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Old 14-04-2008, 11:27
phylogeny
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It does surprise me that Francesca isn't as good as I thought a pro should be. But I have no doubt she can carry a tune. She has performed in the West End, and roles are usually competitive enough in commercial theater that the minimal to get your foot in the door is an ability to sing half way decent. I'm thinking nerves got the better of her. Being in the bottom two first week plus having accusations of favoritism dog her must be nerve wracking.
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Old 14-04-2008, 11:57
bltonrye
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I'm glad I found this thread, I have been saying to OH, whats wrong with that girls mouth but he just doesn't see it, I like Francesa but that weird mouth puts me off as its all I can concentrate on....likewise Jessie.
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Old 14-04-2008, 15:10
Jocko Homo
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I just watched Fran's audition on the bbc site and it's fantastic, probably the best of the final 12. I want to see that sort of performance from her, she has a lot of talent and tbh I like her more than most even when she is out of tune, but she keeps on disappointing. I wonder if it's something to do with the acoustics of the studio that she's finding it hard to adapt?
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Old 14-04-2008, 15:43
zankoku87
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I just watched Fran's audition on the bbc site and it's fantastic, probably the best of the final 12. I want to see that sort of performance from her, she has a lot of talent and tbh I like her more than most even when she is out of tune, but she keeps on disappointing. I wonder if it's something to do with the acoustics of the studio that she's finding it hard to adapt?
It could be that, but I think it's equally possible that as a stage actress, if you ram a television camera in her face, she gets nervous and it all goes horribly wrong. Time Of My Life really wasn't bad until "You're the one thing I can't get enough of...", after which she seemed to pick notes arbitrarily.

It's interesting that ALW only mentioned two notes not being right, whereas the whole end of the song sounds off - perhaps her voice (as it is an unusual one) just doesn't carry over microphones and speakers that well, with the studio acoustics... if only I could see it live...
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Old 14-04-2008, 16:35
Mnemosyne
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I don't think Fran feels very comfortable performing on TV. When I saw her in Rent she sang her part flawlessly, so I know has she the ability to perform very well. I hope she starts showing the extent of her talent soon, as I'd hate to see her leaving the show.
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Old 14-04-2008, 17:40
LaurieMarlow
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I really love Fran, but gosh, she needs to pick it up. Two pretty ropey weeks in terms of tuning.

I remember Daniel saying he had problems with the acoustics in the studio and went quite out of tune in one performance (week 2 I think). I wonder if some singers have a better 'memory' for the note (kind of like having perfect pitch, but not exactly) and others more reliant on hearing the orchestra to get the note? Thus some singers having more problems than others. Daniel sorted out his problems so I hope Fran can too.
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Old 14-04-2008, 18:53
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I was the opposite and sighed a breath of relief that ALW actually picked up on the very obvious tuning issues that JB and DVO seemed to completely miss

I was also sitting watching it thinking what on earth is all the hair pulling about

Overall she probably does have something but theres too much else going on (with her mannerisms and tuning issues) to see it properly.
Thought I'd take a break from defending Sam and have a try at giving my second fave some support!

I agree about the ALW bit. I felt really bad for her when he pointed out his concerns, but I actually think it went in favour more than if none of the judges had commented on the (unfortunatelty rather obvious) tuning issues. With all the DVO favouritism stories etc, it wouldn't have gone down well with people if the problems had gone totally unnoticed.

Also - although she was visibly upset about it all on the results show - it's given her something to work on while she still has time to try and sort it out. If she leaves it much longer, things may get tricky.

I also agree about the hair pulling/flicking - although I'm convinced thats due to nerves and not being quite sure what else to do with her hands, which presumably wouldn't be an issue on stage with directions etc. She needs to be aware though that these nervous mannerisms are distracting from her solo performances - not a problem in the group numbers.

