Scottish singing sensation

[McClef]

My mistake Trefor I thought she would have to perform to advance to the semi-finals. I see now that they just narrowed the field to the top 40. Thanks for the link, even though it's in my favourites it still sends chills even after dozens of time viewing.

Yes they review all the 200 acts they passed at audition to see if they feel the same and how strongly and narrow down to 40, seemingly losing the enthusiasm they originally felt for some of the acts but they also have to try to keep a balance of the different kinds of acts so some of the more unusual ones still got through whilst the the competition was keen for well represented types.

They still get a voice though at this stage as only the highest voted for act goes through to the final and they have to choose which of the two next highest should go through. Susan isn't home and dry yet so please all those who can vote in the UK do so!

[ccga3359]

Susan isn't home and dry yet so please all those who can vote in the UK do so!

At this point the contest is pretty moot for her. Within a week she had 100 million hits on youtube. No doubt Simon's already signed her to a contract, and she is more famous than Elaine Paige. Outside of Britain few have ever heard of Paige but the world knows Susan. She's no doubt realized her dream beyond her wildest imaginations. Can't wait for her first CD or even tonight's contest.

[McClef]

Susan came top of the vote so she is in the final on Saturday!

She sang "Memory" from "Cats."

[thanmuwa]

Susan isn't home and dry yet so please all those who can vote in the UK do so!

Alternatively, you could give your money to a worthy cause eg a charity instead of the "Simon-Cowell-isn't-quite-rich-enough-yet fund" .

[McMurdo]

Here is the video


As for sending money to a charity instead, I don't really understand the comment, the call costs 50p and 15p from every call goes to the Royal Variety Charity, so you are in fact sending money to charity.

[skauwt]

Alternatively, you could give your money to a worthy cause eg a charity instead of the "Simon-Cowell-isn't-quite-rich-enough-yet fund" .

i agree with you there Simon cowel is making money outta most country's with his idol show this is just another way of money making for him ,either way all the best to the contestants

[thanmuwa]

As for sending money to a charity instead, I don't really understand the comment, the call costs 50p and 15p from every call goes to the Royal Variety Charity, so you are in fact sending money to charity.

So 35p goes to Simon Cowell and 15p goes to charity. For every pound the charity gets, Simon Cowell gets £2.33. Obviously there are running costs etc, so the exact split would be slightly different, but the point is still the same. Put another way, would you put 10 dollars in a charity bowl if you had to give nearly twenty five dollars to the guy with the Rolex and Armani suit standing beside you at the same time?
Or would you prefer to choose your own charity and know that 100% of your money was going to it? And that you could choose a cause that was close to your heart? Unless of course one's chosen cause was making rich people richer, maybe if that was the case one could just give the whole 50p straight to Simon, cut out the middleman?

The 15p is just there as a salve for consciences and to foil the complaints that people would have about paying to vote on one of these things if they thought that all their money was being pocketed. I would place a very large wager that there were consultancy firms that decided very carefully what the absolute minimum charity donation % should be that would maximise "donations" by allowing people to fool themselves that they were supporting a good cause rather than mostly lining someone's pockets...

Forgive me if I seem cynical, perhaps I am just jealous that someone else managed to figure out how to get people to send them millions of pounds for practically no reason before I did! Does anyone want to buy some old rope? I also have 10 million dollars in an account in Africa that I can send to you for just $100,000 in administration fees! How about for just 20p you can tell me what your favourite tartan is, with 10 tartans eliminated per week until the grand tartan final! 5p of that goes to support a charity for ye olde retired tartans!

[McMurdo]

I do see what you are saying, the truth of the matter is that people will generally get caught up in these types of things because of the talk around the water cooler etc. at least the 15p is going to charity. Lets face it I'm sure it's not just Mr. Cowell that is getting rich off this I wonder how much Bell gets for their part in it. For my part I donate when I can to foundations like the Canadian Cancer Society, as my twin brother has cancer, and yes I would rather send my money there. We do have the same type of show here, or did anyway I'm not sure I never called in, but the thing is with all the press Susan Boyle has been getting worldwide, it's no wonder people want to vote for her. Like it or not this is, if nothing else brilliant marketing, and with the amount of people willing to phone in with their 50p donation I am sure the Royal Variety Charity is quite happy with their 15p each call.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

So 35p goes to Simon Cowell and 15p goes to charity. For every pound the charity gets, Simon Cowell gets £2.33. Obviously there are running costs etc, so the exact split would be slightly different, but the point is still the same. Put another way, would you put 10 dollars in a charity bowl if you had to give nearly twenty five dollars to the guy with the Rolex and Armani suit standing beside you at the same time?
Or would you prefer to choose your own charity and know that 100% of your money was going to it? And that you could choose a cause that was close to your heart? Unless of course one's chosen cause was making rich people richer, maybe if that was the case one could just give the whole 50p straight to Simon, cut out the middleman?

The 15p is just there as a salve for consciences and to foil the complaints that people would have about paying to vote on one of these things if they thought that all their money was being pocketed. I would place a very large wager that there were consultancy firms that decided very carefully what the absolute minimum charity donation % should be that would maximise "donations" by allowing people to fool themselves that they were supporting a good cause rather than mostly lining someone's pockets...

Forgive me if I seem cynical, perhaps I am just jealous that someone else managed to figure out how to get people to send them millions of pounds for practically no reason before I did! Does anyone want to buy some old rope? I also have 10 million dollars in an account in Africa that I can send to you for just $100,000 in administration fees! How about for just 20p you can tell me what your favourite tartan is, with 10 tartans eliminated per week until the grand tartan final! 5p of that goes to support a charity for ye olde retired tartans!

Actually Mr. Cowell doesn't get nearly that much from the phone calls. Generally the service provider (presumably BT) gets 60% of the charge; Royal Variety Charity gets 15%, with Mr. Cowall receiving the rest, or 25%. Of that 25% roughly one third is eaten up by collecting and processing the data received, and in auditing the BT returns, leaving Cowell with about 20%, before taxes (Mr. Cowell pays what-- 50%?), so he's probably making about the same as, or a bit less than, the Royal Variety Charity.

So who is the worse here? Cowell, who is sharing his telephone earnings on a more or less 50-50 basis with a charity, or the cynics who lacked the talent, foresight, and business acumen to tap into the market Mr. Cowell has found?

In my experience people tend to spend more each week down at the pub than they give to charity-- that being the case, Mr. Cowell seems to be doing the right thing, as much as some may envy-- and resent-- his ability to do it.

[Une]

That is one lady who will get my vote