news articles 30 october

[Inside Australian Idol]

Three singers, one song
October 30, 2003

THERE can be only one Idol but all three remaining contestants are recording what will be their first single if they win.

Because the winner will be announced just four days before the single hits the streets, record label BMG needs to cover all bases.

The remaining Idols also need to have the secret tune - an original - down pat and pitch perfect in case they are the chosen one.

"The single gets launched at the moment of the determination of the winner," BMG's marketing manager and judge Ian "Dicko" Dickson said.

"We did think about a cover but we wanted a song that the winner could own.

"It will mark the end of the TV show and the moment their career starts."

The single will be produced by Brian Jones of Rockmelon fame and executive produced by Ross Fraser who has delivered John Farnham's last four albums.

"And it's called 'Ooh Aah, Just a Little Bit'," Dicko joked when we tried to get him to spill the beans on the title of the song.

The trio of Guy, Shannon and Cosima are also doing separate photo shoots ahead of the final - which will be on November 19 at the Sydney Opera House, with the single in stores on November 24.

"This is such an unromantic process," said Dicko.

"It's like preparing three brides and just marrying one. It's unfortunate but that's what we've got to do."

Dicko said, as all three of the remaining finalists had been in the bottom two in recent weeks, it was impossible to make any assumptions about who might make it through.

Meanwhile, finalist Rob Mills is making the most of his shot at fame - as he vowed he would do - by scoring a prime gig on Melbourne Cup Day.

Millsy will perform in the Tooheys' marquee.

The Daily Telegraph


www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7712674%255E28477,00.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

When three's a crowd
By Lauren Buckley
October 30, 2003

IT'S hard to believe there are only three contestants left in the series.

After four months of hard work, sweat, tears, determination and fun, the playing field has been reduced to just three very talented people.

Sunday night's big-band theme was a great way for the remaining contestants to exercise their vocal talents and step outside their comfort zone. It was obvious they were all having a wonderful time singing old songs - some of which were first recorded more than 70 years ago - in front of a big band.

GUY

Once again his interpretation of an old standard was fabulous and showed off his amazing musicianship.

He obviously enjoyed his time on stage, and the audience, and the judges loved his choice of song.

His second song, The Way You Look Tonight was incredible. He sang with such feeling. As Marcia Heines said, whoever the woman is who Guy sings that song to will be one lucky woman.

PAULINI

After the controversy of "that" dress last week, Paulini pulled no punches with an elegant black number.

She looked stunning and reminded me of Natalie Cole, which was fitting given she performed two songs Natalie's father, Nat King Cole, made famous in the 1950s and '60s.

Her beautiful version of At Last showed what a truly versatile performer she is. And her second effort, Almost Like Being in Love, was great. How about the scat?

COSIMA

She also sang an old Nat King Cole song, L.O.V.E., and delivered it superbly. Her navy blue dress, which was fitted at the waist, flared to her knees, and trimmed with a pink ribbon was gorgeous.

As she said, she dresses to suit the song and it was a nice change from her wearing minis.

It was the first time her father had travelled to Sydney to watch her perform in the competition and her second song, Smile, was a very personal choice. As a child, her dad would sing this song to her and during her performance you could tell that she had been transported back to those days.

SHANNON

His sex appeal and handsome good looks are winning over the studio audience and the voting public.

Shannon is new to this style of music and you could tell he was thoroughly enjoying it.

His choice of two Frank Sinatra classics, I've Got You Under My Skin and New York, New York were excellent.

The latter was a showstopper, which prompted the judges to declare his performance a standout.

The verdict

I usually feel quite uneasy on Monday nights, knowing that one of the contestants has to go.

I was shocked to see Guy and Paulini in the bottom two. They have outstanding voices and performance skills.

Guy sings beautifully and is a talented songwriter.

What can you say about Paulini? She's an amazing singer and a beautiful person.

It is getting hard to choose between them, but I thought Paulini would be in the final.

Judge's controversy

None. Dicko and Mark decided to play it very safe this week.

Lauren Buckley made it to the top 10 of Australian Idol and until the contest ends writes exclusively for The Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph


www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7712672%255E28477,00.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Idol in waiting
By Michelle Cazzulino
October 30, 2003

HE'S as dinky-di and true-blue as the sunburnt country he hails from. He's the all-around "good bloke" who can crutch a sheep, cuddle his two sons and, apparently, still find time to croon to more than two million viewers around the nation every Sunday night.


In short, he's the walking equivalent of a Vegemite-smeared lamington.

He is Shannon Noll, the Condo Kid, and according to some, the quintessential Australian Idol.

What you have just read, with the possible exception of the Vegemite-laden lamington, is just a handful of the reasons currently being advanced by the "Vote For Shannon" squad patrolling fan sites of the reality series currently showing on Network Ten. (Idols to record singles)

As it stands, three finalists remain in the competition, which began with more than 10,000 showbiz hopefuls auditioning for the program earlier this year.

Over the next three weeks, the trio - WA's Cosima de Vito, SA's Guy Sebastian and Noll, who hails from the central western NSW town of Condobolin - will sing it out for the privilege of becoming the nation's first-ever Australian Idol.

It's a trend that seems to be unique to Australians - even in the glitzy world of showbiz, we like our stars more fair dinkum than flighty.

It's an argument that carries across all areas of public life: if we have to vote, we'll take John Howard over Paul Keating. In entertainment, Big Brother's Ben prevailed over Blair.

Lleyton Hewitt was more successful on-court, but there's no question who would win a popularity contest between him and Patrick Rafter.

So where does this leave all-round nice guy Shannon, pitted against pretty Cosima and the hugely-marketable Guy? In the box seat, regardless of talent.

Paulini Curuenavuli's exit last week has raised the question of whether the contestants' ethnic background is influencing the voting.

Fans of the curvy Curuenavuli would have you believe it is, taking to websites to vent their disgust that the Australian public apparently "can't get past physical appearances".

Which is where Shannon Noll - the common man who (apparently) speaks the common fan's language - seems to be resonating with some of the viewers.

In many respects, he has the Reggie Bird Factor - like the Big Brother Series III winner, he comes across as a straight-talking country boy who has done it tough and is finally reaping the rewards of hard slog and unforeseeable hardship.

In a nation where tall poppies are pruned into bonsai trees without the slightest hesitation, Noll's rags to riches story is a touching one.

He'll marry the mother of his two young sons, Rochelle, as soon as the family recovers sufficiently from the drought that has crippled them financially in recent years.

He has always wanted to be a star, but something - life, probably - got in the way before now.

His dad, who he lists as his idol, died just over two years ago - a loss he has never really recovered from.

Then there is his unmistakable talent which, with all due respect to the other two contestants, has won him a following that includes country music star Kasey Chambers.

Understandably, his family back in Condobolin is thrilled - if a little bemused - by all the hype surrounding their almost-famous relative.

Older brother Damien, who sounds for all the world exactly like his younger sibling, played with Shannon and eldest brother Adam in a band called Cypress until earlier this year.

Yesterday, he told The Daily Telegraph he was thrilled with the way the Australian Idol competition was progressing.

"Mate, he's going absolutely brilliantly, he's as cool as cucumbers. He's taking it all in his stride - he's just coasting along at the moment - I think he's got a bit left in his tank, actually," he said.

"I think the thing that's probably taking everybody by surprise is how big his following's getting. He's a very positive kid - very happy-go-lucky - he's always the one with all the jokes."

It might have been those elements of Shannon's personality that prompted one punter to put $2000 on him taking out the competition.

Historically, the punter would have to be in with a pretty good chance.

The Daily Telegraph


www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7712690%255E28477,00.html