I have really warmed to Fran over the past couple of weeks and I would really like her to stick around for longer. She would be a much more personable Nancy than many of the others
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Old 14-04-2008, 18:59
SnoopMK
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I think Fran has been hit-or-miss in her performances in the live shows, but there is still something about her that stands out to me as right for Nancy. I like the tone of her voice and her look for the role. She has that scruffy-feisty air about her that I think would work very well for Nancy, and she has very good stage presence. She's currently my co-favorite with Sarah, but I think she fits the part physically better than Sarah. I do think she could tone down the hair-grabbing, but I still like her and want her to stay in the competition until the end.
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Old 14-04-2008, 22:01
JessamyFire
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I agree with others that Fran has something about her that I like- she makes me want her to do well! I really want her to sort out her tuning etc, because she is good, and it's a shame we can't see it at the moment.
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Old 14-04-2008, 22:05
Sylvia
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I agree with others that Fran has something about her that I like- she makes me want her to do well! I really want her to sort out her tuning etc, because she is good, and it's a shame we can't see it at the moment.
This is an awful thing to say, but her strange puffy face puts me off.
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Old 14-04-2008, 22:15
JessamyFire
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This is an awful thing to say, but her strange puffy face puts me off.

Hehe. Well, you can think what you like (and Idon't mean that in a horrible way)

My sister calls her the "thumbsucker" cos the first time she saw her she noticed straight away from her teeth that she must suck her thumb- and I saw on the IDA website that she says she still sucks her thumb My sister was quite proud of herself for noticing...
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Old 14-04-2008, 22:39
zankoku87
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Hehe. Well, you can think what you like (and Idon't mean that in a horrible way)

My sister calls her the "thumbsucker" cos the first time she saw her she noticed straight away from her teeth that she must suck her thumb- and I saw on the IDA website that she says she still sucks her thumb My sister was quite proud of herself for noticing...
It's true, she does have a pronounced overbite... but I quite like it, I think she's pretty.

Interestingly enough, I have quite a noticeable overbite too, but I've never sucked my thumb!
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Old 15-04-2008, 16:43
Mnemosyne
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Fran seems to me the most Nancy-like out of all the contestants. She looks right, being pretty but her overbite gives her character that stops her prettiness being boring. I find her voice interesting and I could totally imagine her playing Nancy.
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Old 15-04-2008, 16:50
playhousechick
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I think she is quite Nancy like and she can act and can sing, unfortnately I would prefer to listento her than watch her as her facial expressionas are really off putting and annoying to watch.
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Old 15-04-2008, 19:26
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I agree with others that Fran has something about her that I like- she makes me want her to do well! I really want her to sort out her tuning etc, because she is good, and it's a shame we can't see it at the moment.
I couldn't have put that better myself. There is something intrinsically (sp?) about her that has me willing her to do well. I reckon that's a vital quality to play Nancy, because as a character you want Nancy to survive. Maybe that quality will work in Fran's favour - I hope so.

Having said that, I've just read about ALW doing his 'bit' this week by satellite and am even more concerned in case Fran ends up in the bottom 2. I don't want Sam in the bottom 2 either, but I think Fran is more vulnerable at the mo.
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Old 15-04-2008, 20:44
Mehenny
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I breathed a sigh of relief when she got through on Sunday, which was strange as I didn't realise I liked her
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Old 15-04-2008, 23:08
LaLaLaur
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I breathed a sigh of relief when she got through on Sunday, which was strange as I didn't realise I liked her
Actually, ditto that.

I think I'm warming to her. Her voice reminds me of somebody else... but I can't put my finger on who.
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Old 15-04-2008, 23:18
peeve
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Actually, ditto that.

I think I'm warming to her. Her voice reminds me of somebody else... but I can't put my finger on who.
Double ditto. She certainly meets my preconceived idea of Nancy. I have been disappointed in her performances in week one and week three, but have been pleased when she's got through. While not my favourite, there are certainly others who I feel should be eliminated first.

If only she could show that she CAN sing in tune. She was visibly upset on Saturday, as she has been in previous weeks. I only hope she gets some help from those coaches in Nancy House and is then professional enough to be able to put it all behind her and come out with guns blazing next Saturday.

