I think the fascinating thing about the story of the success of the audition of Britain’s got Talent contestant Susan Boyle is that it’s an example of content “going viral” in both old and new media in concert. Basically a feedback loop created between the two. When it was aired it was viewed by 10 million people. And then YouTube quickly added an additional 30 million to that mix, which was picked up by TV news here in the states (and abroad) which added uncounted more views (definitely in the 10s of millions) which then drove people back to YouTube. It’s the perfect storm in terms of viral content.
And poor YouTube doesn’t make any advertising money off of it.
No wonder Hulu is kicking their butt.
In a related note, I wanted to embed the video here in the post, but YouTube has taken down the ability to embed “by request”… I wonder if that’s the request of Britain’s got Talent (which would be pretty stupid since they are getting REAMS of free publicity on this one, all thanks to YouTube) or the request of YouTube executives who are watching their hosting costs being driven through the roof right now…
I wonder how many woman are as pissed as I am that everybody made such a deal that a “non glamorous” woman has talent and a great singing voice. The original reaction to her was disgusting and the amazement really annoying. Why shouldn’t a woman who is 47 and not a movie star style looker have a wonderful singing voice and style? Sheesh!
I think you may be the only one.
Actually, I have no idea. And I haven’t watched her performance, so I don’t really know how it was perceived or what made it viral… although I assume a big part of it is that our youth addicted culture obviously has a hard time accepting a frumpy older woman as a potential pop star. Well, probably has a hard time accepting that a frumpy older woman has ability as well.
Yay for us!