Calling All Superstar Wannabes
If you ever had dream of becoming a superstar, Korea may be your place:
SHE might live a quiet life in Adelaide as a singing teacher, but overseas, Kirsty Roberts is a pop idol. Well, she’s treated like one, anyway. Scoring work in South Korea earlier this year, Kirsty headed over to do what she thought would be a simple cover-band gig.
Her overseas group, Wild Fever, however, struck a chord with locals and she got to feel first-hand just what it would be like to be in a pop supergroup.
“It was amazing,” says Kirsty, who also fronts the Adelaide band, Quazi. “You’re another cover band gigging in local pubs over here and over there, you’re a superstar. Any Westerner who’s performing over there is treated like royalty and they think you’re a star.”
Kirsty lived in a beachside apartment and ate three meals a day at a five-star buffet. She also lived it up. “You’d play six days a week, but you’d only sleep about three or four hours a night,” she says. “It’s pretty hard to come down after gigs like that.” The group even needed security guards, but Kirsty says they didn’t help much. “Even the staff think you’re stars, so that’s weird,” she says.
Maybe New Kids on the Block or Milli Vanilli can make a come back here too?
I tended to hang out in clubs and bars away from The Hill, when I was in Korea. Mostly went to either the Hilton in right above Iteawon or to the Hard Rock Cafe near Apkujong. Both usually had import cover bands playing (either from Australia/New Zealand or from the Philippines). I have to say, they were usually pretty good. Most of the local or national acts tended to be Boy Band or Girl Pop Idol types of groups, which didn't really appeal to me….