Song For The Winner -The D.T
Oct 12, 2006 21:42:20 GMT 10
Post by Neski on Oct 12, 2006 21:42:20 GMT 10
Song For The Winner - The Daily Telegraph
By Erin McWhirter, TV Writer
September 08, 2006 12:00
THIS years' Australian Idol contestants have been set a challenge - to pen a song for the show's winner.
Scattered throughout their Sydney mansion, the 12 aspiring singers are busy scratching down lyrics and notes on paper, while the humming of sweet melodies fills the air.
While they would all like to claim victory in the fourth series, the person who snares second place might have their song sung in front of more than two million Australian's at the 2006 grand finale at Sydney's Opera House.
And if it happens, it will be a first for Australian Idol.
"I put a recording studio in the house this year and set them a challenge last week to come up with the song for the finalist,'' the program's executive producer Greg Beness said.
"I want them to give it a go. They were like bees to honey when they saw the studio and the expressions on these kids' faces who haven't been to the big smoke before, let alone have access to a recording studio, was wonderful,'' he said.
While the buck stops with record label Sony BMG, Mr Beness said if the right song is written he will help the finalist present it to the company's executives.
"If they come up with a great lyric and great hook themselves for the final song I would be stoked,'' he said.
"It would be good to keep it in the Idol stable.''
West Australian musician and Idol contestant Chris Murphy said while they had not had much spare time to write, the opportunity was golden.
"It's something I definitely want to do,'' the 30-year-old brother of 2003 finalist Courtney said.
"We did a hands up last night of who writes and there are lots of us, more then previous years, so I would love to have a go at writing the single for sure. Who wouldn't?''
American Idol has added a songwriting competition, where amateur and professional songwriters can compete for the chance to write songs for the finalists, but Mr Beness said he was not so sure of that idea.
"We were tempted to go down that competition route, but I am just not convinced the idea is one that will evoke songwriters,'' he said.
In an attempt to attract viewers and essentially keep the show from the programing chopping board, Australian Idol has undertaken a hefty revamp to freshen its appeal.
Part of the new and improved format meant more impressive advertising campaigns in the lead up to the launch, extending the age limit on auditions to 30 and allowing aspiring stars to use instruments during auditions.
And the new-look stage viewers saw last week, complete with balcony from where Idol finalists could watch their competitors, has been ripped down this week and replaced with another new stage.
"At the beginning of the year I went to the network (Ten) and said we needed to spend money up front to get a new bunch of people who have (musical ability),'' Mr Beness said.
"They didn't want to spend the money, but believed I was right and put their money on the table. We needed to cast the net broader and it's worked..
"I can't say much about the new stage, but we are creating an event. I felt in the past some of the sets didn't depict a concert event so we are making this more of a live event for the audience.''
The new formula has reversed the dismal ratings of last year with last Sunday's wildcard show attracting 1.59 million viewers.
Since it's premiere on August 6, the program has consistently rated well, averaging more than 1.4 million viewers per episode.
"We lost the older audience last year, it happened musically with things like Lee Harding doing pop songs,'' Mr Beness said.
"This year, 40 per cent of older people are watching. Obviously musically, we have crossed a broader demographic and that's what we wanted to achieve.
"You can throw all the bells and whistles on a show like this, but if you haven't got the right cast you may as well forget it.''
Mr Beness is ``stoked'' the show has found the right cast, despite some being sceptical about the genre-specific pop format.
Serious musician Bobby Flynn was one of those artists.
"I hadn't watched the show, so I didn't know much about it, but I absolutely had reservations about auditioning,'' the 25-year-old said.
"But I had a call from Greg who told me they were re-creating the show to encourage musicians and singer-songwriters, taking a more serious approach.
"He listened to my concerns and I thought I would take the opportunity forward.''
The finalists this year are a "mixed and unique bag'' Mr Beness said.
At one end of the spectrum, there are the older guys close to 30-years-of-age - father of one Damien Leith, pub-rocker Guy Mutton and the just married Murphy.
Then there's the young ones.
Three finalists - Jessica Mauboy, 17, Joseph Gatehau, 18, and Lisa Mitchell, 17, are all juggling their musical dream with school work.
"I am doing it via correspondence and a tutor will come and help me out,'' said Mitchell, tipped as favourite to win.
"I definitely want to finish school because I want to get a graphic design degree. I am a songwriter, so I think it is going to be important to have something to feed off,'' she said.
"This experience is making me grow up really fast and be more independent so that should help me down the track.''
For Irishman Leith, being away from his wife Eileen and young son Jarvis is tough, but he says sacrifices have to be made to secure their future.
The 30-year-old chemist has plans to re-mortgage the family home to follow his dream.
"To be totally honest we will have to re-mortgage the house to survive,'' Leith said.
