Susan Boyle's dream

Count Cecile and myself among the 24,958,387 who have viewed and listened to Susan Boyle's rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables. Susan was auditioning during the first round of competition for Britian's Got Talent.



Actually, I first caught her audition during last Friday's episode of "The Today Show" aired locally in Manila in Channel 19 (cable). And I would agree with the three judges and millions around the world that a star is born and Susan Boyle is now seeing her dream unfold before the world and blogosphere.

Now, here at Pancake House, along dela Rosa Street in Legazpi Village, I first introduced Chief to Susan Boyle and she was quickly glued to her video uploaded on YouTube and won her heart too!

We quickly recalled our first night in the East Coast (sometime December 2007), staying at Olwen Abergas' place along 84th Street, when he too first introduced Paul Potts to us. Olwen also showed us a short video in his mobile phone and played his music as we enjoyed dinner. Now, there are two artists who will conquer the hearts of many through their music.

Knowing Susan Boyle

Millions around the world have heard her voice and seen her perform at Britain’s Got Talent and even more at YouTube. News and commentary have been written and published about her across the globe, both from traditional media and across blogosphere.

Here are some quick facts about Susan Boyle.

1. She was born in 1961. Same as me. And 1961 is the Year of the Ox. Supposedly, our year too!

2. Her care and attention for her mother put her pursuit of singing to a stop. Her mother died in 2007 at the age of 91

3. Pebbles is the name of her ten-year old cat.

4. One British writer from “The Sun” Colin Robertson had called Susan Boyle "Paula Potts." This is in reference to Paul Potts who also rose to fame a couple of years ago. In fact, Chief recalls first hearing Paul Pott’s voice last December 2005 when we were in Olwen Abergas’ home in New York. Now, I remember that too!

5. At 48, she is the youngest of nine children and lived in the same home all her life.

6. She is not really new in the music industry as she has recorded a charity CD in 1999. The song Susan Boyle recorded was a version of "Cry Me a River. This CD was produced at a school in Whitburn, West Lothian in 1999. How many copies? Reports say, only 1,000 copies.

7. A contract is brewing with Simon Cowell’s Syco Music company label. That is definitely a hit in the making. And wont be surprised if she makes an appearance in American Idol!

8. “Never been kissed?” She says that was just a joke.

9. She announced from the stage her dream was to be like West End star Elaine Paige.

10. She is a devout Catholic.