Cindy Chang: 'America's Got Talent' Singer Could Be Next Susan Boyle (VIDEO)

The true reward of reality talent competitions is, despite the schadenfreude involved, is not watching unknowingly awful performers crash and burn. Instead, it's the great hope that an unlikely nobody can rise up and capture the world, embodying all the impossible dreams of the TV watching masses.

A few years ago, it was Susan Boyle on "Britain's Got Talent" who turned the trick, launching into the most unlikely opera career in ages. Now, it looks like it's happening across the sea.

On Wednesday night, Cindy Chan wowed the audience, in the auditorium and at home, with her gorgeous rendition of "O Mio Babbino Caro." That she's talented wasn't so surprising; it was that she was a 42-year old woman who was never allowed to pursue music -- and snorted in laughter on national television.

Say what you will about the legitimacy of reality TV -- sometimes, it makes real our fantasies.

The video of Chang starts at 1:05

WATCH:

Comments

[GHENT007]

12:46 PM on 07/01/2011

If you think she's incredible you did too much LSD IN YOUR YOUTH, Your mind is warped, and your version of reality, Is as well, Another so-called singer who will be signed on a whim, only to be dropped later, only wasting valuable record label resources, This is the problem with the Industry's poor perception of "REAL TALENT" They will sign anyone who can sing a note in the upper register, This is why the Industry's sales are down 55% in the last year or two,because they refuse to consider anyone with real talent, only their pitiful shallow version of it.http://www.jango.com/music/Gary+Hall+Entertainment+Verfied+Platinum+Records

[abaybay]

12:19 PM on 07/01/2011

so she will enjoy a month of superstardom, go insane and fade away over the next few months?

[CaroleK1970]

10:33 AM on 07/01/2011

that was the worst rendition of Poker Face that I have ever heard

[AfricanLivedit]

09:47 AM on 07/01/2011

Nothing like a feel good story to start off the day! Good for Ms. Chan!

[cyoohoos]

03:07 AM on 07/01/2011

She still sings better than about 99% of the pop stars out there

[Kid Kryptonite]

02:08 AM on 07/01/2011

Better to look at than Susan Boyle, but voice wasn't as good.

[LMorgan923]

11:57 PM on 06/30/2011

I've been a voice teacher for 20 years, and here's my take on this performance. It's a pretty voice, but her technique is not very good, and she's nowhere near professional opera singer caliber. Her vibrato is out of control, and her breathing is poor. The aria she's singing is way beyond her ability - she would have done better to have picked something easier to sing and done a better job singing it. But she's learned what lots and lots of Miss America contestants have known for years, which is if you can get through half an opera aria and not fall completely on your face, people will love you, no matter how badly you sing it. I do think there's a potentially very good voice there - she should work with a good teacher on developing a decent technique and really learning how to use her voice well.

[furby6]

09:48 AM on 07/01/2011

Your informed perspective on this is truly appreciated and I agree with you, but I think this show isn't so much about the technique as it is about the performer's story, hopes, aspirations, like Piers said. That's what was moving about her. It doesn't matter that this woman is not a world class opera singer. Her performance was worth 30 seconds of my time and she'd probably agree it was worth 30 seconds of her time too.

[GHENT007]

12:49 PM on 07/01/2011

There are plenty of far better singers out there who deserve a shot, versus this unprofessional so-called singer, Instead take a listen @ the provided link, of someone who was rejected 2 times by AGT http://www.jango.com/music/Gary+Hall+Entertainment+Verfied+Platinum+Records

[GHENT007]

12:59 PM on 07/01/2011

IF YOUR REALLY A VOICE TEACHER, YOU KNOW FULL WELL SHE'S NOT EVEN CLOSE TO A "REAL SINGER'' I WAS REJECTED 2 TIMES BY AGT, FOR SUSPECT REASONS, TAKE A LISTEN AND POST YOUR CRITIQUE http://www.jango.com/music/Gary+Hall+Entertainment+Verfied+Platinum+Records P.S. LISTEN CLOSELY TO THE "MICHAEL JACKSON" COVER!!

[DixieMelody]

10:56 PM on 06/30/2011

The last two winners were southern country boys who were mediocre singers but had pitiful back-stories and acted befuddled and overwhelmed by it all. .

So, maybe Cindy made note of that before she even hit the stage (the overwhelmed part). . .

Because it was SO over-the-top and didn't come across as genuine. .

[AGTCritic]

01:11 AM on 07/01/2011

She's a good singer and quite the actress.... You decide http://t.co/miZdxL8

[hoochie-coochie]

08:19 AM on 07/01/2011

So what?

[GHENT007]

12:54 PM on 07/01/2011

The last two singers were poor performers, and the Industry rejected them on their face, they gave them a million dollars, and Kevin Skinner was and is playing county fairs in Kentucky, The other guy has left the scene because his first CD did so poorly, take a listen to someone who was rejected 2 times by AGT because of politics, or for whatever reasons they chose the fabricate. http://www.jango.com/music/Gary+Hall+Entertainment+Verfied+Platinum+Records

[DixieMelody]

01:21 PM on 07/01/2011

Thank you for the link.

Smooth beautiful sexy voice. . .

It's a YES from me.

[Carbon Forteetoo]

10:56 PM on 06/30/2011

Absurd amounts of vibrato. Horrible.

[Chinmay]

10:45 PM on 06/30/2011

she was alright, but i think this year SAM B gonna WIN IT

[DaniFoxy]

08:37 AM on 07/01/2011

Hell to the yeah!!! Sam B all the way baby

[Lexi Suarez]

09:57 PM on 06/30/2011

Paul Potts is the Britain's Got Talent contestant that wowed everybody by busting out a beautiful opera voice. Susan doesn't sing opera, although she does have a beautiful voice.

[julieJgoldengay]

09:45 PM on 06/30/2011

Performing Artists...
Perform.
Yes She Did.
Perform.

[bessielil]

09:11 PM on 06/30/2011

That she has a SAG card does not undermine her talent, but it certainly affects our sense of how she presented herself and the impression she gave of being totally overwhelmed.

[AgathaX]

08:48 PM on 06/30/2011

Unfair comparison, but she was very charming and sang beautifully.

[anjielouise]

08:42 PM on 06/30/2011

I would definitely pay to watch her sing, and why is she too old for opera? I think she would be a joy to watch on stage.