news articles 9 March

[Ava]

thanks to Luke

Promotion exhausting for Aussie Pop Idol

09.03.2004 By MIKE HOULAHAN

Guy Sebastian is more than Australia's Pop Idol judging by the number
of stares and autograph requests he's had during his visit to New
Zealand this week.

"I don't mind it at all," he smiles after signing a postcard for a
fan.

"But promotion is the most exhausting part of this. The only thing
I've ever done that's as exhausting is teaching, where you spend 30
minutes with someone, you've got to be switched on, and then you have
someone completely new 30 minutes later."

Sebastian knows how to put on the charm at the flick of a switch.
It's a knack which went a long way toward his winning the inaugural
Australian edition of the television talent quest Pop Idol.

Pop Idol has created stars around the world - a New Zealand version
is currently on our screens - and Australia has been no exception.
Both Sebastian and the man he beat to win a record deal, Shannon
Noll, have become household names and recording stars.

"I had absolutely no concept of how much this was going to change my
life," the 22-year-old Adelaide man - who four months ago would have
been just another face in the restaurant - says.

"It's more of a question of what's the same in my life because almost
nothing is. I'm around different people all the time, I've moved away
from home, I don't get to eat my Mum's cooking any more, I don't have
my friends around me any more, I don't play indoor cricket (Sebastian
played in the same social team for 11 years), I'm not at my church
any more. My life now is very different."

That said, music was all Sebastian is ever wanted to do. A trained
radio therapist, he threw the job in because not singing made him
miserable. A succession of part-time jobs, including cleaning,
working as storeman, teaching and truck driving, paid for home studio
equipment, and he was working on developing his own repertoire of
songs before the Pop Idol competition swept him and set him on the
road to fame.

"It's like you're going out to battle, the idol situation," Sebastian
says.

"You've just given it your best shot to sing in front of that many
people, you've overcome so many nerves, and suddenly you're
confronted with three people who are either going to lift you right
up or drag you right down."

Luckily for Sebastian judges Marcia Hines, Ian Dickson and Mark
Holden lifted him to the very top. Even more fortunately Australia's
record buying public embraced their choice, flocking to buy debut
single Angels Brought Me Here and album Just As I Am.

Sebastian is more than well aware of the cynicism that surrounds
shows such as idol, and unbidden steps up to defend himself against
the "accusation" of being a manufactured pop star.

"If you place 90 per cent of musicians out there into the Idol
audition - no music, just singing, just hop up on stage and sing...
I'm not going to name names but I guarantee you 90 per cent of those
people wouldn't make it through the auditions based on their vocal
ability. That competition is totally based on your ability to sing:
if you sing totally out of key you're going to be laughed at, the
judges are going to totally cream you, you'll be embarrassed and no
one's going to vote for you.

"Yes, careers are aided obviously by the incredible media coverage,
but you can't manufacture talent."

- NZPA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
thanks to Steffie

guy was at chilton st james today..this is wat happened

S: stu
G: GUY!

everyone started chanting "WE WANT GUY!! WE WANT GUY!!!!
S: chilton st james how u doin!!! *everyone screams* im stu the night guy from 91zm and we r sooo stoked to be at your school today
*everyone screams*
everyone like my afro? *everyone screams*
its not as cool as guy sebastian's but i reckon in a couple more weeks i mite just master it..alrite guys backstage right now..Are u ready to see him!
*everyone screams*

CHILTON ST JAMES GO CRAZY..MR GUY SEBASTIAN!!! *everyone screams*

G:U GUYS READY!!! *everyone screams*
*guy laughs*
u know ive been over to one school..i went to christchurch and its been the only school ive sung at..and u guys kick their butt as far as screaming *everyone screams REALLY loud!*

do your teachers scream too? hello teachers how r ya? *teachers scream lol*
alrite this shows gunna be fantastic! *everyone screams*
thank u so much for having me..its great to be here and congratulations..i think u guys voted great so..well done..and uh i dont want to see u guys..just standing there...watching..*everyone laughs*
its like party time *everyone screams*

starts to sing angels....everyone sings along..

and thats all ive got so far..thats all theyve played on the radio..hopefully theyll play sum more

[Raspberry]

Ava's at it again. Lol, do you ever stop?

anyways thanks for the interview.

