Posts : 83868 Points : 89950 Join date : 2010-10-25 Age : 74 Location : NYS
Subject: Susan's Image Fri Apr 08, 2011 2:25 pm
Whether or not we like it or not, Sony has presented an image of Susan. That image is an entertainer whose appeal is to a conservative and family audience. This is called branding in the industry. Recently, even Susan acknowledged this in an interview. Given that the tabloids and paparazzi are ALWAYS on the lookout for ANY sort of information that could hurt Susan, or possibly even her image; it would behoove everyone who cares about Susan, to not take any actions that might harm that image. SOMETHING that everyone in authority should contemplate!
Whether or not we like it or not, Sony has presented an image of Susan. That image is an entertainer whose appeal is to a conservative and family audience. This is called branding in the industry. Recently, even Susan acknowledged this in an interview. Given that the tabloids and paparazzi are ALWAYS on the lookout for ANY sort of information that could hurt Susan, or possibly even her image; it would behoove everyone who cares about Susan, to not take any actions that might harm that image. SOMETHING that everyone in authority should contemplate!
I don't like it. What happened to the spirited, sassy Susan we saw in the early days? I want her back, and I want to see HER, not the airbrushed image, on stage and in the studio. That's what I thought I was going to get when I watched her audition back in April of 2009! That's what I thought most people found attractive about her, too: energy, humor, sass, cheek, attitude.
toplass
Posts : 4288 Points : 4868 Join date : 2009-09-20 Location : UK
I don't like it. What happened to the spirited, sassy Susan we saw in the early days? I want her back, and I want to see HER, not the airbrushed image, on stage and in the studio. That's what I thought I was going to get when I watched her audition back in April of 2009! That's what I thought most people found attractive about her, too: energy, humor, sass, cheek, attitude.
Here, here BoH
Lovin' Every Minute
Posts : 5255 Points : 5473 Join date : 2009-09-22 Location : Connecticut, USA
I don't like it. What happened to the spirited, sassy Susan we saw in the early days? I want her back, and I want to see HER, not the airbrushed image, on stage and in the studio. That's what I thought I was going to get when I watched her audition back in April of 2009! That's what I thought most people found attractive about her, too: energy, humor, sass, cheek, attitude.
Here, here BoH
Absolutely. The Susan who made us all say, "You go, girl!"
nevermore
Posts : 7502 Points : 7545 Join date : 2011-02-16 Location : near New York City
I don't like it. What happened to the spirited, sassy Susan we saw in the early days? I want her back, and I want to see HER, not the airbrushed image, on stage and in the studio. That's what I thought I was going to get when I watched her audition back in April of 2009! That's what I thought most people found attractive about her, too: energy, humor, sass, cheek, attitude.
Whether or not we like it or not, Sony has presented an image of Susan. That image is an entertainer whose appeal is to a conservative and family audience. This is called branding in the industry. Recently, even Susan acknowledged this in an interview. Given that the tabloids and paparazzi are ALWAYS on the lookout for ANY sort of information that could hurt Susan, or possibly even her image; it would behoove everyone who cares about Susan, to not take any actions that might harm that image. SOMETHING that everyone in authority should contemplate!
There are about a dozen "Holy shits!" that are at odds with Susan's squeaky clean image.
skywriter
Posts : 4066 Points : 4183 Join date : 2010-05-09 Age : 77 Location : Kentucky
Boh, you read our minds! Fortunately, Susan is chipping away at that Sony marketing image: her duet with Peter Kay, her upcoming guest spot on C. Rab Nesbitt, which I'm dying to see, and her occasional lapses into "holy shit!" colorful language. But in fact she really doesn't give the tabs much to work with. No addictions (chocolate doesn't count), no torrid love affairs (maybe she's just keeping them private, we can hope) and she doesn't even drink. She's so squeaky clean the only thing The Daily Trash papers could ever find to yammer about was her "fragile" mental state, and even that doesn't work anymore. With the press, the cynics, and the critics, Susan seems to have "won them 'round."
In general, I don't think Susan minds appealing to a family audience, except for singing with a drag queen, appearing on a salty TV show, and doing whatever else she wants to do. She'll be so charming no one will be able to resist. The conservative label (at least politically in the US) might not be such a good fit. Very wisely, Susan wouldn't say whom she voted for last time, but Blackburn goes Labour overwhelmingly in every election, her daddy was a union man, she was dirt poor until two years ago, and none of her cultural tastes or social attitudes seem at all conservative to me. I really don't worry about Susan.
