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Tag: singing

  • Katy Perry: Part of Me (giveaway)

    Katy Perry: Part of Me (giveaway)

    This post is sponsored by Nuffnang.

    A screenshot from Katy Perry: Part of Me
    A screenshot from Katy Perry: Part of Me

    If someone had told my 17-year-old self that one day I would be writing a book, I’d probably have gone red, cowered into a corner and felt generally embarrassed that someone was mocking me. Now, 18 years on, it doesn’t seem like such a bizarre concept. Here I am, finally living my dream.

    Princess Ella and I regularly have the “when I’m a big girl…’’ talk. Mostly she talks about singing and dancing on stage. That’s all she wants to do. She’s highly disappointed she hasn’t been able to achieve that already in life – at the tender age of FOUR!

    We stopped ballet lessons late last year. Although the elephant and giraffe dance live on, I assure you. We’re now on the hunt for some other form of dance for her, because there are only so many home concerts one mum can bear.

    I’m going to compare myself to Katy Perry here. I know, don’t cringe. Just be thankful I didn’t marry Russell Brand or I could be telling a really creepy kinda story right now.

    Katy’s new event movie, Katy Perry: Part of Me is a 3D backstage pass into the fun, heartbreaking, inspiring and crazy world she leads while on the road. You can only imagine, right? It includes these quotes:
    “She was not an overnight success’’.
    “People said she couldn’t do it.’’
    “I think Katy is a dreamer.’’
    And in Katy’s own words: “I feel a real connection to fairytales and I think in some ways I live in a fairytale’’.

    These all ring true for me. If I’d listened to the naysayers, I wouldn’t have become a journalist. In a community where it was expected you’d work on a farm pulling calves out of the back end of cows or in a factory sorting out chips from potatoes, it was odd to say you wanted to write for a living. It wasn’t a realistic dream. And yet, a decade and a half in journalism and half a book later…

    All I really want for Ella and Holly is to be happy and healthy. Whether they become singers, Zumba instructors or street sweepers is irrelevant. As long as they can jump out of bed each morning and love what it is they do. And if it helps look after their parents financially in their retirement, all the better. Just sayin’.

    Sure, it won’t be a perfect red carpet ride – and I certainly haven’t had one – but passion and a positive attitude will help get you there. Katy has proven that. I have proven that.

    Katy Perry: Part of Me, which is released in cinemas on July 2, is all about how Katy overcame obstacles to achieve her dreams. It’s a film I think young girls would take a lot from to show they can be whoever they want to be. Just make sure you’re happy with your version of YOU!

    “You don’t have to feel, like a waste of space, you’re original, cannot be replaced’’.

    Along with Paramount Pictures and Nuffnang, we’re offering five cinema passes to see Katy Perry: Part of Me in 3D. To go in the draw, simply answer the question:

    What are your dreams for your children?

    Please refer to the Terms and Conditions. Entries close July 9 at 5pm.

  • Young Talent Time’s newest star has arrived

    Young Talent Time’s newest star has arrived

    Girl smiling and posingMost of you know by now that Ella is a huge Young Talent Time fan, which is not surprising considering she was born to a super fan from a previous generation. However, there’s one little difference between her and I – confidence.

    This week she stood up in front of her entire Kindergarten class and sung Queen’s Somebody To Love (performed on YTT by Lyndal) – twice. The second time she sang it without her pinky in her mouth! Not surprsingly, her goal in life is to be on Young Talent Time.  Let’s see if that one changes before the four years is up.

    When I asked her “why did you sing?”, she said: “because I wanted them to hear my lovely singing voice.” So, here you are, Ella’s “lovely singing voice” on Somebody To Love. If only she knew the words.

    Do you have a Young Talent Time fan in your house?

  • WIN: Aussie Giveaway Linkup #39

    WIN: Aussie Giveaway Linkup #39

     

    Ella singing using biscuit box
    Princess Ella using cheese and biscuits as a microphone

    I thought I’d give you a little insight into my week and a few of my wins:

    • The week started with The Bloke in The Shed getting “the snip’’ and ended with me getting all clucky over seeing a newborn bub yesterday. Um, too late now.
    • I performed a little magic trick on Twitter during the week, with @ThreeLil morphing into @KellieOBrienAU. I may possibly have an identity crisis before the week is out.
    • Princess Ella performed three Young Talent Time classics (complete with YTT moves) for the video camera this week. It was apparently to “put on your blog, Mum’’. My favourite is: “Ana ple-ay, oh story, and I’m hanging on a moment with you’’. Translated: “I’m on the edge of glory and I’m hanging on a moment of truth’’. Apologies to Lady Gaga when I finally upload that one during the week.

    Something I’m not sorry about is the fabulous giveaways being linked up in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup (yeah, I know, that segway was about as clever as those on Today Tonight) . Anyway, most of you know the drill by now – click the links and start entering to win some fabulous prizes.

    If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:

    1. Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately. If you need to delete it, hover over your link, wait until the red “x’’ appears and click.
    2. Giveaways must be open to Australian residents.
    3. Grab the button to add to your post.
    4. A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
    5. Start entering the giveaways! Entry is at your own risk. We do not take responsibility for unfulfilled prizes or a blogger/business not abiding by their own terms and conditions.




