Years after Susan Boyle won the world over with her rendition of “I Dreamed A Dream,” that moment in history remains etched in people’s hearts.
Susan Boyle became an overnight sensation in 2009 following her rendition of “I Dreamed A Dream” at the “Britain’s Got Talent” audition.
The song, originally performed by Fantine, the lead character in the 1989 musical “Les Miserables,” went on to become a classic hit following that performance.
Years later, Boyle’s groundbreaking performance is remembered throughout the music realm, inspiring several concerts, albums and shows.
In April 2022, the audition was voted the most iconic moment in the history of “Britain’s Got Talent,” further boosting Boyle’s popularity. Here are five additional things you should know about Susan Boyle’s rendition of “I Dreamed A Dream.”
1. The Song Was A Tribute To Boyle’s Late Mom
Susan Boyle has been open about her mom’s contribution to her career, including how she persuaded her to apply as a contestant on “BGT.”
Sadly, the songstress’ mom, Bridget Boyle, passed before she got her chance. Hence, when she finally appeared as a contestant on the televised version of the competition show, the star deemed it ideal to dedicate the moment to her late mother, who supported her dreams.
Notably, her appearance at the audition marked Boyle’s first time singing in public since her mom’s passing.
2. The Song Inspired Her Debut Album Accordingly Named After It
Barely a year after Susan Boyle performed “I Dreamed A Dream” in front of a stunned live audience, she released her debut album. The album titled “I Dreamed A Dream” dropped in November 2009, debuting at No. 1 on the UK album chart.
It also became the fastest-selling debut album ever in the United Kingdom with 411,820 copies sold. This figure beat the remaining top-five albums combined that year and remained in the top spot for four weeks.
In the United States, the album debuted as No. 1 on Billboard 200, selling over 700,000 copies and breaking several records. Susan Boyle’s “I Dreamed A Dream” boasts of several hit tracks like “Wild Horses,” “You’ll See” and “Amazing Grace.”
3. It Went On To Inspire The ITV Show, “I Dreamed A Dream: The Susan Boyle Story”
Aside from releasing an album under Simon Cowell’s record label, Syco Records, Susan Boyle starred in a variety show.
The Documentary, titled “I Dreamed A Dream, The Susan Boyle Story” was executive-produced by Simon Cowell. It covered the star’s life and rise to stardom since her first appearance on “BGT.”
The show also featured a duet between Boyle and one of her idols Ellen Page, which was a fulfilment of one of her biggest dreams. Well over a year later, the Scottish singer starred in the docuseries, “Susan Boyle: An Unlikely Superstar”, which also became a hit.
Today, she has appeared in up to nine TV shows and has numerous albums, world-records and honors in her name.
4. Susan Boyle Has Performed “I Dreamed A Dream” At Various Events Throughout Her Career
With her success story centered around the song, “I Dreamed A Dream,” it comes as no surprise that Susan Boyle finds herself constantly linked to it.
Throughout her career, several concerts, formal events and shows have hosted the music sensation in hopes of watching her reenact her historic moment from the 2009 “BGT” auditions.
Ultimately, “I Dreamed A Dream” have somewhat become Boyle’s signature song which she identifies with. In 2019, the icon performed it at the 10th anniversary of “America’s Got Talent,” sending the audience wild with nostalgia.
During the event, Cowell reflected on her audition from 10 years back, admitting he would forever remember it. He described it as the moment the world fell in love with Susan Boyle. Interestingly, “I Dreamed A Dream” is now widely dubbed ‘the song that started it all,” and rightly so.
5. Several Women Have Performed It Throughout History
Although the original version of “I Dreamed A Dream” surfaced in 1980 from the first act of the musical “Les Miserables,” Susan Boyle’s version created a resurgence in its popularity.
The original version had the title “J’avais rêvé d’une autre vie,” which is French for “I Dreamed Of Another Life.”
Fantine, the character who performed it in the musical sang of her beloved husband who abandoned her and her daughter. Despite its iconic lyrics, it never charted in the UK nor won any award until Boyle’s rendition nearly three decades later.
In 1987, singer Neil Diamond performed a live version of the track, which peaked at No. 13 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Before that, Patti Lupone released another version from her original London Cast Recording.
That version saw a resurgence in 2009 following Boyle’s performance, eventually charting in the UK and US. Several other female artists have released versions of the song throughout history.
The most revered yet since Susan Boyle was actress Anne Hathaway’s rendition of “I Dreamed A Dream” during her 5-minutes appearance in the 2012 remake of “Les Miserables.”
The performance went on to snag Hathaway a historic Oscar win. It appears with the right song and the right place and time, dreams do come true after all.