SuBo bigger than U2 and Springsteen – and debut album's not even out yet

Published on Thursday 22 October 2009 22:15

THE debut album by Susan Boyle – the Scottish singer who became an overnight global celebrity after appearing on a TV talent show – has become the most pre-ordered release in the history of Amazon.

The online retailer said yesterday it was "thrilled" by what it described as the unprecedented demand for Ms Boyle's recording debut, which is not out for another month.

The eagerly awaited collection is expected to sell millions within days of its release, possibly breaking other records, and has been widely tipped to top the British charts over the Christmas period.

Amazon's US pre-order charts have always been the domain of major and long-established international acts such as U2, Bruce Springsteen and Coldplay. Ms Boyle's rise to fame, however, has surpassed even these.

Amazon.com senior music manager Craig Pape said there had been a strong initial wave of interest in Ms Boyle.

That was prompted by clips of her appearances circulated on the video-sharing website YouTube – her performance of Cry Me A River has to date been viewed more than 100 million times – and the demand has not waned since.

Although Amazon did not provide statistics detailing exactly how many sales it had taken, Mr Pape said: "We're thrilled by how passionate Susan Boyle's fans have been.

"Although it's normal to see early enthusiasm for artists who have come off of television shows, the response from our customers to Susan Boyle's upcoming album has been unprecedented." The 48-year-old from Blackburn, West Lothian, shot to fame in April after finishing as runner-up on ITV's Britain's Got Talent. Following fears over her health and her ability to cope with new-found celebrity, she has maintained a low profile for the past six months.

But Ms Boyle has taken the first steps on a promotional tour for her album, entitled I Dreamed a Dream, appearing before a television audience of millions on America's Got Talent.

She is expected to guest-star in an upcoming episode of The X Factor, and there has been speculation that she will perform before a celebrity-studded audience in An Audience with Susan Boyle, as part of ITV's Christmas schedule.

Such is the scale of the "SuBo" phenomenon in the United States, where Ms Boyle remains a major talking point, that Amazon has created its own Susan Boyle store, a mini-site set up in anticipation of the merchandise likely to follow her album.

Although her profile in her homeland has diminished somewhat, the appeal of her debut remains strong, with the album sitting at No 3 on the pre-order chart of Amazon.co.uk.

The album, which will be released by Sony Music Entertainment, features 11 cover versions and one new song, Who I Was Born to Be, which was written especially for the former church volunteer.

The tracks comprise a mixture of musical, rock 'n' roll, gospel and pop hits. They include a cover of Wild Horses, made famous by the Rolling Stones, Madonna's You'll See, Daydream Believer, and hymns Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art.

I Dreamed a Dream will be released worldwide on 23 November. The cover features a black and white portrait of Ms Boyle wearing a sequined jumper.

From Blackburn to Kensington – a star's life in two very different worlds

SINCE she became a household name the world over six months ago, Susan Boyle and her management have attempted to keep a low profile – at least, that is, until the release of her album.

Ms Boyle has not been resident in Scotland for some time. She still pays rent for her council house in the West Lothian village of Blackburn, but has been staying in a flat in Kensington, London, paid for by Simon Cowell's record label, SyCo, which is producing her album.

She has free use of a BMW, complete with driver, and is attended to by staff. They include two minders, Nicola Phillips, a public relations officer who used to work for Max Clifford, an assistant who manages her diary and a housekeeper. Since suffering exhaustion in June, she has had her cat, Pebbles, for company.

In the United States, she is looked after by Alex Kadis, a SyCo employee whose title is Susan Boyle Project Manager.

She has returned home several times, with the press never far behind. In August, she was photographed with a fish supper from her favourite takeaway, Valente's, in Bathgate.

She recently visited friends and family, taking in a concert by Spandau Ballet in Glasgow.

Precise details of her record contract, including renumeration, are unknown, but it is understood the contract allows for a series of albums.