Susan Boyle Is Far More Influential Than Julian Assange in Time's Popularity Contest

By Kristina Benson Tue., Apr. 12 2011 at 3:46 PM

Yes, folks, it's about that time. What time, you ask? Time for Time's 2011 Top 100 Poll, wherein readers like you vote for the most influential leaders, artists, innovators, icons and heroes in the world. With voting closing on Thursday, we took a look to see who is in the running. Sadly, Kayne is still at the bottom at #203 but other musicians are faring much better. In fact, the Top 10 is weighted heavily in favor of musicians! Who is making the cut and who isn't?

The current Top Ten most influential people in the entire world, as per the Time website is:

1. South Korean musician and performer Rain
2. Taiwanese director-singer-songwriterJay Chou
3. British singer Susan Boyle
4. Buddhist nun and philanthropist Cheng Yen
5. Pop star and actor Beyoncé
6. Chris Colfer, openly gay actor who plays gay character on Glee
7. Pundit and outspoken atheist Christopher Hitchens
8. Bradley Manning , who is currently awaiting charges for his alleged role in the Wikileaks scandal
9. Performer and musician Lady Gaga
10. Julian Assange, spokesperson for the Wikileaks organization

Some initial observations. This is a list of what is supposed to be the ten most influential people in the entire world, according to Time.com readers. Musicians are over-represented--half of the top ten are musicians. There are no presidents or prime ministers, no parliamentarians or senators, no UN officials, and no heads of state.

Another observation: Susan Boyle, who catapulted to international fame two years ago when she demonstrated that unattractive people could indeed have nice singing voices, is ranked higher than Julian Assange, whose Wikileaks site published information about such events as extrajudicial killings in Kenya, toxic waste dumping in Côte d'Ivoire, Guantanamo Bay procedures, and American diplomatic misdeeds.

And not one, not two, but three musicians are ranked as more globally influential than Christopher Hitchens, Bradley Manning, and Julian Assange.

What does this say about the power of music to change the world?

Who do you think the most influential people should be?

Tags:

Julian Assange, Susan Boyle, Time's Most Influential People of 2011, WTF

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Mary Hartery

Citing good guys only:

Barack ObamaHillary ClintonBill ClintonKeith PlbermannOprah WinfreyJerry BruickheimerJo RowlingRobert RedfordGeorge ClooneySimon Cowell

Jan

And for those who are repeatedly voting for Susan Boyle, why do you think your internet usage costs are high?

Jan

The Times poll is inaccurate when you have a bunch of fans glued to their computers voting to bump the numbers up. A person should be allowed ONE vote and ONE vote only. That is the true indication of who is the most influential person.

Elaine Summers

Susan is a hero to many, a true ray of natural sunshine in a sometimes seeming-superficial world. She is smiles, fun and her voice is DIVINE. We love you SuBo! Love counts...

Christine

Shows just how superficial the world has become. Stupid pol; yes, but when entertainers are ranked before a freedom justice fighter, someone who is giving power to the people in a most profound way one wonders. If people are willing to be led by the nose by the popualar press perhaps the planet is getting what it deserves. Go Jullian, a real hero, and what have we done to all the real heros? Christ, Jhon Lennon, Nelson Mandala??? When will the lowest common denominator reach for the sky?

sbfan2

Subofan is correct. This poll is meaningless. It's the same group of Susan Boyle fans who appear to have lost touch with reality voting over and over for her. Sad.

Frontpage

Susan Boyle more influential than JULIAN ASSANGE? Oh really. What a joke.

Subofan

As you can see from the two comments above, it's not that Susan Boyle is more influential or popular than Assange or anyone else below her on the list, but rather that a small group of people are voting for her repeatedly. They have blocked or deleted cookies from TIME's website in order to defeat the one-vote-per-person/browser rule. The fans or supporters of others on the list have probably done the same, except for those voting for the Buddhist nun. All that poll reflects is which person's fans have too much time on their hands and a total lack of perspective about what is truly important in the world.

Cog1950

I find your comments conspiratorial and tending towards paranoia. Susan Boyle's fan base is HUGE and they do not need to "delete cookes" as you suggest. Ms. Boyle has become a worldwide influence and helped many people who were afraid to dream.

sbfan2

Yes, Susan Boyle is an inspiration and has many fans. But if you check her fansite, it is a FACT that the same fans are deleting cookies and voting multiple times. In fact, they're still voting and the poll is over!

Carol

Well, of course, it's really not "influential." It's liked. It's a popularity contest. It's an internet poll with no rules, after all.

You see, people don't like Julian - he didn't give a you-know-what if his information ended up killing security officials undercover around the world. The guy is a pompous attention-seeker.

Susan Boyle, on the other hand, represents the "everywoman." The little caboose who everyone said couldn't, but did. She's represents hope, not cynicism or fear. And people LIKE her.

Phase19

"his information ended up killing security officials undercover around the world" - There is no proof of this.

Mary

Susan Boyle is the most influential person due to her ability to bring people to gether in friendship. This influence is shown through the number of those who regularly meet in their particular country of origin, and others who fly in from all over the world just to be together and pay tributeto Susan, or attend Susan's appearances. For instance Americans flew to Scotland for Susan's 'Scot of the Year Award'. Closer to 'home' Susan drew hundreds to New York for the 2009 and 2010 Rockefeller Plaza 'Today Show'. Susan and Peter Kay's fundraising show in the UK on 'Red Nose Day' when the theme 'I know him so well' from 'Chess' raised money for charity into the millions of pounds sterling. Susan displays warmth, talent, charm and fun and is known throughout the world by her record-breaking album in 2009 and 2010 and her generosity to help those in need i.e. Haiti, the aged, children.