news article - 7 July

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Winners at the MTV Awards
SOUNDS FAMILIAR By Baby A. Gil
The Philippine Star 07/07/2004

Bamboo was named Favorite Group and Favorite New Artist/Group in this year’s MTV Pilipinas 2004 Awards. There is no denying that Bamboo did make the noisiest splash in last year’s hit charts with the comeback of the greatly-missed soloist and the surefire hit Noypi. The big selling tune was also named Favorite Song and this gave the rock band the most number of trophies won in the annual music/video tilt from the best music channel of them all.

Bamboo marked the return to active performing of Rivermaya’s former soloist Francisco Manalac, also known as Bamboo. Other members are Nathan Azarcon, who was also once with Rivermaya, Ira Cruz on guitar and Vic Mercado on drums. The latter two were formerly with Passage. Taken individually, these four guys are not really newcomers to the music business but technically, when taken together as Bamboo, they belong to today’s newest, most exciting rock band of today.

The MTV awards night was held on the evening of Thursday, July 1 at PSC Philsports Arena formerly Ultra in Pasig. Other big winners were This Love by Maroon5 for Favorite International Act; Where is the Love by Black Eyed Peas for Favorite International Video; Jay R with Bakit Pa Ba? for Favorite Male Artist; Jolina Magdangal for Bahala Na as Favorite Female Artist; Doll’s Head by The Late Isabel for Best Indie Video; Avid Liongoren as Best Director for the video of Everyday by Barbie’s Cradle; and Sayang by Gloc 9 directed by Topel Lee for Best Video.

Special awards in surprise and unlikely but very MTV categories were also given. These were:: Best Use of an Open Space Award presented by Juicy Fruit to Paolo Santos for the song Mapansin; Best Dance Sequence Award presented by Smart Buddy to the Viva Hot Babes for the song Bulaklak; and the Falsest Falsetto Awards presented by SMB Play to the Akafellas for Bongga Ka Day.

The occasion was made doubly special with the presence of foreign performers who came to the Philippines to join the fun. These were Australian Idol champion Guy Sebastian who performed a duet with Star for a Night winner Sarah Geronimo , Irish pop trio Bellefire and sexy, naughty and big pop star from Thailand Tata Young on her second visit to this country.

For those who were not there, the MTV Pilipinas 2004 Special will be aired on the MTV channel on Saturday, July 24 at 3 p.m. with repeats on Sunday, July 25 at 9 p.m., Tuesday, July 27 at 3 p.m., Friday, July 30 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 31 at 10 p.m.. The red carpet parade of celebrities can be seen on Saturday, July 17 at 8:30 p.m. on Wedneday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, July 25 at 8:30 p.m.

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TVNZ

Australian Idol

Begins with Auditions on Thursday July 15 at 7.30pm

Australian Idol created Australian television history last year by becoming one of the highest rating entertainment programmes ever. The show catapulted the winner, Guy Sebastian, to superstardom.

Guy and runner up, Shannon Noll, have also made Australian music history, as the biggest-selling new Australian artists. Their debut singles and albums both went straight to number one. This year 50,000 wannabe Idols audition for the prestigious title.

Hosts Andrew G and James Mathison are back as the search is on to find Australia's 2004 Idol. Also back are judges Mark Holden, Marcia Hines and Ian 'Dicko' Dickson, who will lend their professional expertise, personal comments and criticisms to this season's hopeful idols.

This year look out for new twists - there will be 30 finalists instead of 40. Auditions will feature more of the good, the bad and the very strange aspiring idols. The audition tour visited nine cities, including four new locations: Tamworth, Darwin, Canberra and Hobart. The number of contenders in the 2004 competition also doubled.

"This year promises a higher calibre of talent and lots of fireworks from our judges - we are all very excited," says Executive Producer Stephen Tate.

So don't miss a minute of the drama and excitement. All the shows will be coming to New Zealand hot off the satellite, directly from Australia.


tvnz.co.nz/view/tv2_story_skin/434347%3fformat=html

[Darin]

We r ready for AI 2

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Guy Sebastian to perform in KL tonight

BY RUBIN KHOO
KUALA LUMPUR: Australian Idol Guy Sebastian returns to Malaysia for a showcase performance at The Hard Rock Cafe at 10.30pm tonight.

The Klang-born lad who is on his Asian promotional tour will sing five songs from his first album Just As I Am.

He will hold an autograph session on Sunday at Lot 10 at 1.30pm before flying off to Indonesia.

“I’ve been away a lot,” said Sebastian at a press conference on Wednesday.

“I’ve spent the past few months writing and recording my second album.”

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A HIT: Sebastian meeting his fans at Sunway Pyramid during his last visit to Malaysia.

For the second album, Sebastian worked with numerous international musical heavyweights including Bryan McKnight.

The second album, expected to be released at the end of the year will comprise ballads and some 1970s inspired up-tempo numbers.

For his showcase, Sebastian will sing a couple of different songs from when he performed here three months ago.

The singer whose trademark Afro hairstyle coined the phrase “Go the Fro” in Australia said his six years here were an important time in his life.

He added that he hoped to visit his hometown once again.

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Paulini on right note


Looking ahead: Former Australian Idol contestant Paulini Curuenevuli is on the promotional trail with a new label and no regrets.
Picture: Craig Wood

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LAST year Paulini Curuenevuli was one of the most talked about finalists on Australian Idol, and will be always remembered for wearing THAT dress.
Shannon Noll Picture Gallery

Now known as just Paulini, she has signed with Sony Music after initially being rejected by BMG, who had first rights over all the Idol finalists.
"I was approached the first time while I was on tour," she said.

"Somebody said that Sony is kind of interested in signing you, and I thought, 'no way'."

She admits that she was a little despondent after not initially getting a deal after Idol finished.

"I was losing a little bit of interest in the whole entertainment business," she said.

"But one person that I have to thank is my Mum, because she was always like, 'Don't worry about it, just keep going on'."

Paulini is on the promotional trail and The Eye caught up with her after she had just finished performing a showcase for the music industry in Port Melbourne.

Looking back at the Idol experience, she has no regrets.

"I'm always going to be grateful to those guys for getting me as far as I did."

She still keeps in contact with Rebecca La Vauney, but rarely sees the others.

Any advice for Australian Idol 2 finalists?

"You've got to be really confident in yourself and know what you want."

New song for Guy

TALKING of Idol, we're told that first series winner, Guy Sebastian, will have a new single to radio in about six weeks.

The single was written with American musician Thicke, who wrote When I Get You Alone.

Apparently the single has more of a disco influence than Sebastian's previous efforts.

We're told he has already been locked in to be part of Australian Idol 2, is likely to perform on the final episode of the show.

Last year's finale was held at the Sydney Opera House.

Sebastian is currently in Asia promoting his album t As I Am.