I was first introduced to Susan Boyle by a friend I met at the International Arts Conference in February. The link she sent said something about “Britain’s Got Talent” and had a photo of Simon swooning, as if all of Britain had finally conceded that it was actually Simon who had all the talent (he knew it all along). I hesitated to open the link because 1) I find the talent shows to be generally demeaning, more about making fun of people who THINK they have talent than finding those who do, and 2) I’m an American who automatically doubts that anyone in Britain actually has a talent, beyond herding sheep and eating pie with kidneys in it. And playing soccer.

I watched it, several times. I’m not alone, because this morning the original video had been viewed over 45 million times. Other versions had been viewed over 30 million times.

~If video doesn't work, copy and paste this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY&feature=related

I woke up yesterday to a news report that women are buying more make-up than ever before.  I lay there and thought, "Man, I already woke up on the wrong side of the bed and I haven't even pushed the covers back yet!"  As I grabbed my morning coffee and my brain began to function again, I pondered this study more.  Why are women buying more make-up than ever?  Then my husband told me to go watch Susan Boyle on you tube...  (see clip above if you haven't already).....

More than 20 million people have watched the clip of Susan Boyle singing I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables on the show Britain's Got Talent. What is it about this 47 year old woman and her unbelievable voice that moves us so?