Post by Inside Australian Idol on Nov 2, 2003 0:29:53 GMT 10
Paulini's busy after all those Idol moments
By Rachel Browne
November 2, 2003
The Sun-Herald
She may be a fallen idol, but Sydney singer Paulini Curuenavuli is well on the way to a successful career in the music industry.
The 21-year-old was voted off Australian Idol last Monday, but she has already won a fan base most musos can only dream of.
With more than 2 million people around Australia watching the show that she was asked to leave, Curuenavuli is already reaping the rewards of that exposure.
Instead of retreating to lick her wounds, the singer from Sydney's south-west has already been discussing her future with a range of music industry professionals.
"I've really just been talking to people about what I should do now that I am out of the competition," she said.
"I wanted to pick people's brains about what sort of direction I should take, and the best way of going about it.
"I've been getting advice from a lot of people who work in the music industry, but also from my family and my friends, because I really value their opinions as well."
Fijian-born Curuenavuli was widely tipped to win the competition thanks to her angelic voice and a sympathy vote arising from the uproar caused by her decision to wear an unflattering gold dress, drawing harsh criticism from judges Mark Holden and Ian "Dicko" Dickson.
"Obviously, it would have been great to stay in the competition, but unfortunately that didn't happen," she said.
"But everyone has been really supportive and encouraging, telling me that is no reason to give up.
"Everyone's been telling me to keep going, which is what I am going to do. Something out there will happen for me."
Record company BMG has an option on signing all the contestants, but is only obliged to sign the winner. The company will make a decision on the other singers once the show is over and the emotion surrounding it has died down.
"I hope BMG will sign me, but there is no guarantee that it will," Curuenavuli said.
"But this would be such a good time to bring something out because I've got such a great fan base from the show."
Curuenavuli, who lives with her parents and four siblings, has been a full-time musician since leaving school, playing with her band MIXX. Now she has an opportunity most struggling singers would give their right tonsil for, and she's determined to make the most of it.
"It is daunting because no one gets the sort of leg up we've been given, thanks to the show," she said.
"And you want to take advantage of it, but you don't want to make a sudden decision and end up doing something that's not right."
While the winner of Australian Idol, to be revealed in the grand finale show on November 19, is assured of a No.1 record, as foreign versions of the show have proven, the runners-up have also enjoyed success.
Gareth Gates was the runner-up in the first UK series, but his version of Unchained Melody topped the British charts, selling 850,000 copies in one week. He went on to release four No. 1 singles.
Another runner-up in the UK version, Darius Danesh, also topped the charts with his single.
Similarly, Clay Aiken, who appeared in this year's American Idol but lost to Ruben Studdard, enjoyed No.1 status with his single This Is The Night.
Curuenavuli, however, would be happy just to get a recording contract out of her appearance on the show.
"Ideally I would love to have a solo career, get a record deal and make an album that's me and not anything that other people think I should be," she said.
BMG marketing executive and judge Dickson predicted that Curuenavuli's vocal talent would take her a long way but, he noted on Monday's program, her inner beauty would take her to the top.
Fellow judge Marcia Hines was shocked to see Curuenavuli voted out of the competition, accusing voters of becoming complacent. "It is so important that people don't simply take the easy road and assume their favourites will get through," she said.
Curuenavuli, who will return to the show for an appearance in the grand final episode, said she was surprised and pleased to have made it as far as she did. "It has been really strange because I don't really think of myself as fitting that typical pop star look and style," she said.
She was genuinely touched by the support she received from fans, especially after the infamous gold dress episode.
"When you're in the house you are kept away from everything, so you really don't have much of an idea about how people are responding to you or the show," she said.
"But once you're out of the house you realise how big it is . . . all these strangers keep coming up to me and saying, 'You go, girlfriend'."
www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/11/01/1067597198575.html
By Rachel Browne
November 2, 2003
The Sun-Herald
She may be a fallen idol, but Sydney singer Paulini Curuenavuli is well on the way to a successful career in the music industry.
The 21-year-old was voted off Australian Idol last Monday, but she has already won a fan base most musos can only dream of.
With more than 2 million people around Australia watching the show that she was asked to leave, Curuenavuli is already reaping the rewards of that exposure.
Instead of retreating to lick her wounds, the singer from Sydney's south-west has already been discussing her future with a range of music industry professionals.
"I've really just been talking to people about what I should do now that I am out of the competition," she said.
"I wanted to pick people's brains about what sort of direction I should take, and the best way of going about it.
"I've been getting advice from a lot of people who work in the music industry, but also from my family and my friends, because I really value their opinions as well."
Fijian-born Curuenavuli was widely tipped to win the competition thanks to her angelic voice and a sympathy vote arising from the uproar caused by her decision to wear an unflattering gold dress, drawing harsh criticism from judges Mark Holden and Ian "Dicko" Dickson.
"Obviously, it would have been great to stay in the competition, but unfortunately that didn't happen," she said.
"But everyone has been really supportive and encouraging, telling me that is no reason to give up.
"Everyone's been telling me to keep going, which is what I am going to do. Something out there will happen for me."
Record company BMG has an option on signing all the contestants, but is only obliged to sign the winner. The company will make a decision on the other singers once the show is over and the emotion surrounding it has died down.
"I hope BMG will sign me, but there is no guarantee that it will," Curuenavuli said.
"But this would be such a good time to bring something out because I've got such a great fan base from the show."
Curuenavuli, who lives with her parents and four siblings, has been a full-time musician since leaving school, playing with her band MIXX. Now she has an opportunity most struggling singers would give their right tonsil for, and she's determined to make the most of it.
"It is daunting because no one gets the sort of leg up we've been given, thanks to the show," she said.
"And you want to take advantage of it, but you don't want to make a sudden decision and end up doing something that's not right."
While the winner of Australian Idol, to be revealed in the grand finale show on November 19, is assured of a No.1 record, as foreign versions of the show have proven, the runners-up have also enjoyed success.
Gareth Gates was the runner-up in the first UK series, but his version of Unchained Melody topped the British charts, selling 850,000 copies in one week. He went on to release four No. 1 singles.
Another runner-up in the UK version, Darius Danesh, also topped the charts with his single.
Similarly, Clay Aiken, who appeared in this year's American Idol but lost to Ruben Studdard, enjoyed No.1 status with his single This Is The Night.
Curuenavuli, however, would be happy just to get a recording contract out of her appearance on the show.
"Ideally I would love to have a solo career, get a record deal and make an album that's me and not anything that other people think I should be," she said.
BMG marketing executive and judge Dickson predicted that Curuenavuli's vocal talent would take her a long way but, he noted on Monday's program, her inner beauty would take her to the top.
Fellow judge Marcia Hines was shocked to see Curuenavuli voted out of the competition, accusing voters of becoming complacent. "It is so important that people don't simply take the easy road and assume their favourites will get through," she said.
Curuenavuli, who will return to the show for an appearance in the grand final episode, said she was surprised and pleased to have made it as far as she did. "It has been really strange because I don't really think of myself as fitting that typical pop star look and style," she said.
She was genuinely touched by the support she received from fans, especially after the infamous gold dress episode.
"When you're in the house you are kept away from everything, so you really don't have much of an idea about how people are responding to you or the show," she said.
"But once you're out of the house you realise how big it is . . . all these strangers keep coming up to me and saying, 'You go, girlfriend'."
www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/11/01/1067597198575.html
