Photo: wenn.com
Susan Boyle has spoken out about her difficult school years, revealing the extent of the cruelty suffered at the hands of fellow pupils.
The Scottish singer, who releases her new album Standing Ovation this week, says that children in her school would harrass her and stub out their cigarettes on her when she was young. She describes the experience in a track by track discussion of her new album, singling out 'Out Here On My Own' as a song with particular relevance to the lonely star.
"This is the song that is so apt for my old life," says Boyle. "I was totally out on my own. Very few friends, taunted and bullied at school. Cigarettes stubbed out on my arms. This is the theme tune to my childhood!"
Boyle adds however, that including the track on the new album was theraputic, as it helped her move on from the memories that made her life so difficult.
"It was a hard song. It brought back a lot of memories but it was also very cathartic and helped me realise that I have achieved so much in a short space of time and it’s time to move on and let those scars from childhood heal.
"I’ve forgiven the people who tormented me. They still live around and about Blackburn and it’s not healthy to hold grudges now, is it."
Boyle's new album is out this week
The new album includes a duet with Donny Osmond and Michael Crawfod as well as covers of songs such as 'Send In The Clowns' and 'The Winner Takes It All'. She also singles out 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' as another with particular relevance.
"I felt it was quite a romantic song, wishing you were someone else. It relates to my life because for years I wished I was living a different life," she adds. "That I could escape the life I was living. It didn’t happen overnight and I had to work hard to make the changes but change it I did.
"All dreams can come true if you really want them to. My dream of singing professionally came true so it resonates with my life."
Click here to read our review of Standing Ovation.
Listen to samples from Standing Ovation here.
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