Cameron himself on the panel tonight - no pressure then, audience, but let's take note of what he’s looking for. Fascinating to hear them dissecting the girls around a table. What can we discern from the deliberations? Cameron presumably made it clear to them who he wants in the final, which should make choosing who to save a bit easier for Andrew. He said whoever is chosen has six months to mature into the role and he’d like rawness with potential - that suggests Samantha and Jessie to me.
Group song with the Olivers: Food Glorious Food. None (or all, depending on your viewpoint) stood out for me. It’s going to be a close night.
Rachel: Worries about connection - Denise a confirmed fan - Cameron needs to be impressed. He was with ‘Cabaret’ - her best performance so far. Standing ovation led by Andrew. Cameron wants her in the final, Andrew encourages the others though, he wants them to match it. It was a stunning performance. She put everything into it. And no hiccups vocally. Still did that funny thing with her eyes though - that’s the connection issue, she doesn’t seem to aim at the dancers or the audience, her eyes just don’t connect anywhere long enough.
Jessie: John isn’t a fan, she’s not feminine enough. Andrew says she has ‘Star Quality’ - Cameron moved by her singing ‘As Long As He Needs Me’ in Andrew’s sitting room. Proves to him she has ability, this is where I got the impression Cameron wants to realise her potential. She’s not there yet - Andrew’s also a fan.
‘What I Did for Love’ - Passionate, became a little aggressive, loved the end. She knows John is against her and she’s fighting her corner, which produced this little gem: “What can I do to excite you?” John: “That’s a question a lot of women have asked!” I think she has the loveliest voice - I hope all three finalists sing ‘As Long As Needs Me’ next week - I’d hate us to choose and then find the Nancy we kick out does it better, because that’s the main one, isn’t it? That’s the one we hear of when we think of Nancy singing.
Duo (1) Samantha and Jodie - Jesus Christ Superstar
Glitzy, full of energy - Sam takes it from Jodie there, vocally and dancing.
Olivers: The final three will be revealed, the mums’ll be in tears. From the little we heard they all sounded wonderful - my favourite is Harry, he looks and sings the part. Gwion, Laurence and Harry have it.
Samantha: Really grown, they reckon, though John unconvinced about vulnerability. Hasn’t moved Cameron yet. She takes on board everything though. ‘When you Believe’ - don’t think this song helped - needed a better known weepie. Still a very strong performance, fantastic vocal. John’s now a fan “Powerhouse performer” - Denise - "likeability factor, appeals to men and women, Nancy needs that." Barry, keen as always “A star” - Cameron - sure she’ll be here next week. Andrew agreed re the song - she’s got time to learn.
Jodie: Andrew “Should be a good Nancy but…” Cameron “Has it all but not all the time…” She needs more grit, less glitz. Barry can see her as Nancy. They’re in two minds, so am I. ‘Out Here On My Own’ - best since ‘Send In the Clowns’ - I agree with Cameron, that was the only performance previously that had moved me. Denise is almost in tears, it didn’t quite take me like that but the emotion was there. Worst comment of the night from Cameron, in the nicest possible way “Slightly matronly.” That she is who many people ‘see’ as Nancy will count against her with Cameron if he genuinely wants a 'different' Nancy.
Duo (2) Jessie and Rachel - Jessie’s going to have to go some, if she’s to secure the public vote to stay, after the panels comments. ‘Buenos Aires’ - Spirited performances but it really is too close to call tonight.
In fact, I can’t decide based just on tonight - my vote has gone to Jessie and Samantha because I’ve preferred them overall to Rachel and Jodie. And my impression of the discussions is that Cameron wants to keep them both, while he isn’t so fussed re Jodie and, apart from tonight, hasn’t really warmed to Rachel. He wants someone different for the role, someone with raw potential - Rachel is already too polished and set in the way she performs. But what do I know? He’ll probably mark her out as his choice later! Ultimately, he wants someone the public will pay to come and see - Rachel may win more votes tonight, but she's been in the bottom two, whereas the other three haven’t.
No comments:
Post a Comment