news articles 5 january

[Inside Australian Idol]

Guy's call: Beckhams missed


January 5, 2004

HE HAS now made his mark on the world stage but Guy Sebastian still has his feet firmly planted on the earth.



Super cool ... Guy Sebastian was busy phoning home

While most people wouldn't miss out on the chance to meet two of the biggest celebrities on the planet – David and Victoria Beckham – the Australian Idol winner had more important things to do when an opportunity for a meet and greet came up during filming of the final World Idol show in London.

"I had a meeting with Becks and Posh and I kind of missed it," he told Sydney Confidential.


"I was in my dressing room making my happy New Year calls to everyone back home so I kind of missed the meet and greet, which was unfortunate.


"But that's OK, I sat through all her sound checks and was intrigued by how flexible her dancers were."


And although Elton John also featured on the final show, there was no chance to rub shoulders with the ivory tinkler.


"[His performance] was a pre-record so none of us got to see him – it's amazing how TV works," he said.


This week, Sebastian will be looking for some post-Christmas bargains as he starts the process of furnishing his new Sydney home.


"I'm going to come home and deck out my apartment and stuff like that," he said. "I've got a day or two to buy every single piece of furniture and appliance for my house. I can't wait. It's just something normal."


Sebastian and the Australian Idol finalists kick off their national tour later this month.


Meanwhile, the biggest loser in the World Idol stakes seems to be Polish judge Kuba Wojewodzski whose erratic behaviour baffled viewers and caused fellow judges to declare him "a moron".


Ian "Dicko" Dickson says that the Polish journalist had faced an outcry in his homeland because of his actions on the internationally-broadcast sing-off.


"Apparently the guy's been made into a national pariah," says Dicko.


"Politicians have been saying he'll never work again – he's turned into the most-hated figure in Poland.


"But I have to say I thought he was enormously entertaining. And I keep getting these text messages saying can we have the Polish judge instead of Mark Holden next time."

dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1266&storyid=718061

[Inside Australian Idol]

Catfights marred World Idol
By Toby Forage
January 05, 2004


BRITISH World Idol contestant Will Young earned the ire of his fellow contestants after behaving like a prima donna behind closed doors at the singing contest.
It has emerged the chart topper did everything he could to distance himself from his fellow competitors in an immature display of petulance that angered Norwegian winner Kurt Nilson.


It was all smiles on camera, but backstage, some Idol moods were dark.


The 25-year-old former plumber branded Young an "a--hole" after the British star refused to shake his hand following his victory, according to news reports from Norway.

Australia's competitor Guy Sebastian, who finished in the middle of the field, concurred with Nilson's story.

"I don't want to say anything bad about anyone, but Will made it pretty clear he wasn't into it," Sebastian told NW Magazine.

The gossip weekly also claimed Young, a gay icon in the UK, snubbed a dinner for the 11 contestants on New Year's Eve.

Only 10 of the 11 Idols got together in their hotel for a bash that last until 3am, with Young nowhere to be seen. It's thought he was seeing in the New Year among more "worthy" company.

Prior to the competition going to air, Young reportedly felt he had been forced into the World Idol contest against his will, and was not keen on being involved what he deemed a "tacky Eurovision-style" song contest.

Those that saw his performances in the UK's first Pop Idol had no doubt he had no interest in vying for the world crown. His version of The Doors' classic Light My Fire was far below the sensational standards he set to win the inaugural Idol title.

Young, though, may soon be forced to fight it out directly with his Norwegian nemesis. Nilson's single She's So High is about to be released in the UK.

Nilson - a father of two - spent nine weeks at No.1 in Norway with his smash, and if his popularity in World Idol is anything to go by, he could hit the top of the charts in the UK, too, a chart that Young has ruled many times.

entertainment.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4459,8325263%255E10431%255E%255Enbv,00.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Guy still tops
January 5, 2004 - 10:27AM


Despite coming seventh in the World Idol competition, Australian Idol Guy Sebastian still tops the Australian albums chart with Just As I Am.

Bad boy Robbie Williams' Live Summer drops two spots to ten while The Black Eyed Peas jump three with Elephunk.

Teen sensation Delta Goodrem has slipped one spot in the singles chart with her Innocent Eyes.

