Post by Inside Australian Idol on Mar 17, 2005 23:41:33 GMT 10
Callea's not second-best
By Jonathon Moran
March 17, 2005
From: AAP
Bold step ... Anthony Callea's outo prove he's not second-best.
NO one normally remembers the person who came second, but Australian Idol runner-up Anthony Callea is determined to change that.
The 22-year-old singer, defeated by Sydney teenager Casey Donovan in the last series of the singing contest, releases his debut album later this month.
With the success of his first single, a version of Andrea Bocelli's The Prayer, Callea's future looks bright.
``In a competition like that, there is never any guarantee that you are going to be signed as a runner-up,'' Callea said.
``You just have to try and make the most out of that position.
``There was no way I was going to let that slip through my fingers.''
The Prayer has gone four times platinum, meaning more than 330,000 copies were sold.
That makes Callea's debut offering the most successful Australian single of all time and also the highest selling Australian single.
Callea said that, despite his initial success, he was ``a bit nervous'' about the album.
``It is a big month. I enjoyed recording it and I love how it sounds but now it is just like, I'm giving it away.
``So hopefully the people out there will really like it.''
Callea missed out on the Idol crown in November when 16-year-old Casey Donovan secured the title and a recording deal with Sony BMG Australia.
However, just days later, Callea was also signed to the label.
Donovan's first single Listen With Your Heart went double platinum with sales of more than 140,000 copies.
Her album, For You, was recorded in just six days and went double platinum with similar sales figures.
Callea said there were positives and negatives to coming first, just as there were for second place. ``I am glad I didn't have to record an album in six days but at the same time obviously I would have loved to have won the competition,'' he said.
Recent newspaper reports have suggested Donovan risks being dumped by Sony BMG because of poor album sales and have implied a bitter feud between her and Callea.
``It is quite disappointing that the media can be so negative,'' Callea said, adding that he was in regular contact with Donovan.
``It is like they're making this thing between me and her like a war is going on.
``It is all just crap because at the end of the day, she is a 16-year-old with a platinum album and I would be very proud to have that.''
Callea's show business career started at the age of five when he began training at the Johnny Young Talent School.
He will hit the road in May with a full national tour planned for July.
Throughout the Idol competition, Callea battled jokes about his height and rumours about his sexuality.
``It so does not bother me at all,'' Callea said. ``I am not that short. I just laugh it off.'' Callea believes interest in his private life is just part of being a celebrity.
``You just don't let it get to you. If you listen to everything that is being said out there, you would go insane.''
Anthony Callea's self-titled debut album is released nationally on March 28.
entertainment.news.com.au/story/0,10221,12572728-7484,00.html
By Jonathon Moran
March 17, 2005
From: AAP
Bold step ... Anthony Callea's outo prove he's not second-best.
NO one normally remembers the person who came second, but Australian Idol runner-up Anthony Callea is determined to change that.
The 22-year-old singer, defeated by Sydney teenager Casey Donovan in the last series of the singing contest, releases his debut album later this month.
With the success of his first single, a version of Andrea Bocelli's The Prayer, Callea's future looks bright.
``In a competition like that, there is never any guarantee that you are going to be signed as a runner-up,'' Callea said.
``You just have to try and make the most out of that position.
``There was no way I was going to let that slip through my fingers.''
The Prayer has gone four times platinum, meaning more than 330,000 copies were sold.
That makes Callea's debut offering the most successful Australian single of all time and also the highest selling Australian single.
Callea said that, despite his initial success, he was ``a bit nervous'' about the album.
``It is a big month. I enjoyed recording it and I love how it sounds but now it is just like, I'm giving it away.
``So hopefully the people out there will really like it.''
Callea missed out on the Idol crown in November when 16-year-old Casey Donovan secured the title and a recording deal with Sony BMG Australia.
However, just days later, Callea was also signed to the label.
Donovan's first single Listen With Your Heart went double platinum with sales of more than 140,000 copies.
Her album, For You, was recorded in just six days and went double platinum with similar sales figures.
Callea said there were positives and negatives to coming first, just as there were for second place. ``I am glad I didn't have to record an album in six days but at the same time obviously I would have loved to have won the competition,'' he said.
Recent newspaper reports have suggested Donovan risks being dumped by Sony BMG because of poor album sales and have implied a bitter feud between her and Callea.
``It is quite disappointing that the media can be so negative,'' Callea said, adding that he was in regular contact with Donovan.
``It is like they're making this thing between me and her like a war is going on.
``It is all just crap because at the end of the day, she is a 16-year-old with a platinum album and I would be very proud to have that.''
Callea's show business career started at the age of five when he began training at the Johnny Young Talent School.
He will hit the road in May with a full national tour planned for July.
Throughout the Idol competition, Callea battled jokes about his height and rumours about his sexuality.
``It so does not bother me at all,'' Callea said. ``I am not that short. I just laugh it off.'' Callea believes interest in his private life is just part of being a celebrity.
``You just don't let it get to you. If you listen to everything that is being said out there, you would go insane.''
Anthony Callea's self-titled debut album is released nationally on March 28.
entertainment.news.com.au/story/0,10221,12572728-7484,00.html