"I think the show helps us a little bit (financially), but there won't be any income. Chances like this are few and far between so you have to make the most of them.''
By Erin McWhirter, TV Writer
September 08, 2006 12:00
THIS years' Australian Idol contestants have been set a challenge - to pen a song for the show's winner.
Scattered throughout their Sydney mansion, the 12 aspiring singers are busy scratching down lyrics and notes on paper, while the humming of sweet melodies fills the air.
While they would all like to claim victory in the fourth series, the person who snares second place might have their song sung in front of more than two million Australian's at the 2006 grand finale at Sydney's Opera House.
And if it happens, it will be a first for Australian Idol.
"I put a recording studio in the house this year and set them a challenge last week to come up with the song for the finalist,'' the program's executive producer Greg Beness said.
"I want them to give it a go. They were like bees to honey when they saw the studio and the expressions on these kids' faces who haven't been to the big smoke before, let alone have access to a recording studio, was wonderful,'' he said.
While the buck stops with record label Sony BMG, Mr Beness said if the right song is written he will help the finalist present it to the company's executives.
"If they come up with a great lyric and great hook themselves for the final song I would be stoked,'' he said.
"It would be good to keep it in the Idol stable.''
West Australian musician and Idol contestant Chris Murphy said while they had not had much spare time to write, the opportunity was golden.
"It's something I definitely want to do,'' the 30-year-old brother of 2003 finalist Courtney said.
"We did a hands up last night of who writes and there are lots of us, more then previous years, so I would love to have a go at writing the single for sure. Who wouldn't?''
American Idol has added a songwriting competition, where amateur and professional songwriters can compete for the chance to write songs for the finalists, but Mr Beness said he was not so sure of that idea.
"We were tempted to go down that competition route, but I am just not convinced the idea is one that will evoke songwriters,'' he said.
In an attempt to attract viewers and essentially keep the show from the programing chopping board, Australian Idol has undertaken a hefty revamp to freshen its appeal.
Part of the new and improved format meant more impressive advertising campaigns in the lead up to the launch, extending the age limit on auditions to 30 and allowing aspiring stars to use instruments during auditions.
And the new-look stage viewers saw last week, complete with balcony from where Idol finalists could watch their competitors, has been ripped down this week and replaced with another new stage.
"At the beginning of the year I went to the network (Ten) and said we needed to spend money up front to get a new bunch of people who have (musical ability),'' Mr Beness said.
"They didn't want to spend the money, but believed I was right and put their money on the table. We needed to cast the net broader and it's worked..
"I can't say much about the new stage, but we are creating an event. I felt in the past some of the sets didn't depict a concert event so we are making this more of a live event for the audience.''
The new formula has reversed the dismal ratings of last year with last Sunday's wildcard show attracting 1.59 million viewers.
Since it's premiere on August 6, the program has consistently rated well, averaging more than 1.4 million viewers per episode.
"We lost the older audience last year, it happened musically with things like Lee Harding doing pop songs,'' Mr Beness said.
"This year, 40 per cent of older people are watching. Obviously musically, we have crossed a broader demographic and that's what we wanted to achieve.
"You can throw all the bells and whistles on a show like this, but if you haven't got the right cast you may as well forget it.''
Mr Beness is ``stoked'' the show has found the right cast, despite some being sceptical about the genre-specific pop format.
Serious musician Bobby Flynn was one of those artists.
"I hadn't watched the show, so I didn't know much about it, but I absolutely had reservations about auditioning,'' the 25-year-old said.
"But I had a call from Greg who told me they were re-creating the show to encourage musicians and singer-songwriters, taking a more serious approach.
"He listened to my concerns and I thought I would take the opportunity forward.''
The finalists this year are a "mixed and unique bag'' Mr Beness said.
At one end of the spectrum, there are the older guys close to 30-years-of-age - father of one Damien Leith, pub-rocker Guy Mutton and the just married Murphy.
Then there's the young ones.
Three finalists - Jessica Mauboy, 17, Joseph Gatehau, 18, and Lisa Mitchell, 17, are all juggling their musical dream with school work.
"I am doing it via correspondence and a tutor will come and help me out,'' said Mitchell, tipped as favourite to win.
"I definitely want to finish school because I want to get a graphic design degree. I am a songwriter, so I think it is going to be important to have something to feed off,'' she said.
"This experience is making me grow up really fast and be more independent so that should help me down the track.''
For Irishman Leith, being away from his wife Eileen and young son Jarvis is tough, but he says sacrifices have to be made to secure their future.
The 30-year-old chemist has plans to re-mortgage the family home to follow his dream.
"To be totally honest we will have to re-mortgage the house to survive,'' Leith said.
"I think the show helps us a little bit (financially), but there won't be any income. Chances like this are few and far between so you have to make the most of them.''
