news articles 28 april

[Inside Australian Idol]

Is Paris so vain, Millsy?
April 28, 2004


WHEN the guy who had a fling with Paris Hilton releases a song called Ms Vanity, you know it's going to grab people's attention.


So last summer... is Millsy's single a swipe at his Hilton fling?

Robert "Millsy" Mills is launching his solo career this week with the pop/rock tune.

The single will hit record stores on May 31.

But there's one glaring question: Is the song about Ms Hilton?

"What do you mean?" Millsy said yesterday.

"I actually didn't write the song.

"It's one of five tracks on the album I didn't co-write. I just thought it was a really catchy pop-rock tune."

Aw, come on, Millsy. Do any of the lyrics refer to Paris?

"They might," he said coyly.

"The lyrics may refer to the Ms Vanity character - I don't know who that would be though . . ."

You can make up your own minds with the lyrics:

"Calls at 3am/Stands you up again/Has ten thousand friends/It's just the way she is . . ./Never waits in line/Never has the time/Makes you lose your mind/That's just the way she is."

The song was written by US songwriter Matthew Gerrard, who has worked with Delta Goodrem.

Millsy also confirmed his record company, BMG, wanted to get Paris in the video for the song.

"It was pitched to me from BMG. I just chose not to," he said.

Millsy is shooting the Ms Vanity video in Sydney today.

"The theme of the video is a beauty pageant - I'm the MC," he said.

And will he be catching up with his old flame while she's filming House of Wax on the Gold Coast?

"She's pretty busy, I'm pretty busy," Millsy said.

"I'm recording every single day and I haven't got a day off for the next three weeks."

The hotel heiress has been out on the town on the Gold Coast,

She even rocked up to a kid's 13th birthday party.

Millsy's debut album is out on June 17.

Herald Sun

entertainment.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4459,9409050%255E10431%255E%255Enbv,00.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Fans rush to see an Aussie Idol
Wednesday, 28 April 2004

PORT Macquarie has its very own Shannon Noll fan club – and on Friday night they are going to go off.

The group even requested a private party with the hottest new Aussie rock star during his whirlwind stopover in town this week.

But they won't get it.

Instead, they will have to squeeze their way through to the stage at Panthers Port Macquarie auditorium like the rest of the 800 fans who are eager to catch a glimpse of him in action.

Tickets to see the Australian Idol runner-up in an all-ages concert sold out last Saturday. The Port Macquarie event is the first on the tour which takes in 23 regional towns across the state.

In between slapping hands with the fans, the Condoblin boy already has appointments with every media outlet in town.

"Even his fan club – the Port Macquarie Shannon Noll Fan Club – requested some time with the singer," said promoter John Logan.

"This country boy has charisma. He seems to have something that others don't have ... empathy from the public."

John Logan Entertainment sent submissions to five regional centres on the North Coast – Grafton, Yamba, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie and Forster – to have Shannon Noll perform.

But it was only Port Macquarie that secured the deal.

For Port Macquarie fans, this will be the second time they get to see the country rocker in just four months after his guest appearance at the Hot House Party in January.

This time he will bring along his band and sing songs from his best selling album What About Me and the second single Drive.

John Logan of John Logan Entertainment said tickets had sold out very quickly. "Sellouts are not unknown in Port Macquarie, but this is the first one for a long time," he said.

"Locals have certainly warmed to him."

Panthers Port Macquarie marketing team leader Janette Hyde said extra security staff would be on standby both inside and outside the auditorium.

She said it was a smoke and alcohol-free event and children under the age of 18 years had to be accompanied by an adult.

portmacquarie.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=local&category=general%20news&story_id=302550&y=2004&m=4

[Inside Australian Idol]

Jarra may be our next Idol
By AMANDA POWELL
28apr04

TOWNSVILLE talent will feature in the next instalment of Australian Idol if local singer Jarra Duffie has her way.

Ms Duffie, 18, is heading to Brisbane for auditions in the star-seeking reality show next month, her sights set on becoming the next Australian Idol, or close to it.

Ms Duffie has been singing since she was 12, and is part of the City Stars pop group Anjel that sang as a supporting act to previous Idol winner Guy Sebastian in Townsville's Flinders St East opening celebrations.

"It was amazing," Ms Duffie said of the experience.

"It made me realise that it (singing) is what I want to do."

Missing auditions for last year's show due to work commitments, Ms Duffie is hoping to make a lasting impression by singing an "older" song to the judges.

"I want to show the judges I can sing a range of styles," she said.

While most contestants have their hearts set on certain fame and fortune, Ms Duffie says she would be satisfied making the top 40 Idol hopefuls, and just having fun.

"I'll definitely be taking a pack of cards for the long wait in line," she said.

townsvillebulletin.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,9412154%255E14787,00.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Anastacia makes her move
April 28, 2004


Three new entrants shake-up the singles chart this week.

D-12 take the number two spot with My Band, while Australian Idol runner-up Shannon Noll's single Drive grabs the number four spot.

And Canadian skater-punk Avril Lavigne takes tenth position with Don't Tell Me.

Australian Pete Murray's album Feeler is pushed from its number one spot in the albums chart this week by Anastacia's self-titled album.

Meanwhile, the biggest mover on the albums chart is Vancouver vocalist Michael Buble with his swinging self-titled album, which jumps 13 spots, from 16 to three.

Australian singles chart

1(1) F**k It (I Don't Want You Back) - Eamon (JIVE/BMG)
2(-) My Band - D-12 (UMA)
3(4) Left Outside Alone - Anastacia (EPI/SONY)
4(-) Drive - Shannon Noll (BMG)
5(6) Black Betty - Spiderbait (UMA)
6(3) Suga Suga - Baby Bash (INI/UMA)
7(5) With You - Jessica Simpson (COL/SONY)
8(2) Yeah - Usher feat. Ludacris & Lil' Jon (ARI/BMG)
9(7) Hey Mama - Black Eyed Peas (INI/UMA)
10(-) Don't Tell Me - Avril Lavigne (ARI/BMG)

Australian albums chart

1(8) Anastacia - Anastacia (EPI/SONY)
2(1) Feeler - Pete Murray (COL/SONY)
3(16) Michael Buble - Michael Buble (WARNER)
4(2) Confessions - Usher (ARI/BMG)
5(4) That's What I'm Talking About - Shannon Noll (BMG)
6(10) Greatest Hits - Guns N' Roses (GEF/UMA)
7(5) Sunrise Over Sea - The John Butler Trio (JAR/MGM)
8(3) Fallen - Evanescence (EPI/SONY)
9(7) Feels Like Home - Norah Jones (EMI)
10(9) On And On - Jack Johnson (MOD/UMA)

AAP

www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/27/1082831556642.html