Greetings. A few days ago a friend of mine sent me a note suggesting that a PhD in behavioral psychology awaited the first student to explain the sudden popularity of instant celebrity amateur singer Susan Boyle -- courtesy of YouTube. Is this a phenomenon restricted to the Internet age?

The answer would appear to be no, though the Internet in general -- and YouTube in particular -- certainly do provide a new vector for this relatively unusual form of "ugly duckling" singing stardom.

Does Boyle really sing that well? Or is it the contrast with her appearance and speaking voice that has triggered most of the attention? Would a beautiful babe with the same exact singing performance be so much in the spotlight? The crowd's instantaneous, enthusiastic positive reaction to Boyle's singing voice -- before they'd heard more than a few words in the now famous YouTube video -- lends considerable weight to the theory that contrast is the key. The uplifting song she sung also played nicely into the mix.

Unusual singing sensations have a fascinating history. A look back a few decades provides some interesting examples each with their own unique characteristics. Let's explore a few, via YouTube of course.

Jim Nabors has created a long and successful career from contrasting his Gomer Pyle persona, complete with squeaky speaking voice, with his beautiful baritone singing voice -- early on providing the kind of startling contrasts that we might now associate with Susan Boyle, or Andy Kaufman's original "Elvis" routine for that matter. These were calculated shticks of course, but achieved great popularity in their times.

However, there's no requirement that you sing well to achieve ugly duckling singing fame. The exact opposite can also be true.

Frumpy Mrs. Elva Miller achieved considerable fame in the mid-60s by virtue of her horrendous singing voice. Herbert Khaury ("Tiny Tim") became a global celebrity during much the same period, combining a fake falsetto voice (similar in some respects to that of Jim Nabor's character persona's voice) with a highly annoying falsetto singing voice and style (in reality, he like Nabors was a baritone). Khaury's rendition of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" achieved global fame, even triggering references in then contemporary television programs such as Lost in Space (where the robot performed Tiptoe as punishment for Dr. Smith!)

Genuine folks or characters by design, bad singing or good, Susan Boyle is but the latest in a long line of showbiz wonders that spend variable amounts of time in the usually fleeting spotlight, to the amusement and bemusement of vast global audiences.

In the age of YouTube, it seems reasonable to expect that we'll be treated to ever more fascinating singing performances by "unusual" instant celebrities, courtesy of the Internet.

Whether you feel that this is a prospect to be gleefully anticipated or doubtfully dreaded, it's going to happen.

A bunch more potential PhD opportunities may indeed be waiting in the wings.

--Lauren--