thanku to Libby from Yahoo Groups
Go the pop idol way
More pop idol mania is on the cards and this time it's international live Pop Idols that lands on our shores, writes JASON CHEAH.
IT HAS taken three years for the whole Pop Idol phenomenon to finally arrive on our shores, whether on TV or on our doorsteps.
Okay, we've heard that before, but come next week we'll see some
of the reality talent search that has taken TV ratings all around the world through the roof. For pop fans, the familiar names of Gareth Gates and Guy Sebastian on a single concert bill is something to shout about. Both will take the stage in Kuala Lumpur on April 8.
The concert venue is the Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort Indoor Club in Kuala Lumpur and there's no arguing that this gig will definitely go down as a night of the Pop Idols. There's now variety in live concerts in Kuala Lumpur, a welcome change. The last six months have been good for mainstream rocks fans (such as the successful Linkin Park and Incubus shows) and even pop diva fans had their night out with Mariah Carey recently.
It's the turn of the young male pop stars to make an impression. The Gates/Sebastian combination is an enticing billing to get the toothy teen-pop masses, their parents and aspiring Malaysian Idol/Akademi Fantasia punters all fired up to revel in an evening of wholesome pop. Many disappointed Enrique Iglesias fans can also
get over their idol's concert cancellation here with a bright dose of Gareth Gates and Guy Sebastian as a quick pick-me-up.
Headlining the gig at Bukit Kiara will be British teen idol
Gates.
The show is part of a tour that comprises only four cities in Asia: Seoul, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Taipei.
Interestingly enough, Gates is proof that you don't have to win thePop Idol competition to become a star. Current American Idol runner- up Clay Aiken, British Pop Idol 1 third placer Darius, and past American Idol finalist Kimberley Locke are other examples of new found stars.
Gates was famously beaten to the post in the inaugural Pop Idol in Britain in Feb 2002 by a mere 200,000 votes (out of a total of nine million, mind you) by the even more successful winner Will Young. But Gates was merely getting his pop career started.
At a tender age of 18, Gates was the youngest British male artiste to have a British No.1 single under his wings with a cover of Unchained Melody in 2002. Two smash hit albums – 2002's What My Heart Wants To Say and Go Your Own Way (2003) – added to three
more No.1 singles, including a duet with Will Young on a cover version of the classic The Long and Winding Road.
The young star has yet to hit 20, but Gates already has the head start in the music industry most pop stars would dearly love to have. Two months ago, Gates won it big on the Asian front when he walked away with the favourite male artiste in the International Music Category at the MTV Asia Awards 2004 in Singapore. He outstripped other nominees, including his own pop idol Robbie Williams, and Ricky Martin, Eminem and Justin Timberlake.
Gates's Say It Isn't So duet with our very own Malaysian pop queen Siti Nurhaliza during their performance at the MTV Asia awards
also received rave reviews from industry insiders and pop critics all over.
For his Asian tour, Gates will be backed by a four-piece band and do shows expected to last 90 minutes each. Rumour has it that Siti might make an appearance on stage for another round of that MTV Asia hit duet – just for KL fans! But we'll just have to keep our fingers- crossed for that performance.
As if that's not exciting enough, local concert promoter Live Audience (M) Sdn Bhd has upped the concert attractions for Gates's much-awaited show by adding Malaysian-born winner of Australian Idol 2003 – Guy Sebastian – to the bill. The afro-sporting pop sensation, born in Klang and now living in Adelaide, is slotted for a 30- minute show. Sebastian's set will be the ticket to get the local masses interested because of his strong local ties.
The 22-year-old Sebastian is a genuine cultural phenomenon – a pop idol whose mesmerising voice, disarming charisma and gravity defying hairdo has not only captivated a nation, but has set the record books reeling.
His winning performance at the Australian Idol grand finale was the most watched programme on Australian TV last year.
His debut single Angels Brought Me Here debuted at No.1 on the Aria charts with a record 128,000 copies sold in one week, the fastest selling single by a debut artiste in Australian history. This feat was achieved during a time of falling sales in the singles market all over the world. It has now gone on to be the highest selling Australian single ever.
His debut album Just As I Am, which includes Angels Brought Me Here and the new single All I Need Is You, has been released locally. The album is a musically-assured slice of funk-tinged urban pop and soul that belies the extreme circumstances in which it was recorded: an intense five-and-a-half day recording schedule.
With a double dose of young male pop to savour next week, you can be assured Kuala Lumpur's pop faithful will be smiling from ear to ear.
Tickets for Gareth Gates – Go Your Own Way Tour 2004, Live Concert in Malaysia, priced at RM68 and RM98, are now available at all Ticket Charge outlets; all Tower Records outlets; selected Music Valley outlets nationwide; Souled Out, Sri Hartamas, KL; Beach
Club Café, Jalan P. Ramlee, KL and Bukit Bintang Monorail Station,
Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL. Call the Ticket Charge hotline (03-7726 2002)
for details or log on to
www.Tiket Charge.com.my.
Doors open at 7pm, with Sebastian performing first before Gates takes the stage.
There is also a bonus for fans of Sebastian as he will be performing exclusive showcases on April 9, first at Kit Kat Club, Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Kuala Lumpur (8pm) for Hitz.fm contest winners, then at Espanda Club, Jalan P. Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur (10pm) for both exclusive pass holders and the public.
There will also be an autograph signing session on April 10 at Sunway Pyramid Main Entrance, Bandar Sunway, Selangor at 11am.
Albums by Gates and Sebastian, released by BMG, are available at local record stores.