    Aussie Giveaway Linky
    Hosted by Three Lil Princesses



  • What the heck are stage presents?

    What the heck are stage presents?

    Kellie O'Brien Three Li'l PrincessesPrincess Ella and I are very similar – apart from the fact I have great hair. We bond over singing, dancing, drawing, music, craft and preening my great hair.

    Only yesterday we spent the afternoon making special letters for each of the kids at childcare she won’t see again after this week. Tomorrow marks the last day of childcare before she graduates to “big girl school’’.

    However, there’s one little thing that is fast becoming “our special bonding moment’’. The one hour-long block that is just for us to talk about the things that connect us most. It’s Young Talent Time and the singing and dancing.

    Ella is a 7pm to bed person, but on Sundays I’ve been allowing her to stay up until 7.30pm. We talk about what performances we liked best, who we thought should have won, how good (or bad) the singing was and why the dancing worked (or didn’t). I try to encourage her to look at the negatives of a performance constructively – rather than just “that was terrible, Mum’’.

    It’s also been a chance to share some of my (limited) singing and dancing knowledge from years of lessons. Like when the rock guitarist performed on Sunday, I was trying to explain to her about “stage presence’’. “But where are the presents, Mum?’’ Failed on that one.

    Then, when we were marvelling at the YTT team’s performance of Beyonce’s Halo, her only reaction at the end was: “The sky is green? And the ground is blue? What? That’s like Upsey Down Town, Mum. That’s silly.’’ Upsey Down Town being a popular Play School song.

    The last was again during the rock guitar performance, where host Rob Mills introduces her performance by saying “she’ll rock your socks off’’. Ella’s response: “But where is she going to put them?’’ After a long and detailed explanation of what “rock your socks off’’ means, she asked: “Can I rock my socks off with my recorder?’’ Eat your heart, darling.

    What’s your special bonding moment with your children?

  • Who was your favourite Young Talent Time member?

    Who was your favourite Young Talent Time member?

     

    Young Talent Time, Tina Arena,
    Do you know who this is?

    In the lead up to the big Young Talent Time launch tonight, I asked on Twitter and Facebook for people to name their favourite YTT member during the Johnny Young days. The answers varied considerably, depending on a person’s age. Or they didn’t answer – because it would reveal their age.

    For me it was a toss up between Dannii and Vince. Or maybe the late Juanita, who passed away in a terrible car accident. In its last few years, I got pretty hooked on Rikki too.

    Some of the answers that came through included:

    • I liked Dannii and Greg. Hated Courtney, I thought she was so stuck up. LOL
    • I was 3 when it finished :/
    • I have no idea who Vince was. In my day it was Phillip, Jamie and some other guy… #showingmyage
    • Tina Arena!
    • Bevan. But now when I think of that mullet, I get shivers #notgoodones
    • Oh yes Vince!! Be still my beating teenage heart! I loved Tina too and Danni – I was a YTT addict. I just hope they do a good job with it this time around. I’m so hoping they keep their moral standard and have something fun enjoyable (that parents don’t have to monitor) for little ones. I know my girls are going to love it. They are singing and dancing mad. Looking forward to finding out 🙂

    During my years as an entertainment journalist, I got handed a Young Talent Time DVD. It’s one of my treasured possessions in the DVD cupboard for all the wonderful memories it brings back. Our family never missed an episode. They were also subjected to follow up concerts, with me always singing lead into a hairbrush.

    Then of course there’s seeing a very curly haired Nicole Kidman in her BMX Bandit days spruiking the film. Not your finest fashion moment, Nic.

    Oh, and I probably should mention we had a dog. Named after Bevan. Tragics? Yes!

    So, I want to know, who’s your favourite Young Talent Time member?

    Thanks to all those who left comments on Facebook and Twitter.

  • Singing a Christmas carol with my daughter seven years on

    Singing a Christmas carol with my daughter seven years on

    Zhu Zhu, Zhu Fari, Zhu Zebra, IF YOU missed yesterday’s laugh, I mean post, you would have missed the original Christmas song I wrote and recorded all the way back in 2004. It’s a cracker. Or it will crack you up, one of the two.

    Anyway, yesterday Princess Ella and I decided to recruit some help and tackle one of our all-time favourite Christmas carols, Silent Night – a capella. Of course, I should have already known trying to get two Zhu Zhus and a four-year-old giggling girl to cooperate would be challenging, but this is the end result:


    I know the Zhu Zhus would have been better stuffed into a bag for all the help they provided with harmonies. Actually, to be honest, they’re not a bad idea if you’re looking for a stocking filler. Well, that’s what Ella will find in hers, anyway.

    Apologies for the quality of the video and that darn date in the corner. First attempt at recording via the laptop! Yes, welcome to amatuer hour.

    Are your children obsessed with Christmas carols as much as mine is at the moment?

    Linking up Shae from Yay for Home’s Things I Know. Make sure you click to learn what others’ know.


    DISCLOSURE
    : I am a Zhu-Fari mummy blogger ambassador.