Introducing the shock of your life

Thank you Kevin for posting a link to this on Facebook so I could be inspired.

Those of you who haven’t yet seen this video will (I’m sure) think I’m exaggerating when I say that I have never been more shocked at anything on YouTube.  Susan Boyle lives at home with her cat – never been kissed, almost 48 years old and unemployed. Her assertion that she wants to be a professional singer seems totally absurd and actually earns an eye roll from Simon. Like most people watching this video for the first time, I laughed at her intro, and kind of felt sorry for her and the fool she was about to make of herself. You can see the smug ridicule pouring from the judges faces as she stands alone on that stage, reflections of looks this woman has probably endured her entire life. Then she sings:

Click Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Two seconds into her song I had a HUGE smile plastered on my face. I was in utter disbelief the next 3 minutes as such an amazing voice flowed from such an unlikely package. I wanted to stand up and cheer for her. After the performance, I did a little research to find the lyrics to her beautiful melody. The poignancy of the words made her song even better for me.

There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time
Then it all went wrong

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dream to shame

He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came

And still I dream he’ll come to me
That we will live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I’m living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.

The passion in Susan’s singing demonstrates (at least to me) that she’s had a little experience with life killing her dreams. No doubt this is not the first time she’s faced immediate judgement when proclaiming her desire to become a vocalist. Almost more unbelievable than her voice is the fact that she seems genuinely suprised at the positive response from the judges. It’s as if she’s heard “no” so many times – she can’t fathom that she’s hearing “yes”. It seems crazy that someone this talented acts like she doesn’t realize her own gift. Unfortunately, in the world of music, there aren’t many opportunities for talented people who don’t fit the image “necessary” to create a pop icon. Rarely have I felt such an intense desire to see someone succeed as I currently have for this woman.  I’m not really sure what the prizes are for “Britain’s Got Talent”, how likely it is she’ll win, or if it would even be the best thing for her to do so. One thing I am positive of – Susan Boyle has inspired me to never give up on my dreams. Even if it takes 47 years to see one come out of slumber into the real world.