Silverchair are giving fans the chance to own their ARIA award-winning album Young Modern on vinyl. With only four hundred available, they’re a must for collectors.
As you can expect with such a small pressing, these will sell out. To get your hands on one, head to Silverchair’s online store.
They’ll cost $45 for Aussies and $50 for fans overseas, including all shipping and handling costs. What’s more, all orders go into the draw to win a signed copy. Now that would make it really special!
Tomorrow is McHappy Day, the one day of the year when we can feel a lot less guilty about eating plenty of Big Macs.
One dollar from the sale of every Big Mac sold will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities. If you’re more of a McNuggets fan like myself you can still help out by buying a $2 wristband.
Besides the warm fuzzy feeling you get from helping out sick kids, McHappy Day’s biggest drawcards are the kind-hearted celebrities who swap their glamorous day jobs for flipping burgers.
The kids from Australian Idol will be at McDonalds in Granville at 11 am, and at Warriewood at 2 pm.
You can see whether their Australian Idol judge Kyle Sandilands is really as grumpy as he seems at McDonalds Hurlstone Park at 11 am, Five Dock at 12:15 pm, and Stanmore at 1:15.
Idol graduate Ricki-Lee Coulter will be doing her bit in Queensland. You can see her at the McDonalds on Cavill Avenue, Gold Coast at 10:30 am, at Helensvale at 11:30 am, at Milton at 1:30 pm, at Redcliffe at 2.45 pm, and at Caboolture at 4 pm.
I’m sure some non-Idol singers will also be helping out, but they don’t seem as willing to publicise their appearances. Why not visit your local Maccas and see who’s there?
Move over MySpace. Kylie Minogue’s just released her own social network, Kylie Konnect, and it’s sure to be a big hit with fans.
Like other social networking sites, Kylie Konnect allows users to create profiles, make friends, and upload pictures. But what sets it apart is all the little extras for Kylie fans.
The site promises its users will be first to know the latest news about Kylie. They can also win great prizes, and access exclusive downloads. At the moment, users can download real tones from Kylie’s soon-to-be released album X, watch a sketch from The Kylie Show, and see Kylie’s welcome video.
Meet Australia’s answer to the Dixie Chicks, The McClymonts.
Just like their American counterparts, sisters Samantha, Brooke, and Mollie McClymont are sexy, sassy, and they’re bringing country into the 21st century.
“If we can have even a quarter of the success of the Dixie Chicks, we’d be stoked,” Samatha told The Sunday Telegraph.
“We are always going to get that comparison because we are three girls playing country music, but our music is different.”
The girls released their debut album Chaos and Bright Lights this week. The record is upbeat and modern, with just a hint of traditional bluegrass. Yee-haw!
Our own Delta Goodrem may sing with one of her biggest idols when Canadian diva Celine Dion arrives in Sydney next year.
Delta has been a long-time fan of Celine’s work, and it seems the admiration is mutual. Celine recorded Delta’s song “Eyes on Me” for her comeback album, Taking Chances.
Celine will tour Australia through March and April, and rumours are already buzzing that the pair will treat Aussie audiences to a diva duet.
“It’s early days but the opportunity is definitely there – Australia is one of Celine’s best selling territories so it would make sense,” a Sony BMG spokeswoman told The Daily Telegraph.
“If their schedules allow for it we’ll make every effort to connect with Celine – Delta would be beside herself,” added Delta’s management.
Aussie poppettes The Veronicas have earned their first number one single this week. Their catchy electronic track “Hook Me Up” climbed three places to take out the top spot on the ARIA charts.
But they couldn’t topple country rock veterans The Eagles, who remain at the top of the album charts with their latest effort, Long Road Out of Eden. The Veronicas’ new album, also called Hook Me Up, is sitting pretty at number two.
It was another strong week for local lass Delta Goodrem whose single “In This Life” is currently sitting at number five on the singles charts. Her new album Delta is at number three.
David Campbell is back doing what he does best with The Swing Sessions 2. The classic covers album debuted at number eight on the album charts, just ahead of fellow Aussies Sneaky Sound System and The John Butler Trio.
Click below to see the complete Australian top 10.
In one of the closest verdicts this season, Australian Idol viewers sent home likable crooner Carl Riseley.
Just four percent separated Carl from remaining Idol hopefuls Matt Corby and Natalie Gauci. Despite coming so close to the Idol crown, Carl was gracious in defeat.
“Man, I am so thrilled for these two,” he told the studio audience. “These two are the most talented guys I have ever met.”
Next Sunday Matt and Natalie will perform three songs including the winner’s single “Here I Am.” Then they’ll head to the Sydney Opera House on November 25 to learn who will be our next Australian Idol.
Image source: Charlotte in Australia @ Flickr
It’s crunch time on Australian Idol, with only three young hopefuls remaining. Tonight we’ll see one of them leave the comp, paving the way for the final two to sing for the ultimate title at the Opera House. You’d think all of that would have inspired some outstanding performances, but did it?
Natalie Gauci was first up, singing the viewer’s choice of “Ray of Light.” I agree with Kyle – this is the worst thing I’ve seen Natalie do. Personally I’ve never liked the song, and it did Natalie no favours. If nothing else, it proved that Natalie can’t sing anything. Thankfully, this wasn’t her only song of the night. Pink’s “Nobody Knows” was a much better choice, and I really enjoyed it.
I was really excited when I heard the home viewer had picked “You Give Me Something” for Carl Riseley, but I didn’t think this worked at all. Vocally it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. I thought his version of “For Once in My Life” was better, but it still wasn’t up to the standard I’d expect at this stage of the competition. I like Carl a lot, but I’m wondering whether he peaked too early.
I was beginning to despair that the viewers’ choices would unintentionally sabotage all of the Idols, when Matt Corby appeared. Evermore’s “It’s Too Late” was the perfect song for him, forcing him to step out of the introspective space he’s inhabited for the last few weeks and really perform. In my eyes, this was the performance of the night. He closed the show with a soaring rendition of “Across the Universe.” It didn’t quite have the “Idol Moment” I think he was aiming for, but it came pretty close.
I honestly have no idea who will go tonight. If the punters vote on performance alone, Carl should be shown the door but we all know more comes into play than that. His status in the bottom two last week will only inspire more Carl fans to pick up the phone. I feel Matt and Natalie have been our most consistent performers and deserve places at the Opera House, but will it happen? You’ll have to watch tonight’s elimination show to find out!
The federal election is just two weekends away, and if you believe the polls change is in the air. Australian elections are largely free from the celebrity endorsements seen in the American campaigns, but some of our most influential musicians are starting to speak out about who has, or hasn’t, got their vote.
Shannon Noll’s made no secret of backing National MP for Parkes John Cobb.
“I think with this election people are concerned about issues that are going to affect them personally and musicians are no different, whether it be petrol or interest rates,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
Mark Seymour, Sarah Blasko, Tim Freedman, and Perry Keyes will show their support for Labor by playing at the party’s arts policy launch today.
“At the end of the day we all have a responsibility at some time in our lives to make our core values known, even if it’s just to our friends over a barbecue,” Mark Seymour said.
The rumours about Sinead O’Connor were true. She’ll be there alongside other international big guns The Black Crowes, Wilco, Don McLean, Buddy Guy, Ron Sexsmith, and Loudon Wainwright III.
They’ll join a host of local big names including Keith Urban, Eskimo Joe, John Butler Trio, Clare Bowditch, Gotye, and Angus and Julia Stone.
Expect the announcement of more talent before the festival kicks off at Byron Bay’s Belongil Fields on 20-24 March 2008. Tickets are on sale now.
