Post by MaybeNext on May 22, 2005 18:29:51 GMT 10
Idol search is one big
karaoke party
LUCY CARNE
22may05
BRISBANE witnessed a giant karaoke and slumber party when Australian Idol auditions were held yesterday.
A crowd of 1500 wannabe pop stars began queueing at South Bank's Suncorp Piazza from Friday afternoon, braving rain and cold to camp in tents, sleep on cement or stay awake all night, waiting for their 30-second dash for fame.
Students, single mums, labourers, footballers and lawyers came from as far as Byron Bay and Mackay.
Some dressed as fairies, others brandished acoustic guitars and one man, wearing a wedding gown, spent the day trying to locate a pair of white high heels.
Auditions for the reality TV talent quest began at 9am and while a select few made it through the cattle call, most went away with their dream of stardom shattered – unless they return, undaunted, for another audition today.
The first success story was stay-at-home mum Leanne Fermanian, of Beenleigh, who performed a mix of Missy Higgins' Scar and Aretha Franklin's Respect.
The 26-year-old was the first to score a pink card, which signalled she was to return on Wednesday to perform for the show's judges.
Bursting through the audition doors she screamed and waved her pink ticket as the crowd cheered with excitment.
"I was actually here to support my little idol – my little brother Anthony," she said.
"I'm disappointed he didn't make it through today, but, whoa, I can't believe this."
Now in its third year, Australian Idol has become the country's favourite karaoke quest and has launched the music careers of Guy Sebastian, Anthony Callea, Robs Mills and Brisbane's Joel Turner.
But since its inception, Australian television has been swamped with reality talent programs, something a Channel 10 spokeswoman said was responsible for the low turnout yesterday, which failed to eclipse last year's 6000 hopefuls.
Australian Idol co-host James Mathison, 27, said yesterday he never expected the show to be so successful.
"In the beginning everyone thought it wasn't going to work.
"But then it was huge and it's cool that three years on there's still an appetite for it."
Mathison's co-host and former Brisbane boy Andrew G, said yesterday's Brisbane auditions and last month's Cairns auditions had revealed "lots of people whose voice tells a story".
"People have come out of the woodwork that wouldn't always have had a crack," Andrew, 31, said.
Returning to the show, which begins in July, will be the original judging panel of Mark Holden and Marcia Hines.
But the acerbic-tongued judge Ian "Dicko" Dickson will be missing, replaced by former Wellington Point boy and radio host Kyle Sandilands, 33.
www.thesundaymail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,15366174%255E2765,00.html
karaoke party
LUCY CARNE
22may05
BRISBANE witnessed a giant karaoke and slumber party when Australian Idol auditions were held yesterday.
A crowd of 1500 wannabe pop stars began queueing at South Bank's Suncorp Piazza from Friday afternoon, braving rain and cold to camp in tents, sleep on cement or stay awake all night, waiting for their 30-second dash for fame.
Students, single mums, labourers, footballers and lawyers came from as far as Byron Bay and Mackay.
Some dressed as fairies, others brandished acoustic guitars and one man, wearing a wedding gown, spent the day trying to locate a pair of white high heels.
Auditions for the reality TV talent quest began at 9am and while a select few made it through the cattle call, most went away with their dream of stardom shattered – unless they return, undaunted, for another audition today.
The first success story was stay-at-home mum Leanne Fermanian, of Beenleigh, who performed a mix of Missy Higgins' Scar and Aretha Franklin's Respect.
The 26-year-old was the first to score a pink card, which signalled she was to return on Wednesday to perform for the show's judges.
Bursting through the audition doors she screamed and waved her pink ticket as the crowd cheered with excitment.
"I was actually here to support my little idol – my little brother Anthony," she said.
"I'm disappointed he didn't make it through today, but, whoa, I can't believe this."
Now in its third year, Australian Idol has become the country's favourite karaoke quest and has launched the music careers of Guy Sebastian, Anthony Callea, Robs Mills and Brisbane's Joel Turner.
But since its inception, Australian television has been swamped with reality talent programs, something a Channel 10 spokeswoman said was responsible for the low turnout yesterday, which failed to eclipse last year's 6000 hopefuls.
Australian Idol co-host James Mathison, 27, said yesterday he never expected the show to be so successful.
"In the beginning everyone thought it wasn't going to work.
"But then it was huge and it's cool that three years on there's still an appetite for it."
Mathison's co-host and former Brisbane boy Andrew G, said yesterday's Brisbane auditions and last month's Cairns auditions had revealed "lots of people whose voice tells a story".
"People have come out of the woodwork that wouldn't always have had a crack," Andrew, 31, said.
Returning to the show, which begins in July, will be the original judging panel of Mark Holden and Marcia Hines.
But the acerbic-tongued judge Ian "Dicko" Dickson will be missing, replaced by former Wellington Point boy and radio host Kyle Sandilands, 33.
www.thesundaymail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,15366174%255E2765,00.html
