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'''George William Sampson''' (born 29 June 1993<ref name="reunite">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/realitytv/a105440/talent-champ-could-be-reunited-with-dad.html|title='Talent' champ could be reunited with dad|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=29 June 2008|publisher=Digital Spy|accessdate=26 November 2008}}</ref>) is a [[street dance]]r from [[Warrington]], [[England]],<ref name="now-magazine">{{cite web|url=http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/celebrity-news/teen-now/261263/george-sampson-i-d-love-girls-to-go-crazy-over-me/1/|title=George Sampson: I'd love girls to go crazy over me|date=20 June 2008|work=Now Magazine|accessdate=26 November 2008}}</ref> and was the winner of the second series of ''[[Britain's Got Talent]]'' on 31 May 2008, aged 14.<ref>{{cite web
'''George Spaztic Spamson''' (born 29 June 1993<ref name="reunite">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/realitytv/a105440/talent-champ-could-be-reunited-with-dad.html|title='Talent' champ could be reunited with dad|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=29 June 2008|publisher=Digital Spy|accessdate=26 November 2008}}</ref>) is a [[street dance]]r from [[Warrington]], [[England]],<ref name="now-magazine">{{cite web|url=http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/celebrity-news/teen-now/261263/george-sampson-i-d-love-girls-to-go-crazy-over-me/1/|title=George Sampson: I'd love boys to go crazy over me|date=20 June 2008|work=Now Magazine|accessdate=26 November 2008}}</ref> and was the winner of the second series of ''[[Britain's Got Talent]]'' on 31 May 2008, aged 14.<ref>{{cite web
| url =http://talent.itv.com/finalists/wednesdayFinalist2.asp
| url =http://talent.itv.com/finalists/wednesdayFinalist2.asp
| title = Finalist Profile: George Sampson
| title = Finalist Profile: George Sampson
Line 29: Line 29:


==Background==
==Background==
His mother Lesley was afraid that George would lack confidence like she did, so she sent him to dance class with his sisters. At first he didn't like it and he says he got bullied over dancing,<ref name="upsidedown">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/11/23/sv_georgesampson.xml&page=2|title=George Sampson: a life turned upside down |last=Gordon|first=Bryony|date=23 November 2008|work=Telegraph.co.uk|accessdate=25 November 2008}}</ref> but he grew to like it so much that when his mother said she couldn't afford to pay for the classes any longer, George decided to dance on the streets in his home town in order to raise money to pay for them himself.<ref name="documentary">{{cite video | people = Charlie Lightening (director), Alesandro Reyes-Knight (producer) | title = George Sampson: Living The Dream | medium = documentary | publisher = ITV2 | location = United Kingdom | year2 = 2008}}</ref> He would often be seen in [[Manchester]] City Centre, attracting large crowds, performing on [[Market Street, Manchester|Market Street]].<ref name="MEN">{{cite web | url =http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1052031_george_is_winnin_in_the_rain | title = George is winnin' in the rain | accessdate = 2008-05-31 | publisher = [[Manchester Evening News]]}}</ref> He learned dancing in the street dance performance academy [[Popskool]]<ref name="popskool">{{cite news|url=http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/4064832.Dancers_limbo_up_for_stardom/|title=Dancers limbo up for stardom|last=Newey|first=Miranda|date=2009-01-23|work=Warrington Guardian|accessdate=2009-02-10}}</ref> and the [[Sunshine Studios]].<ref name="street-return">{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/showbiz/s/1052389_george_lines_up_street_return|title=George lines up street return|last=Qureshi |first=Yakub|date=2008-06-04|work=[[Manchester Evening News]]|accessdate=2009-02-10}}</ref> George's parents, Brian and Lesley, divorced when George was 10; George lives with his mother, his sister Rosie and his brother Luke while his other siblings, Chelsea and Emily, live with George's father.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/celebrity-news/teen-now/266083/george-sampson-dad-never-wanted-to-see-me-dance/1/ | title = Dad never wanted to see me dance | accessdate = 2008-05-31 | publisher = Now Magazine}}</ref>
His mother Les(bien) was afraid that George would lack confidence like she did, so she sent him to dance class with his sisters. At first he didn't like it and he says he got bullied over dancing(lol),<ref name="upsidedown">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/11/23/sv_georgesampson.xml&page=2|title=George Sampson: a life turned upside down |last=Gordon|first=Bryony|date=23 November 2008|work=Telegraph.co.uk|accessdate=25 November 2008}}</ref> but he grew to like it so much that when his mother said she couldn't afford to pay for the classes any longer, George decided to dance on the streets in his home town in order to raise money to pay for them himself.<ref name="documentary">{{cite video | people = Charlie Lightening (director), Alesandro Reyes-Knight (producer) | title = George Sampson: Living The Dream | medium = documentary | publisher = ITV2 | location = United Kingdom | year2 = 2008}}</ref> He would often be seen in [[Manchester]] City Centre, attracting large crowds, performing on [[Market Street, Manchester|Market Street]].<ref name="MEN">{{cite web | url =http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1052031_george_is_winnin_in_the_rain | title = George is winnin' in the rain | accessdate = 2008-05-31 | publisher = [[Manchester Evening News]]}}</ref> He learned dancing in the street dance performance academy [[Popskool]]<ref name="popskool">{{cite news|url=http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/4064832.Dancers_limbo_up_for_stardom/|title=Dancers limbo up for stardom|last=Newey|first=Miranda|date=2009-01-23|work=Warrington Guardian|accessdate=2009-02-10}}</ref> and the [[Sunshine Studios]].<ref name="street-return">{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/showbiz/s/1052389_george_lines_up_street_return|title=George lines up street return|last=Qureshi |first=Yakub|date=2008-06-04|work=[[Manchester Evening News]]|accessdate=2009-02-10}}</ref> George's parents, Brian and Lesley, divorced when George was 10; George lives with his mother, his sister Rosie and his brother Luke while his other siblings, Chelsea and Emily, live with George's father.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/celebrity-news/teen-now/266083/george-sampson-dad-never-wanted-to-see-me-dance/1/ | title = Dad never wanted to see me dance | accessdate = 2008-05-31 | publisher = Now Magazine}}</ref>


