Seeing the photo today of the previously dowdy singing sensation Susan Boyle after her not-so-extreme makeover -- and especially the needless fascination on her looks to begin with -- took me back to one of the finest musical storytellers of my generation, the late Harry Chapin.

Always had a soft spot for him, first for his songs (Taxi, WOLD, etc.) then the coincidence of sharing his birthday (Dec. 7). I remember coming home one day in 1981 and my first wife greeted me with the news that Chapin had been killed in an auto accident. I remember slumping against the door frame, and tears that didn't end as I replayed his albums in fan grief.

Chapin's song Mr. Tanner popped into my head when I saw the new Boyle, certainly her next step toward concerts and recordings. Like Boyle, Mr. Tanner was from a small town and "music was his life, it was not his livelihood." Both get their breaks but Mr. Tanner's story doesn't end well. I hope the same doesn't happen to Boyle.

This video may not be the hippest thing on tampabay.com today (or any day, for that matter) but it's something to think about, as Boyle slowly transforms into what people want her to be, which may not be as pleasant as what she was.