Integrity Music to retail Susan Boyle's debut album to Christians

|PIC1|Susan Boyle inspired the world earlier this year with her undiscovered vocal gifts on Britain’s Got Talent. Now, Integrity Music will partner with Sony Music to release her debut CD, culminating her journey from former church volunteer to global recording artist.

Boyle’s CD I Dreamed a Dream will be released on November 23 with Integrity Music distributing the record to Christian retail.

Boyle surprised the world with her powerful, heart stopping voice when she walked onto the “Britain's Got Talent” stage. I Dreamed A Dream is a collection of gospel, standards and classic pop songs and is expected to be one of the biggest-selling records of the year, already setting records as the largest CD pre-order in the history of the Amazon.com.

I Dreamed a Dream was produced Steve Mac (Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis, Il Divo). The 12-song disc demonstrates Susan Boyle's extensive musical ability and reflects her inspiring story. Featuring her now-signature songs “I Dreamed a Dream” and “Cry me a River” and soaring renditions of gospel hymns “How Great Thou Art” and “Amazing Grace,” the album also includes her unique interpretation of pop songs like Rolling Stones “Wild Horses” and The Monkees “Daydream Believer”. “Who I Was Born To Be” is an original recording written specially for Boyle, while the plaintive and reverent “Silent Night” is sure to become a new, old Christmas favourite.

The 48-year-old Boyle lived an anonymous life in her small village in Scotland, caring for her aging mother and volunteering at Our Lady of Lourdes church. Boyle always wanted to be a singer, but her music performances were confined to singing in church and karaoke at pubs in her village. Boyle has said that her mother had encouraged her to audition for “Britain’s Got Talent”, but it was only after her death in 2007 that Boyle determined to seek a musical career in honour of her mother.

The rest of the story is already legendary. Boyle shot to worldwide recognition following her audition appearance on “Britain's Got Talent” in April 2009 singing “I Dreamed a Dream” from “Les Miserables”. Her performance was quickly posted on YouTube and went viral, reaching 100 million viewers around the world in less than two weeks. That video has been viewed by 300 million people. That she placed second on the “Britain’s Got Talent” final was of no consequence as the singer had already triumphed at winning the hearts of the world.

Boyle will spend a great deal of time in the US around the release of her debut. Some of her appearances include “Today” show on November 23, “The View” on Nov. 27 and “Dateline” on November 27.

The complete track listing for I Dreamed A Dream with comments from Boyle:

1) “Wild Horses” - ‘Couldn’t drag me away’. How could you help but be drawn in by this haunting theme? It conjures up memories of childhood amongst Council Estates, poverty and struggle in the first verse. Irony and bitterness – One of my personal favourites and an emotional release.
2) “I Dreamed A Dream” - Obviously from the musical ‘Lès Mis!’ It’s about a mother living in hard times. Very similar to my dream on a more personal level, of my ‘life gone by’ with mum who dies at the age of 91 and whose dream it was that I should ‘do something’ with my life. Mum this is for you.
3) “Cry Me A River” - About bitterness and anger as a relationship between a boy and girl has ended. This timeless song is from the film ‘Breakfast At Tiffany’s’. A release of tension and a greater insight into the human condition.
4) “How Great Thou Art” - A hymn which has a great personal meaning to me as it reminds me of my friend who liked to sing this hymn in church.
5) “You'll See” - About determination, independence and the ability to show them what you are made of. Doubt sows disbelief. This is about turning this around. This song is a kind of beacon. A way of keeping going. My productive anger. My way of getting rid of the labels which have been unfair.
6) “Daydream Believer” - 'The tears of yesterday don’t mean a thing'. There is happiness out there for everyone who dares to dream.
7) “Up To The Mountain” - Reassurance, love and the ability to keep going no matter what ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’ life thows at you. God is our Light.
8) “Amazing Grace” - About revelations. About finding your way. Everything was new to me. I was Scared, Hope it’s better. I know it can be with your continued support which I find both comforting and humbling.
9) “Who I Was Born To Be” - Ambition, fate, call it what you will, but who was I born to be? Mum must have picked this for me.
10) “Proud” - This is about conflict between a parent and his son. The dilemmas most youngsters find themselves up against. My dilemma was finding my own identity – a conflict, if you like, with myself.
11) “The End of the World” - Don’t be silly! It’s only the beginning! I want you all to enjoy some more!
12) “Silent Night” - Was first made public in Germany during a service on Christmas Eve. A touching hymn at Christmas - hope you like it.