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Reaching for the stars
Reaching for the stars
15 June 2003
By Christine Sams, The Sun-Herald
WELCOME to the fame game, where more than 7000 Sydneysiders
were vying for the chance to become Australia's biggest
pop star.
The auditions for Australian Idol Channel Ten's
new talent search show were so popular in Sydney yesterday
and Friday organisers added an extra day of auditions.
Thousands more hopefuls are expected to attend auditions
today for their chance to find pop glory on national television.
"Everyone wants to become famous," said Patrick
Aitken, a 21-year-old singer and guitarist from Summer
Hill, who attended auditions at Wentworth Hall at Sydney
University yesterday. "It's definitely a chance for
fame and fortune, but I think getting my music heard is
exciting," he said.
Mr Aitken was happy to entertain other people in the queue
with his guitar while waiting for his chance to shine
in front of a panel of judges. More than 3000 hopefuls
turned up at auditions yesterday morning, some of them
lining up from 5am.
Apart from performers from all over Sydney, there were
young men and women from country NSW towns including Bathurst
and Blayney. Some would-be stars came from as far afield
as the Northern Territory.
"This is really cool, I didn't know how many people
to expect," said Janna Rowe, 21, from Darwin. "There's
so many talented people in Sydney it's unreal."
Although there was a feeling of goodwill among hopefuls
yesterday, the tough (and sometimes bitchy) competition
between finalists is expected to reap ratings rewards
for Ten when the show goes to air in August.
"People are taking this very seriously," said
the show's co-host Andrew G , who met hundreds of contestants
at the Sydney auditions yesterday. "I expected a
few drag queens to come along for fun in Sydney, but I
haven't seen one here."
After the chaos of live national auditions, much of Australian
Idol will see 16 of 18 episodes filmed inside a Sydney
studio. Thousands of entrants will be eliminated through
three stages of judging, then the top 100 entrants from
across Australia will be flown to Sydney in late July.
Judges will then choose 40 finalists, who will appear
on the television series. But the public will have the
ultimate say in deciding the winner, with a national voting
system similar to Big Brother.
There will only be one overall winner, with the No. 1
performer expected to become a household name across the
nation. In the US and the UK, where the Idol formula was
a smash-hit success, individual winners have sold millions
of albums.
o PAUL SIO, 18, Moorebank.
Reason for entering: "I was inspired by Reuben, the
winner of the American Idol contest."
Audition song: Michael Jackson's Rock With You.
Pop idol: Michael Jackson.
o MARY SAADEH, 17, Bankstown.
"I like singing and it sounded like fun."
Audition song: Jennifer Lopez's Waiting For Tonight.
Pop idol: J.Lo.
o WILLIAM ANDREWS, 18, Mosman.
"I came here with friends because we were curious
about the competition."
Audition song: Michael Jackson's Maybe Some.
Pop idol: Kylie Minogue.
o ALICIA KEEGAN, 20, Canberra.
"I love all types of singing and I can play instruments
including the piano, guitar and trumpet."
Audition song: Faith Hill's Stand By Me.
Pop idol: Robbie Williams.
o BELINDA LUM, 21, Croydon.
"My friends suggested I try out, but I secretly wanted
to anyway."
Audition song: Jewel's Foolish Games.
Pop idol: Elton John.
o TYRONE TEXEIRA, 23, West Pennant Hills.
"I just wanted to see if I was any good or not."
Audition song: Savage Garden's To The Moon And Back.
Pop idol: Prince.
o ALISA GRAY, 27, Randwick.
"I've been performing for 10 years from bands to
cabaret."
Audition song: Probably an Anastasia song.
Pop idols: Prince, Lenny Kravitz and George Michael.
The judging panel consist of singer Marcia Hines, former singer
and now writer and producer Mark Holden and BMG record label
representative Ian Dickson.
