Attention Enya, Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion, a new torch singer is born in Susan Boyle and revealed more thoroughly on her much anticipated debut album, I Dreamed a Dream.
Who Is Susan Boyle?
Susan Boyle is the humble lady from Glasgow who moved the world with her viral video of her performance on the TV show Britain’s Got Talent, in January 2009, when she sang I Dreamed a Dream, from the musical Les Miserables. Susan Boyle’s performance on Britain’s Got Talent has been viewed over 79 million times on youtube.com at this time.
Why Is Susan Boyle so hot?
The reason this video is so moving is that Boyle’s frumpy appearance is in great contrast to the magnificent and moving voice of Susan Boyle. The reaction of the judges confirms our reaction upon first hearing Susan sing. The feeling creates goose bumps and that hair-standing-up-on-the-back-of-your-neck feeling that comes along when you know you are in the presence of something powerful and pure.
I Dreamed a Dream, the Album
Susan Boyle’s new album is going to be a hit just in time for holiday shopping. I was a little hesitant about seeing "Wild Horses" as the first song on this album, but Susan manages to make this song, and all of the other songs on this album, her own. If you loved Susan on Britain’s Got Talent, you will love her first album and probably buy several copies to give away to friends and family.
More Than a Torch Singer
"Cry Me A River", the 3rd cut on I Dreamed a Dream, reveals Susan’s ability to go bluesy and jazzy. Boyle gets out of her torchy comfort zone and creates a riveting interpretation of this song originally written for Ella Fitzgerald. Susan Boyle also gets bluesy in her versions of "Up To the Mountain" and "Amazing Grace."
Symphonic and Lush
There is some rich symphonic orchestration on I Dreamed a Dream, most notably in "You’ll See" and "I Dreamed a Dream". Other tracks are more spare in their layering and production and this contrast provides a quality listening experience.
I Dreamed a Dream for Holiday Lounging
I don’t recommend I Dreamed a Dream as a romantic, fireplace album to play, (leave that to Luther Vandross), but I do recommend Boyle’s album as good music to listen to when you want to relax and lounge around your living room during the holidays, especially. The closing track of Dreamed is "Silent Night", making this album doubly appropriate for the holiday season.
