Susan Boyle Achieves Another Honor

Back in April of 2009, an unknown amateur singer named Susan Boyle appeared on a television talent show in Great Britain.   She became world famous overnight as the video of her appearance (singing "I Dreamed A Dream" from Les Miserables) went viral on the internet.   In November of that year she released her first CD and it sold over 9 million copies worldwide.

The Scottish singing phenom now has another claim to fame.   A couple of days ago it was announced that she is in the Guinness Book of World Records.   She has three entries in the famous book of records.   Her records are for:

- having the fastest selling album by a U.K. female

- having the largest first week sales of a U.K. debut album (411,820)

- being the oldest person to reach number one with a debut album (48 y.o.)

Ms. Boyle called it a "real honour" to be in the famous record book.   She said,   "I used to read this book as a wee girl.   I never dreamt that one day I would actually appear in the Guinness Book of Records."

I am happy for Ms. Boyle.   It's good to see a nice person like her make it big.

Susan Boyle Album Is Top Seller

This is a feel-good story for me, and I suspect many others. It seems that Susan Boyle's miraculous journey is not yet over. Her first album has just been released, and it has become the best-selling debut album in UK chart history. So far, 410,000 copies of the album have been sold.

Simon Cowell, one of the judges on the TV show Britain's Got Talent (where she was discovered), said he was proud of her and the success couldn't have happened to a nicer person. He said, "She did it her way and made a dream come true. In Britain's Got Talent she opened her mouth and the world fell in love with her, which is why her album has been the fastest selling of any woman making her debut."

And it looks like the album is poised to do the same in the United States. The album may well break the record for first week sales in the U.S. (set in 2009 by Eminem).

This is a marvelous story. Too often, record companies pass up real talent for sexy, pretty or handsome singers who need studio help to make the grade. Ms. Boyle has smashed all those preconceptions.

It would behoove record producers to pay more attention to true musical talent and creativity, and less to a performer's looks. After all, if we want something sexy, we can always rent a porno.

And for those of you wondering what to get an old blogger for christmas -- a Susan Boyle CD would do nicely.