Susan Boyle gets a makeover by Harper's Bazaar !

'I feel like a movie star': Susan Boyle gets an incredible makeover by prestigious style bible Harper's Bazaar

By Lizzie Smith
Last updated at 1:09 AM on 07th August 2009


The word makeover just doesn't seem to do her justice.

Because Susan Boyle is a lady transformed. And while diehard fans may insist she was fine just as she was, something about her smile says she won't be going back to her old look.

The untamed eyebrows? Gone. The greying curls? Gone. The dowdy dresses? Gone.

What is left is a beautifully elegant 48-year-old woman clearly having the time of her life. Oh, and she can sing, too.


The prestigious style bible Harper's Bazaar - which is usually reserved for A-list actresses such as Kate Winslet, Jennifer Aniston and Halle Berry - completely transformed the Scottish spinster for her first ever magazine photo shoot.

Gracing the pages of the publication is something a coup for the woman who had, until now, been dubbed the 'hairy angel' because of her frizzy tresses and bushy eyebrows.

A behind the scenes look at her shoot was broadcast on U.S. TV yesterday, showing a delighted Susan saying she 'felt like a movie star'.

Susan will feature in a large spread inside the September issue entitled Susan Boyle: Unsung Hero.

A smiling Susan said: 'It really made me feel like a Hollywood actress. Had my hair done up.'


Back in April, Amanda Holden dismissed the idea of Susan getting a new look.

'I won't let Simon Cowell take her to his dentist and I certainly won't let her near his hairdresser,' she said then.

'She needs to stay exactly as she is because that's the reason we love her. She just looks like anybody who could live on your street.

'The minute we turn her into a glamourpuss is when it's spoilt. For now we'll keep her exactly as she is because that's why we've all fallen in love with her.

'I think it's the underdog thing.'

But Susan, and the owner of her record label, Simon Cowell, must disagree.

Susan who has moved from her council house in Scotland to a West London flat, said her stint in the Priory in the aftermath of the show was a 'necessary thing'.

Now, she insisted, she was 'raring to go'.

A hairdresser, makeup artist and flattering lighting are credited with creating her spectacular new look. But the new confidence, it seems, is all her own.

Laura Brown, Harper's special projects editor, was interviewed on NBC's Today Show.

'The idea behind the shoot was a very, very simple one,' she said.

'It was to take gorgeous, glamorous and sensitive portraits of her. This was her first magazine photo shoot, so you can't do too much too soon.'

Susan became an overnight sensation when her audition for the show was put on YouTube, with hundreds of millions logging on to watch her sing.


'She came on to the stage and just transfixed us all,' said Brown.

'She's become a hero to a lot of people with dreams of stardom, or who maybe have a talent but have been too scared to express it.

'And I think everyone's heart soared when they saw her sing that day.

'I think Susan is getting more and more used to being in the spotlight and being on television and being photographed.

'Since April, you've seen her look just day to day become more polished and refined. And she's growing in her confidence with what she'll wear and how she'll be perceived.


'She actually did a little bit of moonwalking in her Giuseppe Zanotti heels at one point.

'What we did on our shoot was give her a little bit of a haircut, and that was it, and a little bit of a curl.

'And actually the shape of her hair is great. She's got a really lovely curl to it.

'So we just tidied it up a little bit and paired it with some natural makeup, and she looked great.'
For more visit www.harpersbazaar.com/susanboyle.

From the Daily Mail:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1204569/Susan-Boyle-transformed-gets-glamorous-Hollywood-make--loves-it.html

Susan Boyle given Glasgow ovation

Susan Boyle received a standing ovation when she sang at the Britain's Got Talent tour in Glasgow, a day after cancelling two concerts.

Her publicist said the singer received a "rapturous" reception from the audience at the city's SECC venue.

The singer from West Lothian had been advised to rest rather than perform at two shows in Manchester on Sunday.

