Dear Susan,
I am a 74-year-old writer. I am not someone who ordinarily goes crazy over celebrities; there's too much 'idol worship' in our world. But when I first heard your voice on April 15 -- a friend sent me an e-mail with the link to the video clip -- I was electrified. Since then I have listened to and watched that video again and again, usually with tears streaming down my face. And I have read blog entries until my eyes are fried! :-)
And I have written pages and pages in the notebook by my bed, trying to analyze just what it is about your performance that has so captivated and enraptured the world. Here is some of what I think so far.
Unlike nearly every other singer who gets the attention of a large audience, you walked out on that stage in Glasgow with no gimmicks; no glitz; no garish costume or makeup. Absolutely nothing at all to detract or distract from the one thing you were bringing to the audience -- your voice. And through your voice, you were sharing your soul.
As I wrote and wrote (weeping and weeping), I realized that you were REMINDING us of something. You were reminding us of something that we have lost, somewhere along the lines of our lives. Your simplicity, warmth, openness, human authenticity, sense of humor, heart, and the sheer, pure beauty of your voice have communicated with something in the depths of us, inviting us to return to ourselves, too. Reminding us of what we have lost or devalued or thrown away in the course of our lives.
Some of the blogs I have read about you have been mean and negative. Not constructive criticism, which I'm very sure you can readily accept, but just nasty. Others want you to curb your exuberant enthusiasm and humor and be more 'lady-like'. Disregard all of that; even good Christian women can be funny and sexy and spontaneously silly! And many more of them should be!
Never, ever forget, as you get caught up in the whirlwind of fame and fortune, that it was Simply Susan Singing who first enchanted the world. That's who we fell in love with.
Thank you, Susan, for all the singing you have done since you were 12 years old. For singing in church. For singing in school and other amateur productions. For trying out in talent contests. For getting lessons and training to become a professional singer, even though the world ignored you until you were nearly 48 years old. Thank you for never giving up. And thank you for bringing that gift you tended all this time out into the world now. God bless you and grant you your heart's desire.