==''Britain's Got Talent''==
==''Britain's Got Talent''==
===2007 series===
===2007 series===
In 2007, Sampson auditioned during the first round of ''Britain's Got Talent'' after a dance teacher told him there was audition in the area that was right up his alley. He only discovered it was for ''Britain's Got Talent'' when he arrived.<ref name="documentary" /> In his audition, he danced to ''Drop'' ([[Timbaland]] feat. [[Magoo]] & [[Fatman Scoop]]), but despite [[Simon Cowell]]'s enthusiasm, he was unable to convince the other two judges, [[Amanda Holden]] and [[Piers Morgan]], to let George proceed to the live shows. This experience made Sampson determined to enter the 2008 auditions and prove Holden and Morgan wrong. In the intervening time he continued dancing on the streets of [[Warrington]] to improve his technique, and to raise money for his family.
In 2007, Spamson auditioned during the first round of ''Britain's Got Talent'' after a dance teacher told him there was audition in the area that was right up his alley. He only discovered it was for ''Britain's Got Talent'' when he arrived.<ref name="documentary" /> In his audition, he danced to ''Drop'' ([[Timbaland]] feat. [[Magoo]] & [[Fatman Scoop]]), but despite [[Simon Cowell]]'s enthusiasm, he was unable to convince the other two judges, [[Amanda Holden]] and [[Piers Morgan]], to let George proceed to the live shows. This experience made Sampson determined to enter the 2008 auditions and prove Holden and Morgan wrong. In the intervening time he continued dancing on the streets of [[Warrington]] to improve his technique, and to raise money for his family.