But when I hear about her "largest" fan site being unable to account for money it receives, which it has solicited from members, its doubtful claim to be non-profit, and its apparent inability to protect members' private information from hacking by its own mods, then I worry. Susan deserves to have a fan base free from that kind of sleaze.
toplass
Posts : 4288 Points : 4868 Join date : 2009-09-20 Location : UK
But when I hear about her "largest" fan site being unable to account for money it receives, which it has solicited from members, its doubtful claim to be non-profit, and its apparent inability to protect members' private information from hacking by its own mods, then I worry. Susan deserves to have a fan base free from that kind of sleaze.
Well said Sky
skywriter
Posts : 4066 Points : 4183 Join date : 2010-05-09 Age : 77 Location : Kentucky
Oh, sorry, when I read the title about Susan's Image I thought some of the faithful had seen her image on the inside of a tree or in a muffin, or in a cloud or something. Ah, well, maybe another day!
terijay
Posts : 26071 Points : 26230 Join date : 2009-10-07
I do agree with the OP- however, since May of 2009 when Susan went off on an F-Bomb tirade to the press and in private watching Piers praise a competitor, it is clear she is not the little "Snow White" which Sony tries to crack her up to be. I think she said all the Holy Shits on purpose a couple weeks ago, and knew full well she was being videotaped, for a REASON. If not, she would have said it ONCE not seven times- i think she also thru a "what the hell" in there as well!! Therefore, I am re-thinking my original distaste at having that video be maybe seen by paps or media. She maybe does not WANT this holier than tho image anymore-- just IMHO
Whether or not we like it or not, Sony has presented an image of Susan. That image is an entertainer whose appeal is to a conservative and family audience. This is called branding in the industry. Recently, even Susan acknowledged this in an interview. Given that the tabloids and paparazzi are ALWAYS on the lookout for ANY sort of information that could hurt Susan, or possibly even her image; it would behoove everyone who cares about Susan, to not take any actions that might harm that image. SOMETHING that everyone in authority should contemplate!
I don't like it. What happened to the spirited, sassy Susan we saw in the early days? I want her back, and I want to see HER, not the airbrushed image, on stage and in the studio. That's what I thought I was going to get when I watched her audition back in April of 2009! That's what I thought most people found attractive about her, too: energy, humor, sass, cheek, attitude.
Well we know that Andy had a meeting with Sony this morning. and some of us wrote emails explaining that not all Susan's fans are ultra conservative Christians. We do like let the lassie sing, but they've used that against us. I hope they hear us and realize that yes, she can sing Christian hymns but put it on a separate CD....
Ok. I'm outties for the day. Going to take advantage of this spring air and go for a walk.
But when I hear about her "largest" fan site being unable to account for money it receives, which it has solicited from members, its doubtful claim to be non-profit, and its apparent inability to protect members' private information from hacking by its own mods, then I worry. Susan deserves to have a fan base free from that kind of sleaze.
Well said Sky
janakimack
Posts : 10861 Points : 11460 Join date : 2009-10-09
My take on Susan's image is that just when everyone thinks they've got her taped, she'll go off on a tangent to show them that they haven't got her taped. She is a free spirit!!!
dyebat
Posts : 3864 Points : 4047 Join date : 2010-08-19 Location : Illinois, USA
For the Christmas album, I think Sony wanted a strong religious image of Susan. But I suspect they and/or Susan' management are now gearing up for a more "cool" image of Susan for the next album. I also think the release of Holy Shits were calculated, as was the "headbanging" at her birthday party, and the more relaxed style of her SVA awards outfit by a young Scottish designer, instead of the Victorian gowns of the queen's designer. So was the Kay duet and the upcoming Nesbitt cameo. Both of these images are consistent with Susan's personality as we know it; it's only a matter of emphasis.
Sassy, I'd also like to know who reported the Andy/Sony meeting.
For the Christmas album, I think Sony wanted a strong religious image of Susan. But I suspect they and/or Susan' management are now gearing up for a more "cool" image of Susan for the next album. I also think the release of Holy Shits were calculated, as was the "headbanging" at her birthday party, and the more relaxed style of her SVA awards outfit by a young Scottish designer, instead of the Victorian gowns of the queen's designer. So was the Kay duet and the upcoming Nesbitt cameo. Both of these images are consistent with Susan's personality as we know it; it's only a matter of emphasis.
Sassy, I'd also like to know who reported the Andy/Sony meeting.
