I admit it -- I'm slow on pop culture. Susan Boyle, the dowdy contestant on "Britain's Got Talent" wowed cynical judges and audiences with her singing more than two weeks ago and I discovered her today -- so I sound like I'm following the bandwagon.

First of all, I hate reality television shows, so my antenae wasn't tweaked when Ruby Friedman wrote that Susan Boyle had more props than Madonna. I thought she was talking about a singer/songwriter from L.A. And then from a link posted on CNET, of all places, I finally experienced what the brou-ha-ha is all about.

I've been replaying it all night -- because even though I don't know Susan Boyle, she could have been the perfect muse for my song, "I like the Freaks." My favorite part is two seconds into her singing Simon Cowell's eyebrows shoot up and throughout her singing he had a childlike smile on his face as if he was receiving a gift.

Before that, he looked a little disgusted when she mentioned she was 47. After her performance, the other two judges kept saying how they and the audiences were "against" her and that people were laughing at her. Ms. Boyle remained poised and took it in stride. Perhaps she was used to changing minds already.

What I wonder is why were audiences and judges so cynical about her before she opened her mouth? Ms. Boyle was confident before she entered stage right -- she said she would "rock" the audience. Clearly she has confidence in her ability and Bridget and I discussed today how wonderfuly comfortable she is with herself.

I think it's because we have a notion that entetainers --especially singers -- must look a certain way ala Jessica Simpson and her sister Ashley, who certainly have carved themselves in this image. It's a bubblehead kind of "beauty" without soul, and sometimes not even talent.

I read in my jazz history books that Ella Fitzgerald would never have "made it" in our time because in HER time she was considered unattractive. Yet when she belted her songs out, band leaders could not ignore her talent and she became of of the great chanteusses of our time.

"Dream Girls," the musical, also lightly addressed beauty versus talent.

Maybe that's why Ms. Boyle's suprise has touched so many people -- she is the underdog beating the odds with true, raw talent. She wasn't "made." She didn't work her way up any greasy poles (to loosly borrow from PM Benjamin Disraeli).

My hope for her is that "management" not try to "remake" her (although Bridget mentioned that on an NPR poll, it was equally divided about whether she should have a makeover or not). I hope she sings and gets more fans, and can earn a livable wage.

I hope that she can still be "herself" after this media storm and that she does not fade away. Is this possible?