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Susan’s Performance on Oprah
20th January 2010
Susan’s trip to Chicago was possibly the most exciting event of her career to date. She was there to perform on one of the most coveted television shows - ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show.’
Susan first “met” Oprah during the early days of her BGT adventure via satellite so she was particularly thrilled to be able to appear in person this time around. Susan says, “I had spoken to Oprah before and she was a very, very lovely lady. So I was really looking forward to meeting her again.”
At 8:00 AM that morning, Susan sat for makeup in her hotel room. She had a simple breakfast of tea and a muffin. At 10:30, Susan and her team left the hotel and arrived at Harpo Studios where the show is filmed. Her dressing room was, as always, a peaceful haven. Susan’s rider is simple: some sandwiches, some hot water, honey and lemon - and some cakes, which were snapped up very quickly by her team!
While the machinery which is typical of every television performance geared up on stage - checking lights/cameras/rehearsing the choir/orchestra tuning up, etc. - Susan spent a happy hour warming up her voice.
At 1:30 PM Susan was ready; dressed in her beautiful rouge noir layered dress and matching wine-colored shoes. “I feel really nice,” she said, smoothing her new chic hairstyle, “I am nervous - I have butterflies, I hope I don’t disappoint.”
She needn’t have worried. Oprah, now on set, began her introduction, citing Susan as the fastest selling debut female artist ever. The atmosphere in the famous studio was palpable. Oprah spoke to some fans who had travelled to see Susan. There were some tears as they talked of how Susan symbolized hope to everyone and was the spark plug in their lives - in particular, those who perhaps felt they were too old to realize their dreams. Susan, they said, was living proof that everyone could have a second chance at life.
On this emotional note, white ethereal curtains were lifted to reveal Susan standing in a circle of light. Her rendition of “Who I Was Born To Be” was utterly beautiful and uplifting, and the ovation she received afterward was all Susan needed to let her know that she most certainly did not disappoint!
Next, Susan hopped up onto a chair for her chat with Oprah. Oprah, famous for her searching and emotionally charged interviewing techniques quizzed Susan on everything - from how she had arrived at the BGT auditions all those months ago, through her troubled times and out the other side to Susan’s life now and her dreams for the future. Susan treated her audience to a “Boyle” wiggle and all too soon the interview was over.
As Susan left the set, a crowd of producers, researchers, runners, fans, and record label executives had gathered and treated Susan to a glory walk with applause and happy cheers. Her Oprah performance was a triumph in every sense. Susan had captured hearts all over again.
“How did I do?” she asked quietly, in the privacy of her dressing room five minutes later. “You did great!” Was the response. Susan merely inclined her head and smiled a warm, pleased smile. “Did I enjoy it? Well, I was very nervous but once I began to sing that all lifted away and I felt every note. And I liked the interview very much - Oprah is a very clever lady and it feels good to be challenged. I loved it.” She then went on to ask:
“So, what’s next? Bring it on!”
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