Have to agree with you Dyebat. Susan has had time to get comfortable in her skin and now is expressing herself in her own manner without the "fear" of it all ending. I'm hoping it has sunk in just what an impact she has had across the world and that her CD sales wer not a fluke. She needs some more diva lessons although she's too down to earth to go too diva on us after all she did tell of a transatlantic fart.
matty
Posts : 153 Points : 155 Join date : 2009-11-07 Age : 80 Location : N.W. England
Subject: Re: Susan's Image Sat Apr 09, 2011 12:50 am
janakimack wrote:
My take on Susan's image is that just when everyone thinks they've got her taped, she'll go off on a tangent to show them that they haven't got her taped. She is a free spirit!!!
I suspect you are right, Jana. Susan is a free spirit, but I seriously doubt that she will defy her management or record label to declare "independance"...she seems to be enjoying the experience without the fan's input into her repertoire or career direction...I do wish sometimes her fans would give just a little credit to her record label for her success so far, and not be so possessive over her...that seems to be like the "tail wagging the dog", jmho , and that applies to this site as well as "elsewhere. Just let her be, that's all I am saying.
Subject: Re: Susan's Image Sat Apr 09, 2011 3:59 am
matty wrote:
janakimack wrote:
My take on Susan's image is that just when everyone thinks they've got her taped, she'll go off on a tangent to show them that they haven't got her taped. She is a free spirit!!!
I suspect you are right, Jana. Susan is a free spirit, but I seriously doubt that she will defy her management or record label to declare "independance"...she seems to be enjoying the experience without the fan's input into her repertoire or career direction...I do wish sometimes her fans would give just a little credit to her record label for her success so far, and not be so possessive over her...that seems to be like the "tail wagging the dog", jmho , and that applies to this site as well as "elsewhere. Just let her be, that's all I am saying.
You bring up a good point about her record label. We do put our desires in the mix and don't really know where Susan wants to go.
fudgemeister
Posts : 83868 Points : 89950 Join date : 2010-10-25 Age : 74 Location : NYS
Subject: Re: Susan's Image Sat Apr 09, 2011 5:04 am
I think I have to clarify something here. In NO way am I for the branding of Susan. I would hope you know me by now. I was an early proponent at ew to get back to the Susan whose singing we loved. I just want them to "let her sing". I was trying to make another point, but , even I realize now, that , I did not succeed at that task. Oh well, win some, lose some.
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: Susan's Image Sat Apr 09, 2011 6:55 am
fudgemeister wrote:
I think I have to clarify something here. In NO way am I for the branding of Susan. I would hope you know me by now. I was an early proponent at ew to get back to the Susan whose singing we loved. I just want them to "let her sing". I was trying to make another point, but , even I realize now, that , I did not succeed at that task. Oh well, win some, lose some.
I understood that you yourself were not stating that you favored that kind of "branding" of Susan. I just wanted to take the opportunity to make it crystal clear to anyone reading this thread that many of us strongly DIS-favor it. I get the impression that Sony is trying to appeal to what they think is Susan's main fan base, a religiously and culturally conservative subculture. Nothing could be further from the truth: Most of the people I've talked to about Susan Boyle found her wit and personality and energy to be the attraction, along with her amazing voice.
Thus we should do anything we can do to emphasize, as often as needed till the point is taken, that her management and PR team do NOT need to "bowdlerize" Susan to make her acceptable to the music-buying public. Quite the contrary. On the other hand, if they continue down the pablum path, airbrushing and coaching Susan into a meek and mild cardboard cutout of a woman, they most certainly will alienate a good number of fans who have been patiently waiting for the lively energetic Susan of the auditions to reappear. In which case, said alienation will be reflected in the reduced sales of future albums.
CattyWumpus
Posts : 1657 Points : 1749 Join date : 2009-09-21
Subject: Re: Susan's Image Sat Apr 09, 2011 8:44 am
I recall that in the early days of Susan's fame (perhaps during the BGT Tour?) Niall O'Dowd wrote one of his Irish Central columns announcing that he had identified the characteristics of the audience that she appealed to--middle-aged/older, very religious women in the U.S. Of course his observations were based on the fans who gushed over his columns and who responded to other news articles about her. A few responded that they didn't fil that mold, but by then the usual gang of repeat posters had gelled and there were many replies saying that he was spot on.
Susan was a new phenomenon and Sony tried to figure out her appeal to make the most of it. They thought that description was the answer. Unfortunately the most vocal Susan fans do seem to fit that pattern, so grab all the attention. So much for market research as a scientific undertaking.
Home 
What happened to the spirited, sassy Susan we saw in the early days? I want her back, and I want to see HER, not the airbrushed image, on stage and in the studio. That's what I thought I was going to get when I watched her audition back in April of 2009! That's what I thought most people found attractive about her, too: energy, humor, sass, cheek, attitude.
