s new Christmas album “The Gift” topped the Billboard charts in both the United Kingdom and the United States, while her debut album “I Dreamed a Dream” was the fastest selling U.K. debut CD of all time. It sold some 701,000 copies in the first week in the U.S. — the best opening week for a debut artist in over a decade.

“It’s a bit breathtaking, you know,” she told The Korea Times through an email interview.

“For me, it’s not about album sales or chart positions. It is that the people buying my music are enjoying it. They are the ones who will hopefully keep me in this business for years to come. I don’t want it to end and I want them to keep enjoying my music,” said Boyle, who has been nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album.

Her appearance on “Britain’s Got Talent” was inspirational for everyone; from elder ladies with big dreams, young aspiring singers striving to become the next big thing, to all the other dispirited yet talented diamonds in the rough.

Not only were they touched by her songs and voice, but by her life story and personality as well.

And yet the star feels humbled by the attention. “It makes me feel very humble. The whole idea is to make people feel happy with my music and that seems to be happening. And also, probably it is just the idea of me being this very ordinary person. Not too eccentric, I hope. People like me exist all over the world and sometimes our determination is not allowed to be brought out,” Boyle said.

“The Gift” consists of 10 tracks, mostly Christmas carols such as “The First Noel” and “O Holy Night.”

Instead of adding pop elements and twisting the songs Boyle focused more on tradition and kept them calm and soothing.

The album was produced by Steve Mac, who has worked with Westlife, Leona Lewis, Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken and also with Boyle on her debut album. Boyle explained that working with such a talented songwriter and producer certainly brought out her talent and influenced the way she looked at songs and the way she sang them.

“Steve Mac is a clever guy who knows exactly how to get the best out of me. Sometimes he’ll ask to hear the songs sung in a slightly different way so that he has a range of options; I find it really interesting and exciting to stretch to that type of challenge.”

Suddenly becoming the talk of the music world, let alone the talk of the town, can be overwhelming and at first, and the singer initially struggled from all the intense attention from around her.

“The studio is my sanctuary. To return to it, well it feels like home away from home. The studio is like being inside a bubble and a place I can step away from the worry of life. As soon as I put the cans (headphones) on I know that I am safe.”

Her main priority may be the United States and Europe, but Asian fans have also shown great support over the year. Although she has not visited Korea yet, she expressed her gratitude toward local fans.

“Words can’t describe the amazing support I have had from the fans in Asia. I’m very touched by the encouragement and loyalty and I hope I can continue to deliver the goods for them. There’s not really a lot I can say except thank you for the support.”

Boyle started her career through a TV talent search program, but her experience was more than having her inner talent and dream uncovered and appreciated.

After 18 months of fame, performances, fans and traveling around the world, how does Boyle see herself now?

“I’m just an ordinary woman that showed a bit of determination on that day and this is what happened out of it,” she said.

“If you don’t have that determination or you don’t feel like you are allowed to show it in some way, then you maybe need someone to look at who did have it. Just an ordinary person like you. It’s about having drive and determination.”

And a tip for those who are planning to buy or listen to “The Gift.”

“My favorite track is ‘Don’t Dream it’s Over’ because the dream is continuing and I’d like it to continue,” she said.

So do her fans.