Posted on the SBFFII by CanadianBill

Posted on the SBFFII by CanadianBill

Thank you CanadianBill, author of the article below about Susan Boyle's Audition YouTube video:

Today, a marvelous new thread, "Susan Boyle's Enduring Legacy",  written by CanadianBill was posted on the Susan Boyle Fan Forum (SBFFII) http://susan-boyle.com/.  For almost four years,  CanadianBill has created and designed a series of beautiful, delightful, detailed posters dedicated to the career history of Susan Boyle's activities.  CanadianBill, one of the most dedicated fans on the forum, has produced many posters and pictures of Susan's many performances, trips, adventures, fan meetings, various events and etc... on the SUSAN BOYLE, CAREER HISTORY thread.  CanadianBill's thoughtful and caring blog below to Susan Boyle sums up the highlights of that most incredible time: a most amazing YouTube video, totally inspirational, as well as beautifully sung by an unknown singer, Ms. Susan Boyle.  Well written and very much appreciated, Bill. 

SUSAN BOYLE'S ENDURING LEGACY

On April 11, 2009, a 47 year old single Scottish woman's audition for Britain's Got Talent aired in the United Kingdom. Within days it had been seen by millions, and within weeks it became the most watched Youtube video of the year. While some will insist the video was manipulative and edited to best effect, there can be no question that Susan Boyle herself was entirely real.

Within nine days of the audition, videos of Boyle—from the show, various interviews and her 1999 rendition of "Cry Me a River"—had been watched over 100 million times. In spite of many being called 'the next Susan Boyle' in the following years, the truth is that none have come anywhere close to matching the speed and volume of Susan Boyle's youtube rise.

Some say 'Youtube made Susan Boyle famous' and to an extent that is certainly true. But what is more true is that Susan Boyle made Susan Boyle famous. Youtube had been around years before Susan; it has been around years since - but no other complete unknown has so captured the public's attention to the same degree.

Her audition video has been viewed on the internet several hundred million times. Almost a year and a half after it first aired, a version was reposted with the title, 'One of the Most Inspirational Videos Ever' and as of this writing that single video has over 100 million views all by itself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSrAJsWvEIc
There are in fact many 'most inspirational video' versions of Susan's audition online - this one is the most viewed.

Not a day goes by on Twitter that there aren't several tweets referring to watching the Susan Boyle audition and how inspiring it is. Some are finding it for the first time - others go back repeatedly to watch it. Even Anne Hathaway, now famous for portraying Fantine in the newest Les Miserables movie, has admitted to watching the Susan Boyle audition when she was feeling down.

And that is Susan Boyle's enduring legacy. She was not famous when she auditioned. She had not yet sold 20 million albums. Many, especially young people, see a pop star and want to emulate them - what they want is the fame and the 'glamour'. This was not the case with Susan.

Susan inspired people. She was 47 years old. She didn't look remotely like a 'star'. Yet there she was - refusing to give up on her dream - believing in herself when no one believed in her.

Teachers use her audition video to teach classes about the importance of believing in yourself, determination and the refusal to give up. There are often tweets from students 'studying the Susan Boyle audition'. Inspirational speakers use her as an example. Bloggers write about how she has inspired them in so many different ways. People have returned to university as mature students because of Susan Boyle. They have taken up painting again. They have begun to write. They have bought their first passport and begun to travel. Some of course, have dared finally to enter singing competitions.

Most will never come close to the fame and wealth Susan has achieved, but that is not the point. They will have dared to dream. To try - to live and having lived, be able to say, 'I did it, I gave it my all'. Most of us do not regret the things we did in life as much as the things we did not dare to do.

A very common tweet:
January 13, 2013
the susan boyle story...still sends shivers down my spine...just watched her first audition again...inspiring

This is Susan Boyle's enduring legacy. Long after videos like Gangham Style have been forgotten, people will be discovering, and re-discovering Susan Boyle. And many will dare to dream because of her. Following are a few examples...

Twenty Inspirational Leaders - Susan Boyle 

Lesson Learned from Susan Boyle: Live Your Dreams

Values.com Billboard 'Live Your Dreams' featuring Susan Boyle

'Be All That You Can Be'

Susan Boyle: Why Dreams Matter

What An Inspiration!

A Role Model For Everyone With A Dream

Susan Boyle: Overcoming Disabilities, Inspiring Dreams

Be Inspired By Susan Boyle

Inspirational People - Susan Boyle

The Gifted Inspirational Singer Susan Boyle