Boyle had previously been treated for exhaustion after coming second in the ITV1 talent show.

Publicist Nicola Phillips said the crowd in Glasgow broke into applause halfway through her performance of Memory, from the musical Cats.

She also sang I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables, the song that propelled her to international fame.

Boyle had performed both songs in Birmingham on Friday and sang during matinee and evening shows in Sheffield on Saturday.

But in the later concerts she appeared to stumble over the words to Memory and received a mixed reaction from the audience.


Concert-goers at the Manchester Evening News Arena arrived on Sunday to find notices announcing Boyle would not perform at either of the scheduled matinee or evening shows.

"She sends her sincere apologies to her fans for not appearing in Manchester," her spokesman said.

The crowd in Manchester booed after Britain's Got More Talent presenter Stephen Mulhern told the audience Boyle would not be performing, before a video clip of her "journey" was played on stage.

Ticket holders had the option of a refund if they decided they did not want to watch the show - but a spokesman for the MEN arena said only seven people asked for their money back over the course of two shows.

The arena tour, which will travel across the UK until the end of June, showcases winning act Diversity plus some of the other finalists and semi-finalists, including Boyle.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8100079.stm

Suan Boyle signs with U2 guru Ossie Kilkenny

EXCLUSIVE by Thomas Smith 6/06/2009

Man who guided Irish rock legends to riches to mastermind Britain's Got Talent star's career


Susan Boyle has signed the financial wizard who turned U2 into multi-millionaires as her manager.

Britain’s Got Talent runner-up Susan and her family have appointed legendary showbiz accountant Ossie Kilkenny to mastermind her career and capitalise on her massive fame.

The deal means that BGT guru Simon Cowell’s Syco record label will release Susan’s hotly-awaited debut album.

But it is music industry veteran Ossie, 62, who will actually manage her and organise her finances to ensure that every deal she signs is as lucrative as possible.

Angel-voiced Susan, 48, and her family held a summit last month with Ossie, who flew from his Dublin base to meet Susan’s family in Blackburn, the tiny West Lothian village where she lives in a council house with her cat Pebbles. The meeting was organised by London entertainment and media lawyer Kirsty Foy – who is Susan’s niece.

Kirsty, 40, approached Ossie – who has also worked with acts including Tina Turner, The Verve, Bryan Adams and Van Morrison – to get independent career advice for Susan.


On Friday Susan met with bosses at Syco, an off-shoot of Sony, accompanied by one of Ossie’s representatives. A well-placed source said: “Susan wants to work with Simon but she and her family have also chosen to bring in Ossie Kilkenny as manager. So the record will be with Simon’s label, but Ossie will look after her management.”

Yesterday, a beaming Susan flew home to Scotland for the first time since last Saturday’s shock result, which saw Susan beaten by dance troupe Diversity.

She waved to fans at Edinburgh Airport, then was driven home for an emotional reunion with Pebbles.

It was all a far cry from last Sunday when Susan, who has minor learning difficulties, was admitted to London’s Priory Hospital suffering from nervous exhaustion.

She left the clinic on Thursday and is now much happier and relaxed.

She is now expected to take part in the BGT tour, which begins on Friday, and will soon enter the recording studio to start her album.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/06/06/suan-boyle-signs-with-u2-guru-ossie-kilkenny-115875-21420369/

Susan Boyle Moves Up

By DAVID STRINGER
The Associated Press
Monday, May 25, 2009; 1:18 AM


LONDON -- Surprise singing sensation Susan Boyle made a new television appearance, showcasing once again her soaring voice _ but refusing to compromise on the frumpy look that made her an Internet sensation.

The shy church volunteer gave a rousing, but occasionally nervous, performance on the "American Idol"-style show "Britain's Got Talent," with a version of the song "Memory" from the musical "Cats."

Members of the public voting in a telephone poll picked her as the best of eight performers who appeared Sunday, meaning she will sing again in the contest's final next Saturday.

