CONCERT PREVIEW
Susan Boyle
8 p.m. Oct. 26. $49.50-$125.50. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-733-5000, www.ticketmaster.com.
When Susan Boyle launched her first-ever U.S. tour earlier this month in San Diego, there’s a good chance fans could have spotted her at a burger joint.
The Scottish songstress, who burst into the public consciousness in 2009 after her surprise wowza performance on “Britain’s Got Talent,” had traveled to the U.S. only sporadically for TV appearances, but remembered the staple of the American diet as “much, much better” than in her homeland and planned to track down a burger or two.
Boyle, who visits Atlanta Symphony Hall on Oct. 26, said in a recent interview from Scotland that it took the five years between her ascension to mega-stardom and now to mount this tour because, “You have to hone your show to perfection, and five years ago wasn’t the right time.”
While Boyle is still noticeably shy and not greatly forthcoming in conversation, she’s unfailingly chipper and polite. She noted that she feels more comfortable on stage now but added, “Still, everyone gets nervous when their performance is being scrutinized.”
Boyle is touring with the same band that backed her during her European run, and her shows so far have featured 24 classic songs, including her interpretations of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” ABBA’s “The Winner Takes It All” and of course “I Dreamed a Dream,” the sweeping “Les Miserables” ballad that has become her signature since her TV talent show breakthrough.
Boyle’s new album, “Hope,” arrives Oct. 21 and offers haunting versions of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” and Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel.”
The latter song, Boyle said, was going to be one of her favorites to perform live because it was new to her repertoire, but also because of its meaning.
“It’s a very emotional song,” she said. “It has a nice melody to it and I hope it conveys what it should.”
The thrust of the album is inspiration, and Boyle chose the songs with that thought in mind.
“I hope I can be an example to someone who felt they couldn’t do something,” she said.
While nothing has been solidified yet, there are still plans floating around to turn Boyle’s life story into a movie. When pressed, she admitted with a giggle that she would like English actress Julie Walters to portray her on screen.
“It would be a bit weird to begin with,” to see her story in movie form, Boyle said. “But it would be exciting and intriguing as well. You like to see yourself as other people see you.”
On Oct. 26, that will be on stage as Boyle continues to dream her dream.
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