i agree with that completly

I agree.

The reason I posted the link to the thread where this has already been discussed is that I think it shows Sam can't show a range of emotions.

As another poster mentioned I've also seen other school productions where Rizzo stole the show with this song (just as she did in the film) and Sam just doesn't do that.

If she is so good in this clip why hasn't she sung this song during the series? It would have been much better than DG for showing emotion and is well known.
Last edited by BuddyBontheNet : 26-05-2008 at 09:28

they may not be able to choose what they sing, and also it would depend if the bbc bought a performance right for the song etc

You could well be right, but on the other hand it is performed in schools, so I'd have thought it wasn't difficult to get that sorted - take your point though.

I found this interview with her old drama teacher quite interesting (even though he's not an 'objective' witness (the bold bits are mine not the article)...

Mr Craige has also been to watch the show and was there this weekend agreed with John “Sam is awesome. She really blew everyone away with her performances, I can’t describe how electric her interpretation was. The judges were smiling and dancing along while she sang and they all gave her great responses afterwards.” Sam also got the new Oliver’s vote of approval this week and he was the second of the young boys to give her the thumbs up. When asked who he would like to see play Nancy, he replied with a great big smile “Samantha!” Mr Craige said “ All the young boys love her, she is so good with them and she has a natural, almost nurturing way with them. After the show they all come up to her and want to chat and be around her.” Sam is now down to the final seven and has proved herself to be a great, singer, dancer and actor. “It was really interesting to see the girls on live stage, as they will be in the production of Oliver, rather than live on the television.” said Mr Craige ‘What we discovered was that some girls had great stage presence and some next to none. When we watch them on the television the camera work provided for the routines can give some of the performers extra significance and va va voom, when in actual fact they have very little charisma when on stage. It works like that some times, some actors can look and sound great on screen but in the theatre carry no weight at all and visa versa. Samantha though is amazing and is as exciting on stage as she is on TV. The crowd in the studio went mad for her after her performance of “Since You’ve Been Gone”, a Kelly Clarkson song, on Saturday night, and she shone in the group numbers. She absolutely commands and owns the space she is in and fills her work with great emotion and energy. Its great to see but hard to imagine that this time last year she was studying for he GCSE’s in the Upper School Hall. But such is her talent, it really is a force of nature and she definitely deserves to win. She is absolutely right for the part in every respect and we just have to keep voting for her. Her journey and dignity with which she is conducting herself is inspiring and it proves to us all just what can be achieved when someone puts their mind to something they want to do and works very hard to achieve their goal.”

I've wondered about this, and whether the judges' sometimes bizarre assessments of some performers are because they quite literally experience something that the viewer at home can't: that all-important sizzle in the air.

Not yet.
Too inconsistent.
As you would expect of an actress at 17.
I like her a lot but I can't see her delivering the goods just yet. But give her time!

Hell, she's miles better than Jessie though!

Shes not leading lady material at all - supporting roles only. she cannot act and vocally is still to weak even for a supporting role. needs much more training - but shes only 17 so plenty of time.

IMHO the article about Sam's drama teacher's confirms for me that when you see your favourite live you get swept away in the great live atmosphere and see what you want to see.

Another Sam fan has posted about her experience on Saturday night and she too thought Sam was fabulous with no negative criticism whatsoever.

She was positive about Rachel although thought she had a wobbly start, but had less than favourable things to say about Jodie and Jessie. She didn't mention the standing ovations given to Rachel and Jodie, or the booing that followed 'You are not Nancy' comments the judges gave Jodie - the kind of moments that I would have expected to have been mentioned.

As another poster said you have to take these opinions with a pinch of salt

not long now until the final, cant wait, shame i will have to video it though!

Yeh I like Sam too I think she can act and sing, although she's not my favourite. And I wouldn't be too upset if she won. She could do the role justice I think. But if not she'll get something very soon.

she has had drama training - OMG, she has no acting ability at all - but i though that was cause she'd had no trainng and with some may be at least a tad better!

I started off as a Jessie fan but have been disappointed by her apparent lack of development or progress. My favourite Francesca left too soon.

Sam has her shortcomings, they all have, but imo she does have good stage presence and moves well. Both are very important in theatre, at least that's what my 2 actress stepdaughters tell me. She always gives a good performance in the broadest sense.

I tend to close my eyes when Jodie and Jessie are performing and whilst I think both have better voices than Sam I don't like what I see when I open my eyes. I think these shortcomings would be magnified in the production.

For those reasons I will be supporting Sam in the final although I recognise that she is not necessarily 'the people's choice'. Whatever happens in the final I'm sure Sam has a great career ahead.

I like Sam I just don't think she can act and sing at the same time. Her mannerisms on stage come across as a bit Britney Spears. If she could iron them out to be a bit more fluid......

sam will have a great pop career, but her inability to connect with the lyrics and her wide grinning all the time says pop to me......not MT.

She looks great..........but cant act.....she has a lot to learn yet

i can honestly say after seeing her tonight in cabaret that yes she is 100% leading lady material. loved it she was great as was the rest of the cast