Flashing a broad smile, Boyle danced in delight as results were announced and said she had relished the chance to perform. "Fantastic, absolutely fantastic," she said. "What pressure? I've really enjoyed myself tonight."

Wearing a plum colored beaded dress _ and a touch more makeup than during her last performance _ but with the same unruly shock of hair, Boyle overcame early jitters to deliver a powerful vocal.

Producers said the 47-year-old's appearance was being posted on the Internet almost immediately, after about 60 million people watched her last performance via YouTube.

In her first performance last month, judges who'd raised eyebrows at Boyle's dowdy image were won over by her bold voice and surprisingly confident performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" from the musical "Les Miserables." The sometimes awkward looking Scot won praise from celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey and Demi Moore, and even won a mention in her favorite cartoon "The Simpsons."



On Sunday, the show's judges and audience rose to their feet to applaud, but those posting comments to the Twitter Web site appeared divided. While some hailed her performance, others appeared underwhelmed.

Bookmaker William Hill has made her a runaway favorite to win on May 30.

Contestants are competing to perform at Britain's annual Royal Variety Show _ attended by members of the royal family _ and win a 100,000 pound ($159,000) prize.

The singer, who lives alone with her cat Pebbles in one of Scotland's poorest regions, said before Sunday's performance that she wouldn't transform her appearance. "I just want people to see me for who I am, and do my best at singing the song, that's what I am focusing on," she said.

Boyle, who says she's never been kissed, grew up the youngest of nine children in Blackburn, a community of 4,750 people 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of Edinburgh, in Scotland, and a district blighted by unemployment and crime. She suffered learning difficulties as a child and was bullied by other children.

As an adult, she's struggled for work but had been a regular on her local karaoke circuit and performed in church choirs.

In an interview with The Associated Press at her home last month, she said the death of her mother had inspired her to enter the TV talent show.

"I wanted to show her I could do something with my life," Boyle said.

___

On The Net:

Britain's Got Talenthttp://www.itv.com

Boyle tells Oprah 'make-up is no makeover'

Published Date: 12 May 2009
By BRIAN FERGUSON
SCOTTISH singer Susan Boyle last night appeared on one of the world's best known television shows – and denied claims her unlikely fame has led to her having a makeover.
The 47-year-old church helper, who shot to fame after wowing the judges on her audition on Britain's Got Talent, was interviewed by Oprah Winfrey live by satellite from her home in Blackburn, West Lothian.





Producers added subtitles after fearing
viewers would not understand her accent. She
told the chat show queen how she was "slowly getting over" her overnight rise to celebrity status, after more than 100 million internet viewings of her TV debut.

But she said her newfound fame, after several failed attempts to win local talent contents, was "like a dream come true". The spinster was quizzed on a special edition of the long-running chat show last night, which also featured an interview with talent show mogul Simon Cowell, one of the judges on Britain's Got Talent.

Ms Boyle, who famously claimed to have "never been kissed", revealed a close pal had helped her improve her appearance, but insisted it was not a makeover. She told Oprah: "I said to my best friend, 'How's about you do my make-up?' That's hardly a makeover."

Though she has had her hair cut and coloured, she insisted it was not part of a dramatic transformation plan.

Ms Boyle told the show she started singing when she was just 12 and revealed that music helped her to cope with a learning disability. "I was a slow learner at school, so getting something like singing was a good way of hiding behind that and boosting my confidence."

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Boyle--tells-Oprah-39makeup.5255870.jp

Now it's Oprah singer Boyle

Published Date: 09 May 2009
By JOHN INNES

SINGING sensation Susan Boyle has scored an interview with the biggest name in daytime television, according to US reports.
The 47-year-old Scot is to chat with talkshow host Oprah Winfrey via satellite from her West Lothian home as part of a talent show special.

The New York Daily News reported that Boyle will be interviewed as part of an episode
titled The World's
ot Talent to
be aired in the US on Monday.