===2008 series===
===2008 series===
Line 69: Line 69:
On 26 June 2008, it was announced that George would become the face of a new 11-18 account for [[NatWest]] bank, in a deal reportedly worth [[£]]1million<ref>{{cite web
On 26 June 2008, it was announced that George would become the face of a new 11-18 account for [[NatWest]] bank, in a deal reportedly worth [[£]]1million<ref>{{cite web
| url =http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article1341323.ece
| url =http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article1341323.ece
| title = George Sampson signs £1million deal with NatWest
| title = George Spamson signs £1million deal with NatWest
| accessdate = 2008-06-26
| accessdate = 2008-06-26
| publisher = [[The Sun]]
| publisher = [[The Sun]]

Revision as of 10:02, 27 April 2009

George Sampson

George Spaztic Spamson (born 29 June 1993[1]) is a street dancer from Warrington, England,[2] and was the winner of the second series of Britain's Got Talent on 31 May 2008, aged 14.[3] As a prize, he received £100,000 and the opportunity to perform at the 2008 Royal Variety Performance, staged at the London Palladium on 11 December 2008[4] (broadcast on BBC One and BBC HD on 17 December 2008).

Background

His mother Les(bien) was afraid that George would lack confidence like she did, so she sent him to dance class with his sisters. At first he didn't like it and he says he got bullied over dancing(lol),[5] but he grew to like it so much that when his mother said she couldn't afford to pay for the classes any longer, George decided to dance on the streets in his home town in order to raise money to pay for them himself.[6] He would often be seen in Manchester City Centre, attracting large crowds, performing on Market Street.[7] He learned dancing in the street dance performance academy Popskool[8] and the Sunshine Studios.[9] George's parents, Brian and Lesley, divorced when George was 10; George lives with his mother, his sister Rosie and his brother Luke while his other siblings, Chelsea and Emily, live with George's father.[10]

Britain's Got Talent

2007 series

In 2007, Spamson auditioned during the first round of Britain's Got Talent after a dance teacher told him there was audition in the area that was right up his alley. He only discovered it was for Britain's Got Talent when he arrived.[6] In his audition, he danced to Drop (Timbaland feat. Magoo & Fatman Scoop), but despite Simon Cowell's enthusiasm, he was unable to convince the other two judges, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan, to let George proceed to the live shows. This experience made Sampson determined to enter the 2008 auditions and prove Holden and Morgan wrong. In the intervening time he continued dancing on the streets of Warrington to improve his technique, and to raise money for his family.

2008 series

Sampson got through the Britain's Got Talent auditions in 2008 by dancing to "Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now)". He then came top in the audience's vote in his semi-final with his arrangement of Mint Royale's big beat remix of "Singin' in the Rain", complete with an artificial rain machine onstage, a formula that had previously been produced in a television advertisement for the Volkswagen Golf GTI.[11] He subsequently won the audience's vote in the final, beating dance group Signature (second place) and Andrew Johnston (third place). He broke into tears when his win was announced[12] Sampson was due to perform a different routine for the final, to a track by the Bee Gees,[13] which he described as involving "a lot of movement without me actually doing anything".[7] An hour before the final started he changed his mind and, after consulting Simon Cowell, opted to perform his winning act from the semi-final again.[13]

The Mint Royale version of "Singin' In The Rain" went to number 1 in the UK on download sales alone in the week following George's performance[14] and Simon Cowell's label SyCo was bombarded with requests from fans to make a video for the song. It is the first time SyCo has signed up a non-singing act solely to make a video.[15]

In an interview the day after the final, Sampson told of his return to normality the Monday after the event.[16] He also told of his friendship with younger finalists, Andrew Johnston and Faryl Smith, saying that they weren't jealous of him winning. George has stated several times that he will use his money to pay off his mother's mortgage despite her refusal, and possibly take his friends who also busk with him to LA as "it's always been their dream". He also stated that he might buy a Volkswagen Camper for his Mum to drive around in until he is old enough to do so himself.

