Susan Boyle – Internet Hype Or The Real Deal?

Boyle, who hails from Blackburn, a small village in Scotland, wowed the audience, judges – including the notorious hard to impress Simon Cowell – and the world this weekend with her rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” from the musical “Les Miserables.”

But is she really that good? Or are we only paying attention because of her frumpy hair and dress, bushy eyebrows and the fact that she says she’s never been kissed and lives with her cat Pebbles?

In an article on the HuffingtonPost.com, Tamar Abrams writes that “When a beautiful, under 30-something sings like an angel, she can become an American Idol. When a dowdy, homely 47-year-old woman sings beautifully, it is headline news. …

“The problem is that recognition of her talent is directly proportionate to her lack of good looks and youth. What does it say about the civilized world that our expectations for greatness are diminished when people are unattractive and/or old?”

She wraps up the article by writing, “Let’s applaud Susan Boyle’s talent – not in spite of what she looks like, but because it’s an amazing talent.”

The Chicago Tribune wrote that, “Some question the authenticity of Cowell’s and other staffers’ stunned reactions. Others ask whether her voice is really good or just ‘good, considering.’ (Most observers, including me after a third listen, are coming down on the side of really good.)

“But there’s no denying the power these talent-lurks-everywhere shows have to make us all a little more awake to possibility.”

The Washington Post ran a piece in which Jeanne McManus, a self-described cynic, wrote that although she hates the song and hates “Les Miserables,” she “could not take my eyes off Susan Boyle, and I could not stop listening to her poised, pure notes, her perfect enunciation, her self-assured emotion.”

Since the “Britain’s Got Talent” audition aired on Saturday, Boyle has been interviewed in the U.K. press and featured on NBC’s “Today Show” and CBS’s “The Early Show.” CBS sent a crew to Boyle’s Blackburn home and had her sing a capella from her living room. Broadway star and Tony Award winner Patti LuPone, who sang “I Dreamed a Dream” in the original London cast of “Les Mis,” listened in and gave her two cents.

LuPone said that she cried after watching Boyle’s YouTube clip. She explained that the performance sounded pretty powerful on YouTube and said that she can imagine what it was like live on British TV. She added, “Susan has so much courage and so much pluck.”

Boyle told the U.K.’s Mirror that she wasn’t pleased with her appearance on TV, “They say that television makes you look fat and it certainly did. I looked like a garage. It was mortifying to see and a bit of a shock. I didn’t realise I could reduce people to tears and I hope it wasn’t because of that.”

She was happy with her performance, adding, “I’m proud to be part of the show. It really is a dream come true.”

Boyle has just made it through to the second round of “Britain’s Got Talent” so her journey on the show is far from over. The winner of the competition gets to sing for the queen at the Royal Variety Show.

“Whatever comes my way, I am ready. It would be lovely to sing for the queen. There would be less of the carry on from me, and more of the singing,” Boyle told the show’s Web site. “She is a very regal lady, very nice, so I would be nice too, and just get up there and give it a bit of wellie (try).”

Boyle told the Mirror Cowell is interested in signing her to his record label and that she’s already had a meeting with Sony BMG – but that she’s taking baby steps.

So, what do you think? Does Boyle deserve all the recognition for her talent or is she just being celebrated because she was first laughed at for her appearance? Would you buy her record? Should “American Idol” start accepting applicants over the age of 30?

Watch Boyle’s performance here.

Read the HuffingtonPost.com article here.

Read the Chicago Tribune article here.

Read the Washington Post article here.

Watch the CBS “The Early Show” clip here.

Read the Mirror article here.