Susan Boyle's honorary doctorate was awarded ' in recognition of her contribution to the creative industries' and 'for the relevance of her work to society at large'.
When Susan Boyle appeared on Britain's Got Talent in 2009, she became almost instantly world famous, thanks to her performance of 'I Dreamed A Dream' from Les Miserables which then appeared on YouTube. Via word of mouth, news of her performance quickly spread and it became the most viewed YouTube video of the year. In fact, to this day, no other performer has so quickly reached 90 million views as Susan did.
She did not win the show, but placed second. She went on to tour with the BGT show a few weeks later, performing in 22 of 28 shows on the tour.
She then immediately recorded her first album, which became the best selling album of 2009 in just six weeks, and the best selling debut album by a female in history. She also became the oldest person in history (48) to have her debut album open at #1. Susan won the 'Gold Disc Award' for top international artist in Japan, and the 'Golden Chinese Music Award' as most influential international artist in China. Her second album, 'The Gift' made her the first woman in history to have her first 2 albums open at #1 on both sides of the Atlantic within one year. She also became the first woman in USA charting to reach #1 on Billboard 200 with a holiday album Her third album, 'Someone to Watch Over Me', made her the first woman in 65 years of UK charts to have her first three albums debut at #1 in less than 2 years. Her first three albums have all placed in the top 5 on Billboard 200, USA. Her first two albums have both received Grammy nominations. She was the best selling UK artist in the world in both 2009 and 2010. In her first 14 months alone, she sold 14 million albums and Sony presented her with a huge plaque to honor the achievement. To date (less than 3 years) she has over 120 platinum and gold records in 38 countries with sales estimated between 18 and 20 million.
In Scotland she has twice won 'Scot of the Year' competitions and was presented with an 'Outstanding Achievement' award at the 2011 Scottish Variety Awards.
Along with such success, she performed throughout Europe, Japan, China, Australia and the USA. She released an autobiography. In 2012 a stage musical about her life opened. Titled 'The Susan Boyle Stage Musical, I Dreamed A Dream', it toured for 11 weeks and received excellent reviews from both the critics and audience members across the UK and Ireland. It starred Scottish actress Elaine C Smith, with Susan appearing at the end at some performances, singing two songs. The musical will reopen in Scotland in the fall, with future dates to be announced.
The 3 writers of the song, 'I Dreamed A Dream' and the producer of Les Miserables, are all on record crediting Susan with reviving interest in Les Miserables. After a very long run around the world, ticket sales had been in serious decline with some theatres considering closing the show. After the astounding coverage she received via YouTube, ticket sales soared around the world. Lyrics writer Alain Boublil said in fact, that for Les Mis, Susan Boyle was 'a gift from heaven'. Alain Boublil Music Ltd. granted Susan Boyle the rights to use the song and the title in the musical about her own life; it is not difficult to understand why.
It would be impossible now to count the views of Susan's original audition video, so many versions have been uploaded, some have been withdrawn. However, in October, 2010, almost a year and a half after it first aired, a version was uploaded titled 'One of the Best Inspirational Videos Ever' and to date has received over 62 million additional views all by itself. Many people have been inspired by Susan's courage in the face of adversity, and there are endless blogs to prove it, relating how people have returned to university as mature students, begun writing/painting/singing, etc, or even begun to travel late in life, all because they have been inspired by her example.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSrAJsWvEIc
Susan has also in her very short public life been involved extensively in a number of charities. We can know only those which use her face/appearance or name - what she does privately of course we can't know, but her public record is already extensive.
In 2010 with less than a year of professional experience under her belt Susan performed live before a crowd of 70,000 people and an internet/television audience estimated at one billion at the Papal Mass in Scotland. She has also performed for and been presented to the Prince of Wales, and the Queen - at Windsor Palace for her Diamond Jubilee.
And all of this is because she dared to dream a dream. And never gave up.
When Susan Boyle appeared on Britain's Got Talent in 2009, she became almost instantly world famous, thanks to her performance of 'I Dreamed A Dream' from Les Miserables which then appeared on YouTube. Via word of mouth, news of her performance quickly spread and it became the most viewed YouTube video of the year. In fact, to this day, no other performer has so quickly reached 90 million views as Susan did.
She did not win the show, but placed second. She went on to tour with the BGT show a few weeks later, performing in 22 of 28 shows on the tour.
She then immediately recorded her first album, which became the best selling album of 2009 in just six weeks, and the best selling debut album by a female in history. She also became the oldest person in history (48) to have her debut album open at #1. Susan won the 'Gold Disc Award' for top international artist in Japan, and the 'Golden Chinese Music Award' as most influential international artist in China. Her second album, 'The Gift' made her the first woman in history to have her first 2 albums open at #1 on both sides of the Atlantic within one year. She also became the first woman in USA charting to reach #1 on Billboard 200 with a holiday album Her third album, 'Someone to Watch Over Me', made her the first woman in 65 years of UK charts to have her first three albums debut at #1 in less than 2 years. Her first three albums have all placed in the top 5 on Billboard 200, USA. Her first two albums have both received Grammy nominations. She was the best selling UK artist in the world in both 2009 and 2010. In her first 14 months alone, she sold 14 million albums and Sony presented her with a huge plaque to honor the achievement. To date (less than 3 years) she has over 120 platinum and gold records in 38 countries with sales estimated between 18 and 20 million.
In Scotland she has twice won 'Scot of the Year' competitions and was presented with an 'Outstanding Achievement' award at the 2011 Scottish Variety Awards.
Along with such success, she performed throughout Europe, Japan, China, Australia and the USA. She released an autobiography. In 2012 a stage musical about her life opened. Titled 'The Susan Boyle Stage Musical, I Dreamed A Dream', it toured for 11 weeks and received excellent reviews from both the critics and audience members across the UK and Ireland. It starred Scottish actress Elaine C Smith, with Susan appearing at the end at some performances, singing two songs. The musical will reopen in Scotland in the fall, with future dates to be announced.
The 3 writers of the song, 'I Dreamed A Dream' and the producer of Les Miserables, are all on record crediting Susan with reviving interest in Les Miserables. After a very long run around the world, ticket sales had been in serious decline with some theatres considering closing the show. After the astounding coverage she received via YouTube, ticket sales soared around the world. Lyrics writer Alain Boublil said in fact, that for Les Mis, Susan Boyle was 'a gift from heaven'. Alain Boublil Music Ltd. granted Susan Boyle the rights to use the song and the title in the musical about her own life; it is not difficult to understand why.
It would be impossible now to count the views of Susan's original audition video, so many versions have been uploaded, some have been withdrawn. However, in October, 2010, almost a year and a half after it first aired, a version was uploaded titled 'One of the Best Inspirational Videos Ever' and to date has received over 62 million additional views all by itself. Many people have been inspired by Susan's courage in the face of adversity, and there are endless blogs to prove it, relating how people have returned to university as mature students, begun writing/painting/singing, etc, or even begun to travel late in life, all because they have been inspired by her example.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSrAJsWvEIc
Susan has also in her very short public life been involved extensively in a number of charities. We can know only those which use her face/appearance or name - what she does privately of course we can't know, but her public record is already extensive.
In 2010 with less than a year of professional experience under her belt Susan performed live before a crowd of 70,000 people and an internet/television audience estimated at one billion at the Papal Mass in Scotland. She has also performed for and been presented to the Prince of Wales, and the Queen - at Windsor Palace for her Diamond Jubilee.
And all of this is because she dared to dream a dream. And never gave up.
Comment