After Britain's Got Talent

NatWest deal

On 26 June 2008, it was announced that George would become the face of a new 11-18 account for NatWest bank, in a deal reportedly worth £1million[17]

Into the Hoods

On 4 August 2008, Sampson made his stage debut in the West End hip-hop musical Into the Hoods. With some exceptions, he appeared in the show until it stopped on 30 August. Of his new role, he said: "This year is getting better and better - Into the Hoods show is funky and young and I love the music in it – I can't wait to get dancing on that stage!". Into the Hoods was shown at the Novello Theatre in London and features music from the likes of the Gorillaz, Massive Attack, Basement Jaxx and many more. George appeared as one of the lost boys.[18][19]

Bebo

On 28 November 2008, it was announced that Sampson's record company and Bebo would work together to make a online television show called Follow My Lead which would include some dance move tutorials by Sampson, but also a behind the scenes look of events and rehearsals. They previously worked together to create a similar show on Leon Jackson.[20]

Debut single and DVD

Main article: Get Up On The Dance Floor/Headz Up

Simon Cowell initially planned to only release dance videos, but he wanted to do more. He asked the agent of Take That if he could get Sampson to sing, but it turned out he already liked to sing from a young age.[6] George's debut double a-side single titled Get Up on the Dance Floor/Headz Up was released on 24 November 2008, with the proceeds going to Great Ormond Street Hospital.[5] After an early fault that meant the single couldn't be downloaded form iTunes for two days,[21][22] the single finally debuted at number 30 in the UK Singles Chart[23] and remained listed for 4 weeks. The single's position in the charts gradually lowered during that time.[24]

On 1 December 2008, his dance DVD Access 2 All Areas was released.[5] The one-hour[citation needed] DVD contains a documentary about his rise to stardom, 4 music videos in which George sings as well as dances and a behind the scenes look of those videos, dance tutorials and a set of photographs.[25][26][27]

2009

On 23 January 2009, Sampson helped to promote the new Nokia 5800 phone in London's Regent Street. He handed over the first Nokia 5800 sold[28] and performed a live dance routine to Pump up the Volume remixed by VV Brown[29] which he choreographed to go with a touch-sensitive dancefloor.[30]

On 29 January, he launched the game Battle Strikers at Toy Fair 09.[31] He also designed a plate for Blue Peter's Mission Nutrition appeal.[32]

Works

Singles

Date of release Title Label UK chart peaks
24 November 2008[5] Get Up On The Dance Floor/Headz Up Syco Music 30 (UK Singles Chart)[23]

DVDs

Date of release Title Label UK chart peaks
1 December 2008[5] Access 2 All Areas SonyBMG 1 (BBC Radio 1 Music DVD Chart)[33]

Health

Sampson suffers from a rare condition called Scheuermann's disease, which affects developing bones in children and teenagers and can cause a curvature of the spine. The condition even caused him to go temporarily blind in one eye for two months around Christmas time, Sampson said to The Sun Newspaper. "The eye was all inflamed. I'd been using Deep Heat for my sore back, so at first I just thought I'd got it in my eye. But I ended up blind," he said. "The spinal nerves were trapped and it affected my optic nerves, I lost all my coordination and it was really hard to dance, as I didn't have my balance. I kept bumping into everything." Although his eyesight was restored, doctors have said he must immediately go to hospital at the first sign of any soreness in his right eye. Despite the scare, Sampson went ahead to compete and win the talent show, and has said nothing will prevent him from performing. "There's no way I'd ever give up dancing. Nothing would stop me," he told the paper. However, since the revelation George said "It's not that bad." and claims that his doctor has said he's allowed to dance.[34]

Awards and prizes

Sampson won the under-16 category in the United Dance Organisation's 2007 World Street Dance championships. Following his win of Britain's Got Talent, he returned to the 2008 championships at the Blackpool Winter Gardens to give a performance together with his dance group A2AA (Access 2 All Areas) and to accept an award for his contributions to raising the profile of street dance from UDO chairman Simon Dibley.[35][36]

In the summer of 2008 he was one of 11 celebrities to receive an honourary scout badge to celebrate the 101st birthday of the Scouting Movement.[37][38]

He also received an award in the category "Favourite Winner" at the 2008 Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards[39] and he performed his signature dance "Singing in the Rain" during the ceremony.[citation needed]


