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"I'd Do Anything": the four final Nancys are chosenPretty Irish teenager Niamh Perry was sent home last night, meaning that there are now only four contestants left on I'd Do Anything, the BBC’s search to find a girl to play Nancy in the West End production of Oliver! Although I thought Niamh was a talented performer, she failed to convince the panel and the public that she had the toughness for Nancy, delivering a version of No Doubt ’s “Don’t Speak” that judge Denise Van Outen compared to a teenager throwing a tantrum. While I personally thought that criticism was a bit exaggerated, I did find it hard to picture Niamh in the role of Nancy – just as I find it easy to believe she’ll be picked up soon for a professional role that’s better suited to her.
The remaining four contestants are Jodie Prenger, Jessie Buckley, Rachel Tucker and Samantha Barks – and one of the things making this competition more interesting than the two BBC musical talent shows that have preceded it is that it’s extremely hard to pick a front-runner. With the most professional experience of the lot, 26-year-old Rachel might seem a safe choice – but she was in the bottom two again on Sunday, indicating that she’s not a hit with the public. While teenagers Jessie and Sam are talented, they both seem too young and inexperienced at the moment to me. If I had to hazard a guess as to who will finally take home the prize, it would be 28-year-old Jodie, but I'm not certain.
Jodie lead off the solo performances on Saturday night, with a rendition of Bonnie Tyler’s "Holding Out for a Hero" meant to prove to the judges that she could dance as well as sing. She had limited success in that area – Andrew Lloyd Webber told her that her dancing was “Meatloaf,” which seemed a bit like a cruel jab at her weight – but otherwise she performed well. Since ALW had told her last week that she overacted – and since “Hero” is possibly the campest, most bombastic song known to humankind – I’d been thinking she might overdo it and go over the top, but in fact she kept her performance fairly restrained.
Rachel then gave what I would call a fairly “meh” performance of the Dolly Parton/Whitney Houston classic, “I Will Always Love You,” leading judge Barry Humphries to tell her that she had an “emotional ceiling” that she wasn’t breaking through. For me, the problem is that her performances always seem to convey the same emotion in the same way – she looks a little in front of her feet in a wounded fashion, as if to say, “I cannot believe that I’m so hurt." It becomes less convincing and less moving each time she does it.
Sam was next, performing her own choice of song, “Defying Gravity” from Wicked. In backstage clips, she was also shown meeting and rehearsing with Wicked and Rent star Idina Menzel (no doubt leading many fans — myself included — to envy her!) The judges had nothing but praise for Sam’s performance – which surprised me a bit, since I thought her voice sounded ragged on some of the notes, and she also has too many stage tics (scrunching up her nose, nodding, and holding out her arms repeatedly.) There’s no denying that for a 17-year-old, though, she’s incredibly talented and confident.
Finally, Jessie performed the LeAnn Rimes song "How Do I Live." Although I haven’t always been a huge fan of Jessie’s, I actually thought this was one of her better performances. But the judges were critical, with Denise Van Outen telling her, “The way you move is so unfeminine,” (although she added that this could be OK, as it would be interesting to have a tomboy Nancy.) Those like me who still have their Nancy gaydar alert switched on might have been interested to hear this comment – only to have their hopes dashed later in the show when Jessie complained about being “so deprived of male company” in the Nancy house. (Although … bi, right? She could still be bi.) Anyway, I’ll leave you with one of my favorite moments on the show ever: this week’s group performances of the five Nancys (including Niamh) singing “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair” from South Pacific. Perhaps because this week’s acting “mission” for the Nancys was to prove that they could be funny, Niamh does a squeaky, bubbly voice, as if she was playing Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. Samantha is sparkly and graceful; Rachel is competent but still “meh”; Jessie was underwhelming to me, but I thought Jodie’s performance was very warm and confident. Overall, I thought it was one of the most well-choreographed and fun of the group numbers:
Did this week’s performances change your mind as to who you want to win? And who do you think will be the next to go? Submitted by on May 19, 2008 - 3:00pm. |
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I WANT Jessie to win SO
I WANT Jessie to win SO badly - she saved my life and is super talented.
But I think Sam or Jodie will win. A lot of people online say how much they love Sam. If Jodie won, I wouldn't really mind 'cause she's my 2nd fave.
