Post by Inside Australian Idol on Mar 13, 2005 22:30:12 GMT 10
Casey is Anthony's Idol
By JAMES WIGNEY
13mar05
AUSTRALIAN Idol runner-up Anthony Callea has gone in to bat for his "best buddy" Casey Donovan, who beat him to the title last year, following rumours her record deal was on shaky ground.
"Casey should be very proud of what she has achieved -- she has a platinum album at 16 years of age," Callea said.
Callea bears no ill will to his Idol conqueror, saying he respected the people's choice for the top-rating reality TV show.
"She was the Australian Idol because Australians voted for her," he said.
Donovan's post-Idol career has stalled, with her second single What's Going On entering the charts at an unimpressive No. 18 two weeks ago and now at No. 24.
Her debut album For You tumbled out of the top 100 last week and now sits at 143.
But a spokesman for Donovan's record company, Sony BMG, dismissed speculation that the singer had been dumped by the label.
He said while For You, which was recorded in six days, had likely run its course after the two singles, it was business as usual for the singer and a marketing meeting would be held next week to discuss her future.
By contrast, Melbourne-born Callea has gone into overdrive with an appearance at the Australian Grand Prix last weekend following his gig at a Red Cross Ball in Sydney for Crown Princess Mary and Prince Frederik of Denmark.
His debut single, The Prayer, is the highest selling single by an Australian artist, with sales of about 330,000 and still sits at No. 21.
The Prayer knocked Donovan's first single Listen With Your Heart off the No. 1 spot just before Christmas, prompting Callea to apologise to his Idol rival.
"I left a message saying 'I'm really sorry I knocked you off the No. 1 spot," Callea said.
Callea's double single Rain/Bridge Over Troubled Water, released tomorrow, is expected to chart well.
www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,12527702%255E2902,00.html
By JAMES WIGNEY
13mar05
AUSTRALIAN Idol runner-up Anthony Callea has gone in to bat for his "best buddy" Casey Donovan, who beat him to the title last year, following rumours her record deal was on shaky ground.
"Casey should be very proud of what she has achieved -- she has a platinum album at 16 years of age," Callea said.
Callea bears no ill will to his Idol conqueror, saying he respected the people's choice for the top-rating reality TV show.
"She was the Australian Idol because Australians voted for her," he said.
Donovan's post-Idol career has stalled, with her second single What's Going On entering the charts at an unimpressive No. 18 two weeks ago and now at No. 24.
Her debut album For You tumbled out of the top 100 last week and now sits at 143.
But a spokesman for Donovan's record company, Sony BMG, dismissed speculation that the singer had been dumped by the label.
He said while For You, which was recorded in six days, had likely run its course after the two singles, it was business as usual for the singer and a marketing meeting would be held next week to discuss her future.
By contrast, Melbourne-born Callea has gone into overdrive with an appearance at the Australian Grand Prix last weekend following his gig at a Red Cross Ball in Sydney for Crown Princess Mary and Prince Frederik of Denmark.
His debut single, The Prayer, is the highest selling single by an Australian artist, with sales of about 330,000 and still sits at No. 21.
The Prayer knocked Donovan's first single Listen With Your Heart off the No. 1 spot just before Christmas, prompting Callea to apologise to his Idol rival.
"I left a message saying 'I'm really sorry I knocked you off the No. 1 spot," Callea said.
Callea's double single Rain/Bridge Over Troubled Water, released tomorrow, is expected to chart well.
www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,12527702%255E2902,00.html