Viewers will be taken on a tour of the contestant's home and may be treated to a song.

A film crew was in attendance at her house in Blackburn yesterday.

Boyle has emerged as an international star after wowing Britain's Got Talent judges with her performance of I Dreamed A Dream from the musical Les Miserables.

Online video clips of the unemployed Blackburn church volunteer's performance on 11 April have been viewed more than 100 million times and she counts Hollywood actress Demi Moore among her supporters.

Boyle is favourite to walk away with the ITV1 show's £100,000 jackpot after wowing the audience and judges on her original appearance, and said she would be humbled to perform in front of the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance – another part of the winner's prize.

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Now-it39s-Oprah-singer-Boyle.5250911.jp

Sexist reactions to Susan Boyle

What Clark Collis, the author of the piece below failed to point out is that the way people have been reacting to Susan's Boyle's looks are not just unkind reactions because she does not meet the modern standard of beauty in the West but because we still live in a very sexist society. Very unconventional looking men like Lyle Lovett and Sean Penn actually use their unconventional looks to propel them to stardom but women are still expected to look like Barbie.

Susan Boyle - A Star Is Born?

A 47-year-old church volunteer from West Lothian has become an unlikely overnight singing sensation with millions watching her perform online.

Susan Boyle, from Blackburn, stunned judges on ITV's Britain's Got Talent with her performance of I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables on Saturday.

Since then Hollywood actress Demi Moore has joined the legions of fans who have voiced their support on the internet.

Ms Boyle has now become the bookies' favourite to win the talent show.

Ms Boyle, who told viewers she had "never been kissed", said she had always wanted to be a singer.

She said: "I entered the competition because I wanted to have a chance at my singing.

"I found it very nerve-wracking to begin with but once I settled down and began to sing, I thought that the audience accepted me a bit more. Then I sort of relaxed and began to enjoy it.

Ms Boyle, who is currently unemployed, is a keen church-goer and community worker who is well-known for her Karaoke performances.

She said: "It all began for me at age 12, when I used to sing in choirs and school concerts. Then after that when I got older I was singing in clubs."

Hollywood fans

Her performance on Saturday has received more than 5m hits on You Tube.

Among those who have clicked to watch are Ghost star Demi Moore and her husband Ashton Kutcher.

He sent her a message on the micro-blogging service Twitter saying: "This just made my night."

Her entry read: "You saw it made me teary!"

After Ms Boyle's audition performance at Glasgow's Clyde Auditorium she is now tipped to beat 75,000 other applicants to the Britain's Got Talent prize, a chance to perform at the Royal Variety Performance.

Tom Kerr, West Lothian's Provost, said: "We would like to add our best wishes for the next stage of the competition.

"Susan has clearly wowed the audience, the judges and the world with a truly fantastic performance.

"Now tributes from across the globe are flooding in, including from Hollywood star Demi Moore.

"And with millions of hits on You Tube, Susan has put Blackburn, West Lothian, firmly on the map."

http://www.show-and-stay.co.uk/theatre-news/susan-boyle-20396.html

John Martyn Dies Aged 60 (1948–2009)

Singer-songwriter John Martyn has died at the age of 60.

The folk, blues and funk artist was widely regarded as one of the most soulful and innovative singer-songwriters of his generation.

He was born in Surrey but grew up in Glasgow. He was appointed an OBE in the New Year Honours.

A statement on his website on Thursday said: "With heavy heart and an unbearable sense of loss we must announce that John died this morning."

The musican, who passed away in hospital in Ireland, has been cited as an influence by artists as varied as U2, Portishead and Eric Clapton.
He was unique and we'll never see the likes of him again. I loved him dearly and will miss him very much
Phil Collins

He was regarded as a maverick within the music industry and battled with drugs and alcohol throughout his life.

