Post by MaybeNext on Jun 1, 2005 18:00:58 GMT 10
Idol wannabes prepare for stardom bid
16:48 AEST Wed Jun 1 2005
AAP
Christie Aboumelhem is just one of the many Sydneysiders tuning her vocal chords for this weekend's Australian Idol auditions.
The reality television show, which has turned Guy Sebastian and Casey Donovan into household names, will return at the end of July for a third season.
Auditions have already been held in Cairns, Hobart, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
This weekend it's Sydney's turn.
Thousands are expected to attend Saturday's event at Darling Harbour.
Aboumelhem, a 25-year-old accountant from Parramatta, in Sydney's west, said she had been up late this week practising her songs, including Whitney Houston's Greatest Love Of All, a popular choice with female Idol candidates.
"I was singing all night last night and now my voice is husky," said Aboumelhem, who was struggling to shake off the flu before Saturday.
"Hopefully I'll make it through to the next round."
The accountant, who had her own band Cayge which performed gigs around Sydney, said that winning would be one of her "dreams".
Although she took the competition "pretty seriously" she said she would try not to turn on the waterworks if she didn't make the auditions.
Aboumelhem, who admitted she was addicted to the show, also said she was prepared for new celebrity judge Kyle Sandilands.
The controversial radio host has been brought in to replace Ian "Dicko" Dickson, who featured in the first two series of Australian Idol.
Aboumelhem said she was ready for any criticism from him.
"I have these very forward relatives so I've heard it all before," she said.
Ricki-Lee Coulter is one former Idol star who has been on the reality television journey and survived.
The singer, part of the 2004 series, released her first single Hell No! and is working on her debut album, to be released later this year.
"I never thought that I would have been on TV in front of three million viewers every week and done a national tour at the Opera House or record an album," said Rick-Lee of her experience.
She said that the competition had proved to be priceless.
"You can't buy this sort of exposure," Coulter said, adding that since she was booted off the program she had received mostly positive press about launching a record.
The 19-year-old, who is currently starring in Nine's Celebrity Circus, had one piece of advice for Idol wannabes - just be yourself.
"I was adamant that I was not going to change myself just to get on camera," Coulter said.
Sydney auditions will be held until June 6.
Idol hosts Andrew G and James Mathison will be back for another season of Ten's high-rating program, along with celebrity judges Marcia Hines and Mark Holden.
While the broadcaster's other talent search program X-Factor bombed in the ratings, Idol drew over one million viewers per episode for the first two series.
The latest instalment is expected to do the same.
news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=5772
16:48 AEST Wed Jun 1 2005
AAP
Christie Aboumelhem is just one of the many Sydneysiders tuning her vocal chords for this weekend's Australian Idol auditions.
The reality television show, which has turned Guy Sebastian and Casey Donovan into household names, will return at the end of July for a third season.
Auditions have already been held in Cairns, Hobart, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
This weekend it's Sydney's turn.
Thousands are expected to attend Saturday's event at Darling Harbour.
Aboumelhem, a 25-year-old accountant from Parramatta, in Sydney's west, said she had been up late this week practising her songs, including Whitney Houston's Greatest Love Of All, a popular choice with female Idol candidates.
"I was singing all night last night and now my voice is husky," said Aboumelhem, who was struggling to shake off the flu before Saturday.
"Hopefully I'll make it through to the next round."
The accountant, who had her own band Cayge which performed gigs around Sydney, said that winning would be one of her "dreams".
Although she took the competition "pretty seriously" she said she would try not to turn on the waterworks if she didn't make the auditions.
Aboumelhem, who admitted she was addicted to the show, also said she was prepared for new celebrity judge Kyle Sandilands.
The controversial radio host has been brought in to replace Ian "Dicko" Dickson, who featured in the first two series of Australian Idol.
Aboumelhem said she was ready for any criticism from him.
"I have these very forward relatives so I've heard it all before," she said.
Ricki-Lee Coulter is one former Idol star who has been on the reality television journey and survived.
The singer, part of the 2004 series, released her first single Hell No! and is working on her debut album, to be released later this year.
"I never thought that I would have been on TV in front of three million viewers every week and done a national tour at the Opera House or record an album," said Rick-Lee of her experience.
She said that the competition had proved to be priceless.
"You can't buy this sort of exposure," Coulter said, adding that since she was booted off the program she had received mostly positive press about launching a record.
The 19-year-old, who is currently starring in Nine's Celebrity Circus, had one piece of advice for Idol wannabes - just be yourself.
"I was adamant that I was not going to change myself just to get on camera," Coulter said.
Sydney auditions will be held until June 6.
Idol hosts Andrew G and James Mathison will be back for another season of Ten's high-rating program, along with celebrity judges Marcia Hines and Mark Holden.
While the broadcaster's other talent search program X-Factor bombed in the ratings, Idol drew over one million viewers per episode for the first two series.
The latest instalment is expected to do the same.
news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=5772
