Click here to visit the new home of AOLTV!

Hot on HuffPost TV:

See More Stories
EDITION: U.S.
CA Canada US United States UK United Kingdom
Powered by i.TV
February 11, 2012
 
CONNECT    

Did Susan Boyle Also Get the Auto-Tune Treatment?

by Jean Bentley, posted Aug 26th 2010 12:00PM

Susan BoyleSusan Boyle might have become the world's sweetheart last year when she stunned audiences during her run on 'Britain's Got Talent,' but if new reports are to be believed, she had a little help getting there.

According to Deadline, a Scottish newspaper is reporting that a "show insider" admitted Boyle's voice was "smoothed out" in post-production using Auto-Tune software. A 'BGT' co-producer told Deadline that the software had been used on the show, but refused to admit if it had been used on Boyle.

These allegations come days after a similar scandal rocked 'The X-Factor,' another talent competition show run by reality judge extraordinaire Simon Cowell. Over the weekend, producers were forced to reveal that they had used Auto-Tune on some of the competitors after fans noticed it had been used during Gamu Nhengu's performance of "Walking on Sunshine." Cowell responded by banning the use of the software on the upcoming American iteration of the show.

Are you surprised by these new revelations? Does knowing 'BGT' used Auto-Tune on Susan Boyle change your opinion of her?

Link Squad

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

15 Comments

Filter by:
Janni S.

I heard Susan sing at Rockefeller Plaza...she even did sound check warmups before the actual televising...and she was perfect AS IS! She doesn't need autotuning or anything but her matchless voice and personality. Her fans love her & will always be there for her. She is the real thing and unique, and any jealousy (so obvious) that this attracts only proves that over and over and...

August 29 2010 at 4:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
LindaLE

Susan Boyle was the biggest-selling artist in the world in 2009, so in that respect, she is king of the hill. Others in the intensely competitive music recording industry would naturally want to dethrone her, and this is why she is being zeroed in on with damning questions. There was a live audience for her BGT audition, and live audiences on the BGT tour, the Today show and for many other appearances, audiences who were wowed by her distinctly recognizable, pure, clear -- and pitch perfect -- voice.

August 28 2010 at 9:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Carol

This is such a silly non-issue. Too many ppl have heard Susan Boyle live in 22 BGT venues across the UK and Ireland, on the Today Show, acapella on the Larry King show, several times live from her own living room, a live impromptu performance with Daniel O'Donnell to mention a few examples. The push to discredit Miss Boyle seems endless and yet her debut album outsold everyone last year and her second seems destined to do the same. She is here to stay and the music world is the better for it.

August 27 2010 at 5:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
WhoDat?

La Boyle is on tape - video and audio - singing it perfectly on key too many times for this to be an issue with her. Too many people have heard her on tune, live, for this to be an issue.

August 27 2010 at 9:00 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Betty

According to "insiders" Susan sounds even better live. Who would have thunk it!

August 27 2010 at 2:04 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Betty

According to "insiders" , Susan sounds even better live. Who'd a thunk it!

August 27 2010 at 2:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Betty

Susan sounds even better live. And who are these insiders and sources, never named, that supply the tabloid "journalists" with all this amazing information?

August 27 2010 at 1:55 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lisa

I never fell for the Susan Boyle story in the first place. Nothing against Susan herself, but I always hated the editing and scripted crap that goes on in that show. The way the camera focuses on the backstage story, the audience and judges reactions is So - Over - Drawn. I don't like when obvious manipulation is taking place, learn how to be more subtle and then you might get me.

August 26 2010 at 6:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Lisa's comment
Karty

She didn't have a back story that night.
Most of the contestants give a sob story, she didn't, she was full of confidence and wasn't looking for any sympathy.

August 28 2010 at 9:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Martin

Leona lewis refuses to allow autotune to be used on her voice, she's stated it several times. Not that she needs it.

August 26 2010 at 5:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Martin's comment
Karty

Perhaps she doesn't allow it now, and that's great, but if it's used routinely on X-Factor, it was used for her audition.

August 28 2010 at 9:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
amelie

i think youu choose a wrong exaple with Adam bc he sing on stage from his 10 , has a trained voice 5 octave range tenor and his voice sound better live than recorded on studio , he no need to auto-tune his voice. He is the real deal of the music from today , i like Leona Lewis too. In AI maybe they used auto tune but not for Adam , maybe for Kris Allen to win against Adam , search on YT his live performences in concert , are desatreous .

August 26 2010 at 5:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to amelie's comment
Karty

Singing on stage means nothing, obviously, since the auditions are all held live, on stage.
When contestants do their first audition, they might use it for all of them.
The main concern isn't finding talent, it's getting high ratings, so they do whatever it takes.
As for AL, just because he's good doesn't prove anything. Like Boyle or not, one this for certain is that she's pitch perfect. Always has been.

August 26 2010 at 5:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

Follow Us

TV Squad Hot Topics

From Our Partners