But the only one I would pay to watch is Jessie.
She's got everything to me.
and that picture of her made me squeal! It's so cute<3
and yeah she could be bi... but the 'deprived of male company' thing wasn't necessarily meant in a sexual way. I'm keeping my hopes up :)
i love how you do a blog
i love how you do a blog about this!!
yeah, i agree about jodie in the south pacific performance, she's a very warm performer and i loved her facial expressions in it. BUT i also think jessie and rachel were fabulous in it as well. i like jessie's movement because it makes her unique. also the judges said she always does the same thing in every performance. hello? all the girls have their usual "things" that they do in every performance. she can't change who she is and the natural movement she does.
i find it so strange that suddenly sam is AMAZING according to the judges. it's a joke, i think they have their winner in mind and are trying to pick up on the others' weaknesses and never mention hers! it's annoying me cos jessie is my hands down fave. she has the je ne sais quoi that i just think sam lacks. however, if she doesn't get nancy i know she will be really successful in something else! i love that pic of her! where's it from?
i basically want sam out next but it is not looking likely - it's looking like it'll be rachel and jessie in the bottom two and jessie out. :( i hope everyone votes for them this week. i can't because i'm in france!
yeah, that comment about male company does dash the hopes!! although maybe she just likes to hang out with guys and it's kind of like the classic thing to say so maybe she was just saying it to saying something. (hehe, yeah keep telling yourself that!)
oops, this post is too long.
I want Sam to win, but then
I want Sam to win, but then I'm biased, one because I'm Manx and two because she's Hot. I think she sang really well this week and she seems to have made the biggest improvement in all the nancy's so far.
I also think Jessie is really good and hopefully will be in the final. I think Rachel, as you say, is 'Meh'!
I really did like Niamh but...
I totally see why she didn't get chosen as at the end of the day I don't think she was right for the role... She kinda reminded me of Keith from Any Dream Will Do (so it was quite appropriate that they were dance partners) as they were both told that they were too young looking for the role.
I really really want Jessie to win! I think Sam is amazing but I prefer Jessie. Tbh I wouldn't mind if either of them won.
Rachel is as you say 'Meh'... there is nothing special about her and for a professional she's not that professional! Jodie I think is very talented and probably who most people envisage as Nancy but I would really like someone completely different to previous Nancy's. That and there are a few things about her that I find irritating... such as how she makes the biggest noise and actions when Graham tell her she could still be Nancy... It really gets on my nerves.
I'm so confused...
Yay!
I loved all the ones who were left but i agree Niamh was right to go this week and im glad Rachel is still there! I want Sam to go next week even tho she did score major points with me by singing defying gravity :) i love the other three the same so i dont mind who wins.
~~~~~~~~xXx~~~~~~~~
Passion, it lies in all of us, sleeping... waiting... and though unwanted... unbidden... it will stir... open its jaws and howl. It speaks to us... guides us... passion rules us all, and we obey.
still rooting for Jodie
I just think she has 'the x factor' when it comes to the stage. In that group performance she also stood out for me. She's such a warm person, and I think that's what the Nancy needs. Can I just say (again) that I really don't like Sam! I just don't get why the judges love her so much... She's a pretty good singer, but not compared to the rest, and she's just so young. And there's nothing wrong with inexperience, but it's just so obvious with her... Although I don't think she's cute at all, I feel like people like her for that reason. She's just annoying to me..
http://www.youtube.com/BetweenThaLines
Lucky Sam
I would kill to meet Idina. I might maim to see a video of the meeting between the two of them. :-P
Also, Jodie has horrible double cleavage in that picture.
I love Jessie!
Jessie has been my favourite from the outset, she has the finesse of a baby elephant when it comes to dancing, but that just makes her all the more adorable, and she has an amazing voice, I am getting really frustrated by all her bad comments lately!