Australian singles chart

1(1) Shut Up - Black Eyed Peas (UMA)
2(3) Hey Ya - Outkast (ARI/BMG)
3(2) Predictable - Delta Goodrem (EPI/SONY)
4(4) Behind Blue Eyes - Limp Bizkit (INR/UMA)
5(7) Me Against The Music - Britney Spears feat. Madonna (JIVE/BMG)
6(6) Baby Boy - Beyonce feat. Sean Paul (COL/SONY)
7(10) Be Faithful - Fatman Scoop (MUK/UMA)
8(9) It's My Life - No Doubt (INR/UMA)
9(8) P.I.M.P. - 50 Cent (INR/UMA)
10(12) Baby Boy - Big Brovaz (EPI/SONY)

Australian albums chart

1(1) Just As I Am - Guy Sebastian (BMG)
2(2) Innocent Eyes - Delta Goodrem (EPI/SONY)
3(3) Greatest Hits - Red Hot Chili Peppers (WARNER)
4(4) Vulture Street - Powderfinger (UMA)
5(6) Life For Rent - Dido (CHE/BMG)
6(9) Elephunk - Black Eyed Peas A&(M/UMA)
7(7) No 1's - Michael Jackson (EPI/SONY)
8(10) In Time: The Best Of R.E.M. 1988-2003 - R.E.M. (WARNER)
9(11) A Rush Of Blood To The Head - Coldplay (CAP/EMI)
10(8) Live Summer - 2003 - Robbie Williams (CAP/EMI)

AAP

www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/05/1073151248666.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Idol rocks
Monday, 5 January 2004

Most Forbes revellers managed to welcome in 2004 without causing trouble, but a few party-goers could not confine their celebrations to appropriate venues.
Police were called to a local licensed premises about 8.20pm on December 31 when a 17-year-old girl presented fake identification.


No better way to bring in 2004 ... Shannon Noll in action at the Forbes Inn on New Year’s Eve.

She had left the area by the time police arrived, but the fake identification was handed to police and they were to continue enquiries.

Later in the night police conducting patrols found a man urinating in Meaghers Lane.

They issued him with an infringement notice for what they described as 'unruly behaviour'.

Police also had to speak to a number of people in relation to drinking alcohol in a alcohol-free zones in Forbes on New Year's Eve. They also warned a number of young people about charges relating to minors consuming alcohol.

A 26-year-old man was the only one arrested, for the purpose of preventing a breach of the peace outside a lower Lachlan Street residence.

A police spokesperson said the man was later released without charge, but police had been called to the same location earlier in the night and moved a group of people on from there.

Hundreds rocked the new year in with Shannon Noll and Cypress at the Forbes Inn, where a capacity crowd had nothing but fun.

Noll told the Advocate he was looking forward to the night and thanked Forbes people for supporting him in his Australian Idol quest.

"I'm looking forward to playing with the boys again and getting back out here where there's just local people, where I've played heaps," he said before the performance.

Brothers Adam and Damien joined him on stage along with original band members lead guitarist Jason Eyre and bass player Simon Packham, plus Simon Bower on keyboard.

Those who bought tickets early enough to get into the sold-out gig heard Noll's new single "What About Me?" and songs off his yet-to-be-released album as well as some rock favourites.

forbes.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=local&category=general%20news&story_id=277055&y=2004&m=1

[Inside Australian Idol]

New Year Music Sales Come Back With A Thud

It was the week after Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a … music buyer. The music industry came back to reality this week. After a record spending spree leading up until Christmas, there was a 74% drop-off in sales of the Top 10 this week.

Two weeks ago the ARIA Top 10 CDs accounted for 375,654 sales. Last week, the grand total for the Top 10 was 99,395.

The biggest seller was Guy Sebastian 'Just As I Am' which slowed right down to 17,210 units last week, a drop-off of around 76%.

The entire Top 10 this week sold less than the combined effort of John Farnham's 'One Voice' and 'Delta Goodrem's 'Innocent Eyes' last week.

Kylie Minogue sold just 2,258 copies of 'Body Language' for this week's chart and newly wed / newly divorced Britney sold 2,040 units of 'In The Zone'.

One surprise was seeing Elton John's 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' back in the chart today. The 30th anniversary edition had a soft debut at No. 92.

The Guy Sebastian single 'Angels Bought Me Here' departed the Top 10 in it's sixth week. It sold 3,427 units.


by Paul Cashmere


www.undercover.com.au/news/2004/20040105_sales.html