중앙데일리

I tried hard to listen through to the end of this album. I really did. I contained myself throughout Susan Boyle’s insipid rendering of the Rolling Stones’ 1971 track “Wild Horses,” the first track on her debut studio album titled - reach for the sick bag - “I Dreamed A Dream.” I even managed to hum along to “Cry Me A River,” my knuckles clenched white on my desk in front of me.

But I began to crumble, physically and emotionally, at the melodramatic hymn “How Great Thou Art,” a piece of music so bland I could have wept.

This is perhaps the worst record I have ever listened to. We’ve all heard the songs before, sung better by more accomplished musicians. In the right context “Amazing Grace” is a moving song. Slapped next to “Silent Night,” it’s just revolting. What connects this mish-mash of song? Mawkish, feel-good sentiment. I hated it. It’s got no art, no soul, no core, nothing. It represents all that is foul about the music industry, all that is sullied about reality TV shows - and it will probably sell millions of copies. By Michael Gibb

Susan Boyle

“I Dreamed A Dream”

Label: Sony Music Korea

Genre: Classical, hymn