Reality Show Singing Sensations
Susan Boyle, Lawrence Beamen, Barbara Padilla are celebrities
Sep 24, 2009
Ever wondered how a single song could change someone's life?
Susan Boyle's I Dreamed a Dream
In what must be one of the most, if not the most remarkable success story in reality show history, a global celebrity was born.
In her first appearance on the Britain's got Talent season 3 audition, Susan Boyle appeared an unlikely contender for the title. There were murmurs (perhaps of derision) in the audience at her dowdy looks, plain clothes and rather untidy hairstyle. It was evident that as a church volunteer she was not a highly trained singer. Yet there was something about her voice that moved people like never before. Suddenly people woke up to the fact that the youtube video had been downloaded a few million times.
Susan Boyle never really surpassed her first performance, although she scored again with song selection with Memory (from the musical Cats) during the semifinal round. In the finals she chose to repeat her audition song, and lost out to street dance group Diversity in the final race. But her fame had spread far and wide, and she was invited to perform during the finals of America's Got Talent Season 4 in Las Vegas.
Lawrence Beamen's Old Man River
Lawrence Beamen appeared downright nervous during the auditions, though he had no reason to be. He was clearly a trained singer who knew what he was doing. With his deep powerful voice, fantastic range and voice control, he bowled over the crowds in no time. But while he was voted through to the finals, he was regarded to have only an outside chance of winning due to his down to earth attitude. He too could not overcome the heights that he had reached in the audition rounds, and though his song selection was good it lacked the initial electrifying effect .
Barbara Padilla's Ave Maria
Barbara Padilla was regarded as one of the favorites to win the recently concluded America's Got Talent, and with good reason. Her prayer like performance during the semifinals, her angelic appearance brought the judges and audience to their feet. Even her flowing white gown, and the fact she had to helped down the stage with her robes, added to the effect. Apart from her phenomenal talent, she was a survivor of a deadly disease.
They did not win the crown, but made their mark in history. In fact Amazon reported that Susan's Boyle first album, due to be released in November, had more preorders than Whitney Houston's latest.