He collaborated with many musicians throughout his life, including Phil Collins, and his song May You Never was covered by many artists - including Clapton.

Phil Collins paid tribute to his "infuriating" friend.

He said: "John's passing is terribly, terribly sad. I had worked with and known him since the late 1970s and he was a great friend.



"He was uncompromising, which made him infuriating to some people, but he was unique and we'll never see the likes of him again.

"I loved him dearly and will miss him very much."

Born Iain David McGeachy in Surrey in 1948, he spent his much of his formative years at his father's home in Glasgow following the divorce of his parents.

He moved to London in his late teens and became a fixture at Les Cousins - the Soho club at the centre of the city's folk scene, which also spawned the likes of Ralph McTell, Bert Jansch and Al Stewart.



He was the first white act to be signed to Chris Blackwell's Island Records, and recorded his debut album, London Conversation, for £158 in 1968.

Many of his albums - especially Solid Air, released in 1973 - are regarded as classics.

In 2003, he had to have his right leg amputated below the knee after a cyst burst, and in his latter years he performed from a wheelchair.

He regularly performed in Scotland - a place he considered home - and appeared in concert at last year's Celtic Connections festival.




John Martyn dies aged 60
British musician John Martyn has died aged 60. Our writer recalls a prickly encounter and examines his legend and his legacy.

John Martyn 11th September 1948 - 29th January 2009
By Colin Irwin
Last Updated: 9:12AM GMT 30 Jan 2009
Refused to play the music business game: John Martyn

Singer and guitarist John Martyn had a reputation that always preceded him. A rebel in all senses, he railed against every musical cliché and genre straitjacket they tried to pin on him – annihilating the genre barriers between folk, blues, jazz, rock and avant-garde as he bullishly rejected attempts to tame him and mould him into a sellable product.

The trappings of fame and celebrity held no interest for him, which is why one of the greatest, most exhilarating and innovative British albums of the past 50 years - 1973’s Solid Air - remains largely unrecognised by the general public. Martyn not only refused to play the music business game, he took great delight in giving the industry a bloody nose whenever he could. The same bohemian sense of daring which made his music so thrilling also made him one of rock music’s most notoriously problematic characters. He didn’t suffer fools gladly and liked journalists even less.

Tales of his drunken rants and ornery behaviour were legendary. Whenever his name was mentioned as a possible interviewee at music-press editorial meetings there would be a dash for the exit. As a callow young recruit on Melody Maker in the early-1970s I was the lamb sent to the slaughter around the time of the release of Outside In, his free-form follow-up to the relatively melodic, folk-jazz fusion Solid Air.

We met at the offices of Island Records in West London – I in fear and trepidation and he bored and truculent, clearly at loggerheads with a label seemingly unenamoured of his stridently anti-commercial new direction. Solid Air included the classic love song May You Never (covered by Eric Clapton) and Island was anticipating more of the same. But what they got was a furious burst of modern jazz improvisation, electronic experiments and slurry vocals.

Time has come to view Inside Out more sympathetically, but back then it got a pasting from the critics. Martyn made no attempt to disguise the fact that he regarded me as the enemy. He mumbled flippantly when asked to explain why his music had changed so radically. This, he said, was where his head was at right now. His heroes were jazz musicians and he had no interest in his previous work, positively wincing when reminded of his own early days on the folk scene.

Yet when I got up to leave he shook my hand, smiled warmly and thanked me for my time. It was a surreal moment that left me thinking well of him. I last saw Martyn a year ago, a huge figure in his wheelchair receiving a lifetime achievement gong from Phil Collins at the BBC Folk Awards. He played May You Never that night with Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones and the beauty of the song lit the place up. The backstage gossip was that he was as cantankerous as ever. Would we have wanted him any other way?


***********************************************************************************

I will miss him. Goodbye John! This is a early recording of his folk years. It is still my favorite.



http://www.johnmartyn.com/

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/29/john.martyn.dies/index.html