I do like Rachel, and actually in many ways think she is best for the role, I feel the reason that she has been in the bottom two so often is that a lot of people rate her but she isn't actually anyone's favourite, like me they say 'I think Rachel would be great for the role, but my favourite is [insert Nancy here]'. Sam is, I guess, the whole package, her voice might not be as good as Jessie's, but she can dance considerably better. And I do really like Jodie, she reminds me of my friend's mum! She's just so much fun! Essentially, while I really want Jessie to win, I think that all the remaining contestants are good and I won't be overly bothered who wins (although it should be Jessie :D )
Being not that interested
Being not that interested in Oliver I skipped most episodes of this series, so saturday was the first time I really sat down to watch it. I thought Samantha's performance was the best out of the five, really - the other ladies each had moments where they either hit a bad note or in Niamh's case, just made bad choices on the way of performing. (Don't Speak, it was pretty painful imho)
Nice to see you blogging about this btw :)
--
http://ankie.livejournal.com
I was totally jealous of Sam
I totally understand why Niamh went, she's good but I agree, I couldn't see her in the role of Nancy!!
I'm actually starting to like Jessie more now, I don't know why though i'm still not 100% sold on her playing the role of Nancy!!
Jodie is what all previous Nancys have been and how people would generally see the character of Nancy so I think that's why she's probably going to win it!! She's good but there is something about her that just really annoys me that i'd be unwilling to pay money to go and see Oliver! if she was in it!!
There is no way Sam
There is no way Sam would still be there if she was ugly. Her voice is clearly the weakest and the comments would make you think her voice was the strongest, it really annoys me!
I think Rachel is really sexy but there is something about her that doesn't make her seem like a nice person.
Jodie to win!
Bad news Jessie fans
Bad news Jessie fans :(
According to the Jessie facebook: "- Jessie is boy mad and never stops talking about boys."
pfff haha
noooooooo!! what a
noooooooo!!
what a strange thing to write on a facebook group thing! i'm off to check it out!
thanks for the heads up. haha - we're like the columbo of "finding out about jessie"
"just one more thing..." hehe
..or what detective duo could we be?? okay, im an idiot...
Jodie (or Rachel) to win
I agree Niamh was good but perhaps not suited to this role and Don't Speak was pretty woeful. What annoys me (and her by the accounts on the papers here in Northern Ireland) is that the judges and ALW kept picking on her age/ maturity, etc when Samantha is only a little older than her. Now they seem to have Sam as their favourite which I don't think is completely justified. I think Rachel and Jodie should be the top two and I believe Jessie should have gone long before now (don't all lynch me at once!) I find her awkward, stumbling and she hasn't got the greatest voice.
Apparently Niamh was closest to Sam (I suppose partly because of their similar ages) but she can't decide who she wants to win as she would like to see a Northern Irish girl (Rachel) win too.
To me, if they're looking for a particular look/ maturity/ personality, my money's on Jodie.
P.S. I love that there is a blog about something I get to see along with everyone else, so many of the US blog stories aren't relevant to us until we see the show months later over here (even if I do love reading all the latest news)! :)
haha yeah Jessie is
haha yeah Jessie is awkward, but I think it makes her even more brilliant for the part :)
and I think she has the best voice I've heard in a long time...
Wishful thinking continued...
Maybe IF Jessie is boy mad she just hasn't met the right girl/woman yet?!
Gay/straight or anything in between I still have a major crush on this girl.
I'm in Ireland until Sunday so will miss the show once again, but I am looking forward to a double dose of I'd Do Anything on Sunday. I cannot wait, and don't care how sad that makes me!
haha hopefully you're
haha hopefully you're right!
So do I!
She's the only reason I'm still watching! *drools* :)
I know who goes this week too...
I know who's in the final
I know who's in the final 3!
:)
Message me if you want to know!
I know who's in the final
I know who's in the final 3!
:)
Message me if you want to know!
Sorry Jessie fans, it's
Sorry Jessie fans, it's official.
Jessie's not gay.
I've been talking to someone who knows her and she's not so...
Unless they just don't know. (They said she's never really had a real boyfriend).
But I wouldn't get your hopes up!
KEEP VOTING THOUGH! She's clearly the best.
National Nancy Day!
To compensate for the hideous weather of today's bank holiday I am declaring next
Saturday National Nancy Day- in honour of the I'd Do Anything final.
I may even have a party to celebrate-it could out camp a Eurovision party anyday!
Wine, women and song (and dance) what more could one want?
Love your avatar Lauren-as for Jessie not yet playing for our team I'm quite happy living with the delusion that it is only a matter of time... (and the right woman!)