References

  1. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (29 June 2008). "'Talent' champ could be reunited with dad". Digital Spy. Retrieved 26 November 2008.
  2. ^ "George Sampson: I'd love boys to go crazy over me". Now Magazine. 20 June 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2008.
  3. ^ "Finalist Profile: George Sampson". itv.com. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
  4. ^ "George wants to dance to Diana". ThisIsBristol.co.uk. 3 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  5. ^ a b c d e Gordon, Bryony (23 November 2008). "George Sampson: a life turned upside down". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  6. ^ a b c Charlie Lightening (director), Alesandro Reyes-Knight (producer). George Sampson: Living The Dream (documentary). United Kingdom: ITV2. {{cite AV media}}: Unknown parameter |year2= ignored (help)
  7. ^ a b "George is winnin' in the rain". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
  8. ^ Newey, Miranda (2009-01-23). "Dancers limbo up for stardom". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  9. ^ Qureshi, Yakub (2008-06-04). "George lines up street return". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  10. ^ "Dad never wanted to see me dance". Now Magazine. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
  11. ^ Brook, Stephen. "Blingin' in the Rain". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-05-31. {{cite news}}: Text "date 2005-01-27" ignored (help)
  12. ^ "King George Rains". News of the World. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
  13. ^ a b "Song change helped George win show". Daily Star. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  14. ^ Singh, Anita (3 June 2008). "Britain's Got Talent winner George Sampson makes hit of Singin' In The Rain". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 23 November 2008.
  15. ^ Robertson, Colin (18 June 2008). "Now George is rock and Royale star". The Sun. Retrieved 24 November 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "Back to school". itv.com. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
  17. ^ "George Spamson signs £1million deal with NatWest". The Sun. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
  18. ^ "George Sampson Makes West End Debut". Into the Hoods. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
  19. ^ Guilfoyle, Lizzie. "Into the Hoods - George Sampson joins cast". indieLondon. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  20. ^ "George Sampson and Bebo launch exclusive online TV series" (Press release). Bebo. 2008-11-28. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
  21. ^ "George Sampson's debut single charts at number 26". The Sun. 26 November 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
  22. ^ "Technical Fault & George for Number 1". Sony BMG. 26 November 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
  23. ^ a b "The Killers outsell Guns N' Roses". BBC News Online. 30 November 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
  24. ^ "ChartStats: Get Up On The Dance Floor / Headz Up". ChartStats.com. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
  25. ^ "George Sampson: Access 2 All Areas : DVD". Play.com (UK). Retrieved 2008-12-04. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  26. ^ "George Sampson - Access All Areas (DVD)". zavvi UK. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  27. ^ Pinchess, Chloë (5 December 2008). "Chloë gets caught up in George-mania". This Is Nothingham.co.uk. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
  28. ^ "George Sampson set for phone launch". PA Entertainment. 2009-01-22. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  29. ^ Holland, James (2009-01-19). "Nokia 5800 bonus content for first buyers". Electric Pig. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  30. ^ Clews, Mary-Louise (2009-01-27). "Nokia launches campaign for touchscreen phone". Marketing Week. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  31. ^ Roberts, Katie (2009-01-29). "TOY FAIR 09: George Sampson launches new toy craze". Toy News Online. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  32. ^ "Dancing star George joins charity plate drive". This is Cheshire. 2009-01-30. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  33. ^ "Radio 1's Official Chart Show - Top 10 Music DVDs and Videos". BBC Radio 1. 14 December 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-12-15. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  34. ^ "Dancing could cripple 'Talent' winner: report". Retrieved 2008-06-02. {{cite news}}: Text "date 2008-06-02" ignored (help)
  35. ^ "George stars at Blackpool dance show". Blackpool Gazette. 4 August 2008. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  36. ^ "World; For All That's Happening". South Wales Echo. 11 August 2008. p. 20. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  37. ^ Bryant, Tom (2008-08-01). "Scout's honour for Jamie Oliver". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  38. ^ "TV chef Oliver receives Scout badge". Gazette. 2008-08-01. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  39. ^ "Just Kidding! - Nickelodeon Awards". OK Magazine. Northern & Shell PLC. 2008-09-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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