If nothing else, she has shown in those backstage clips that she is feeling vulnerable and, I think, the public may warm to her because of it.
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Old 16-04-2008, 14:52
rolacola1987
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Fran, is one of my fav Nancy’s, and although she was a bit off so to speak in week 1 and 3, she still wasn’t as bad as some of the others. (Rachel for one is completely overrated in my opinion and Jessie isn’t as good as ALW seems to be making out) It gets me to thinking are the judges deliberately being slightly harsher on her because of her link to DVO and trying to play down on the favouritism card??
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Old 16-04-2008, 15:46
Tortue
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I can't say I'm keen on Francesca. I don't like her voice. Its too nasally and she sounds a bit like Kermit

She's very professional and her performances are quite good but this is a stiff competition and there are others there that are much better IMO
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Old 16-04-2008, 20:56
Hot_Topics
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She was visibly upset on Saturday, as she has been in previous weeks. I only hope she gets some help from those coaches in Nancy House and is then professional enough to be able to put it all behind her and come out with guns blazing next Saturday.

If nothing else, she has shown in those backstage clips that she is feeling vulnerable and, I think, the public may warm to her because of it.
Well she did a great job in week two of trying to put the sing-off behind her - I seem to remember the panel commenting on how well she'd come back fighting, and ALW saying it was a sign of her being a professional.

I agree though that her personality is a big part of what's keeping her in the running at the moment. If she can just combine that with getting her 'pitchiness' sorted, there's no reason why she couldn't turn things round and open up the competition. Here's hoping!
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Old 16-04-2008, 21:23
zankoku87
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I'm interested in what Fran'll be singing this week... the theme's Las Vegas, which is a good'un.
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Old 16-04-2008, 21:28
zankoku87
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I'm interested in what Fran'll be singing this week... the theme's Las Vegas, which is a good'un.
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Old 16-04-2008, 22:07
phylogeny
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I think Francesca suffers from having high expectations put on her. As the one designated 'the pro', people are going to assume a 'wow' factor, as in 'it's obvious she's a pro'. But looking over some of the other girls' resume, Francesca isn't that ahead of the game as the others. That, coupled with her past association with DVO, means one part of the audience expects her to be so much better than everyone else, and the other portion of the audience thinks she's taken someone's spot and therefore probably sucks.

I think she has to improve and be better but every time she croaks (no pun intended), people are going to make accusations. I do think she's good though and hope that people will eventually see past her 'professional' status and whatever tenuous connection she has with DVO.
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Old 17-04-2008, 20:42
Hot_Topics
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I think Francesca suffers from having high expectations put on her. As the one designated 'the pro', people are going to assume a 'wow' factor, as in 'it's obvious she's a pro'. But looking over some of the other girls' resume, Francesca isn't that ahead of the game as the others.

I do think she's good though and hope that people will eventually see past her 'professional' status and whatever tenuous connection she has with DVO.
I think it's been unfair on Fran that so much emphasis has been put on her being a pro, if not the main one, when - as you rightly point out - Rachel and Sarah appear to be the same level. In fact, as Rachel pointed out () Fran was actually her understudy not so long ago.

Although Fran then worked on a West End show, it's arguable that Rachel probably has more experience in leading roles. But the panel hardly ever seem to refer to her as a 'pro' as much (but then I do tend to switch off a bit when they're praising her to the hilt!)

The DVO connection has also been really unfortunate and has no doubt put DVO herself and Fran in an awkward situation. It must be hard to critique someone who you've worked with quite closely, but I don't think Denise has particularly helped the situation by failing to mention when anything - such as the pitching - has gone wrong with Fran's performances.

It just makes DVO come across as biased, which then reflects badly on Fran as people may assume that she's being treated more favourably.

As for this week, I didn't realise the theme was Las Vegas. According to a feature on the official website, Fran is determined to get Andrew on-side. Fingers crossed!
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