Susan Boyle Dreamed a Dream Trivia Quiz

Answer: I'm trying to be a professional singer

Susan said she was trying to become a professional singer, but she had never been given the chance. She chose the song "I Dreamed a Dream" for her audition. Many people, including judges, later admitted they assumed her to be an arrogant, delusional older woman who would sing "rubbish". Expectations were low because of Susan's age, and her everyday appearance.

But Susan had been pursuing a singing career for twenty-three years, and she had a surprise for all of us.

Answer: A standing ovation

She got a standing ovation. Her voice has been called spellbinding, amazing, and magical. The song "I Dreamed a Dream" seemed to represent Susan's own life and struggle, as in these partial lyrics: "All the tigers come out at night, with their voices soft as thunder. And they tear your hopes apart, as they turn your dreams to shame..." Susan's mother had died in 2007, her siblings had moved away, she never married and her dreams did seem to be torn apart.

Answer: She was bullied and lonely

Susan's birth was difficult. Oxygen deprivation caused her to develop mild learning disabilities. She was teased and bulled at school, often called "Simple Susan". She didn't have much work in her adult life, but she did attend the theater, she took voice lessons, and she sang at church and local venues.

Answer: 300 million people watched her audition

Susan so stunned the world that within three days several million watched the YouTube video of Susan's performance. Simon Cowell called it an Internet wildfire. As millions downloaded, news of the stunning performance of this unassuming and ordinary looking woman went around the planet. The story of her audition was in newspapers around the globe.

Answer: No food or sleep all week

Susan was unable to sleep or eat all the week before the live contest appearance. The sudden fame, and the assumption she should win, put tremendous pressure on someone completely new to this kind of attention. There were also journalists hounding her.

She said she felt "suffocated" and anxious. Simon Cowell privately offered that she could bow out of the final contest, but she went ahead. Her performance was not her best. Just a few days later she was hospitalized for five days.

Answer: Get a chance to make a record

Simon said that he saw in himself and the talent show audience their superficial judgment of others. He admired Susan's courage to audition, and he admired her voice. He liked being reminded that talent doesn't have to look a certain way, or be a certain age. So he decided to personally see that Susan, without time pressure, could record her songs. Susan did make that album, which debuted in November 2009.

Answer: As a victorious underdog

Susan sang on "American Idol" and gained real confidence when everywhere she went she was greeted by massive American crowds who applauded this underdog's success.

Answer: It went Platinum in just weeks

Susan's debut album was number one on the charts of the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, the US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada within weeks of its debut. It was also in the top ten best selling albums in Japan and Spain before it was out a month. Susan appeared on "Good Morning America", "Oprah Winfrey", "Larry King" and a number of other major shows to promote the album. Fans purchased over 1,000,000 copies, making it Platinum in several countries within weeks of its release.

Answer: Donnie Osmond

Donnie Osmond is a favorite for Susan. You remember him from "The Osmond Brothers" or "Donnie and Marie", both singing groups. He is also a race car driver, author and dancer from "Dancing with the Stars". His solo hits include "Puppy Love", "Go Away Little Girl" and his first solo hit, "Sweet and Innocent".

He and Susan sang "Sweet and Innocent" together during his visit. What's touching about watching that video is how shy and sweet Susan is. Not bad in duet, either.

Answer: Caring for her aged mother

Susan gave most of her life to care for her aged mother. Her 91-year old mother died in 2007, and Susan has said it was this loss that inspired her to audition for "Britain's Got Talent". Susan had applied for other auditions since 1995, and she recorded a single, but nothing in the huge venue of 2009. "Les Miserables" has been seen by over 60 million people, so many can relate to the song and its theme of hope and disappointment.