Susan Boyle had a dream. She dreamed of fame and stardom from her modest English village. She sang along to her well-worn copy of the Les Miserables soundtrack, dreaming of the day that she would perform for someone other than her cat. Perhaps it would be a local talent show or a church fete. It was a simple dream, the kind of dream that Frank Capra made movies about.
Unfortunately, Susan Boyle’s dream did not end with a plastic talent show trophy. We live in a world dictated by the shallow wasteland of reality TV, which has become the new Frank Capra. Instead of watching good hearted underdogs played by Gary Cooper or Jimmy Stewart, we get Susan Boyle.
Let’s be honest, Susan Boyle got a record deal because she is middle aged and frumpy. If she was remotely attractive, people would see her for what she really is. She is a competent singer who can hit the notes on the page. She can’t do anything beyond the bare minimum.
I Dreamed a Dream is a mix of standards, hymns and familiar pop songs. The choices range from puzzling (The Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses”) to painfully mundane (“Amazing Grace”). Each cut is arranged like an overwrought Broadway ballad. There are mountains of syrupy strings and other unnecessary clutter. Boyle is Ethel Merman’s charisma impaired British cousin, belting out the songs without applying any meaning to the lyrics.
Listen to her version of “Wild Horses.” The original is spare and somber, with a focus on the acoustic guitar and Jagger’s vocals. Jagger is tired and weary, but he is confident about his love for the unnamed woman. By recasting the song as a Broadway showstopper, everything is lost. Boyle claims that wild horses couldn’t drag her away, but there is nothing in her performance that proves it. She hits high notes, but the blues aren’t about high notes. The song requires passion and experience, which she obviously doesn’t have.
The same goes for The Monkees’ “Daydream Believer.” The original works because of its simple charms. Like many ‘60s pop songs, the arrangement is complicated, but the message is easy to grasp. Davy Jones can’t hit unbelievable high notes, but he brings a nervous energy to the song. Boyle’s version is much slower, more dramatic. She hits the high notes. A fun song has been transformed into an excruciating ballad.
Boyle sings four songs quite well. She nails “I Dreamed a Dream,” “Amazing Grace,” “How Great Thou Art,” and “Silent Night.” She pulls them off because those songs are about the notes on the page. You can dress “Amazing Grace” up all sorts of ways, but it’s still all about the sweet sound that saved a stupid wretch.
As of this writing, I Dreamed a Dream is the fastest selling debut in British history. The media is trying to spin this as a triumph of substance over style. In reality, it’s just a way for people to convince themselves they have depth. It’s altruistic to root for an ugly heroine. Behind the frumpy exterior and the ability to hit every note on key, I Dreamed a Dream is an average talent show setlist. Congratulations America, you’ve been duped.