A succession of part-time jobs....truck driving

Cool! I never knew he was a truckie!

[Ava]

heehee, *busy bee*

thanks to steffie

NICOLE FROM ZM TALKING ABOUT GUY

S: stables
N: lady whos name i dont know
N: its absolutley manic down here theres about 300 people outside
sounds store on lambton quay another 50 have probably been through already
and uh loads and loads of star-struck little school girls
S: geez has he whipped through 50 of em already?
N: he could work on the young ladys
S: hey hey ill tell u wat, hey just tell me..how long is he there for?
N:umm he'll be here till about 5.00 so that the uh..queue is moving
really quickly so if you wanna jump down here now you'll still get something signed im sure
S:look what can you bring down to sign..if i wanted to come meet
guy sebastian..and look..who wuldnt?..ummm what can i bring with me to sign?
N:ahh why dont you bring uh..some girls have laminated some pictures out of magazines and stuff and brought them down with guy on them, i ithnk
they mite have flogged a few cd covers and got that so...im sure u could
sweet talk him into signing something else i dunno
S: we'll talk to you soon! bye nicole!

*in the background u can hear WOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!*

[Ava]

Girls' High rocks to 'the fro'
09 March 2004


FRO ON TOUR: Australian Idol popstar Guy Sebastian drove a Christchurch Girls High School crowd wild at a lunchtime concert yesterday, launching a five-day tour of New Zealand


"Go the Fro." That was the call resounding around a feverish Christchurch Girls' High School yesterday after the arrival of Australian idol winner Guy Sebastian.


Affectionately known for his "fro" hairstyle, Sebastian kicked off a five-day New Zealand tour with a performance in Christchurch.

Hundreds of girls crammed into the school auditorium for a half-hour concert after winning a radio station competition to have Sebastian perform during the lunch hour.

The 21-year-old also arrived in New Zealand just in time for the final round of New Zealand Idol's "top 24", which screened on Sunday night.

And he had plenty of advice to offer Idol hopefuls.

"There are a lot of guys in New Zealand who have really beautiful voices, particularly those coloured guys, so I think the big thing is going to be picking through the best of them.

"I thought Eddie and Sela were great. They sang within themselves – they didn't get lost in the song. And that is really important advice, to choose a song that suits you."

Life as a pop star had taken its toll on Adelaide-born Sebastian who admitted to feeling "very tired".

He admitted to being "a bit overwhelmed" by the fans he had acquired over the last six months.

"The girls are a bit crazy. The other night (in Sydney) I was sitting at the traffic lights and these two girls just jumped into my car. They had recognised me and demanded I drop them off somewhere.

"I thought it was easier not to argue, so I did it, but it's that kind of invasion of privacy that goes on. Some girls are just really forward and while all my mates think it would be heaven, it's not. All I really want is someone who likes me for myself and isn't just screaming when she sees me."

[Inside Australian Idol]

Shannon red flagged
The Eye
March 09, 2004


SHANNON Noll has copped a caning for his version of the national anthem at the Grand Prix.


He's all smiles, but Shannon's F1 performance got the thumbs down

The Australian Idol runner-up came under fire from GP fans and F1 telecast viewers yesterday.

Noll admitted his legs were shaking as he stepped up to the mike - someone had reminded him he'd be singing for a worldwide audience of 250 million.

Not an easy gig, we know, but the comments weren't good.

Noll's record company, BMG, would not comment yesterday.

But the performance was given the thumbs up by Grand Prix chairman Ron Walker.

"It sounded OK from where we were," Walker said yesterday. "I was on the grid with all the dignitaries. It sounded OK to us."

Shannon may not have impressed with his rendition of Advance Australia Fair , but he still has the No. 1 album.

That's What I'm Talking About has held off Snorah Jones, who slips to No. 3 with her latest album, Feels Like Home.

The rise and rise of Pete Murray continues - his album, Feeler, moves from No. 3 to No. 2.

Noll's hit, What About Me, remains at No. 2 on the singles chart. Last week, Guy Sebastian claimed top spot, but this week British babe Jamelia has taken over with Superstar.

The Fro Boy's All I Need Is You dropped to No. 3.

Herald Sun

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