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A basic recap on Zoes Pop Idol Experience
In early August 2001, 10,000 wannabes signed up for a show called Pop Idol. Amongst the 10,000 was a young girl called Zoe Birkett. She sang in front of the panel of judges: Pete Waterman, Simon Cowell, Nicki Chapman and Neil Fox; also known as Dr Fox or Foxy. The 16year old sang Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You' and all judges were impressed by Zoe's powerful voice. She was through to the next round of intense auditions.
Zoe shone throughout the competition, clearly being one of the publics favourites, but she was voted the last girl out of the competition in week 7, coming in a fantastic 4th place, and leaving Darius Danesh, Gareth Gates & William Young to battle it out for the crown.
Soon, the 10,000 was cut down to 50 - this is the point where the public decided who should go on to the final 10. Zoe, who was in heat one, sang Whitney Houston's - One Moment In Time. Other members in heat one were Andy Love, Errol Edwards, Leverne Scott Roberts, Jayne Stala, Haifa Kayali, Paula-Jade Cremin, Julianna Hoy, Christopher Tame and of course, Gareth Gates. Zoe came in second place with 10%. In first place was Gareth with 62%. Zoe and Gareth were the first contestants to be in the final 10.
The pair went on singing and performing in Pop Idol with eight other chosen contestants William Young, Rosie Ribbons, Jessica Garlick, Hayley Evetts, Aaron Bayley, Laura Doherty, Korben & eventually, Darius Danesh. Week by week a contestant had to leave the group, voted out by the public, until we had our winner.
But that wasnt the end. Oh, no. Zoe then went ahead to wow us all at the sell-out nationwide 'Pop Idol' tour. She was fantastic singing a range of different styles of song, showing how she could suit her voice to every one. Her talent at performing infront of crowds must have been recognised as now she is supporting Gareth & Will on their tour later this year. And now, I know she'll go on to bigger and better things. With her fans, that voice and a nations love behind her, it wont be long until she amazes us once more.
ZOE BIRKETT - HER JOURNEY THROUGH POP IDOL
London, August 2001. Thousands of hopefulls gather at the London ExCeL centre in Docklands, in hope of a lucky break. Among these thousands is a very young 16 year old girl. This girl was Zoe Birkett. She bravely stands infront of the four judges, Foxy, Pete, Simon & Nikki, looking stunningly like a member of Destinys Child, and sings her first audition piece, Whitneys, "I Will Always Love You." Thumbs up all round from the judges, and Zoe goes back home to Darlington with the biggest smile on her face.
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Zoe's heat is the first one. Heat one, its unsiprisingly called exists of nine other talented hopefuls, Zoe herself, Andy Love, Errol Edwards, Leverne Scott Roberts, Jayne Stala, Haifa Kayali, Paula-Jade Cremin, Julianna Hoy, Christopher Tame and, of course, Gareth Gates. Its a toughie. Zoe sings Whitney Houstons "One Moment In Time" and gets a good reception from the judges. Its up to the public however, but they choose Zoe, who comes in second place with 10% of the voted, and Gareth Gates who came first with 62% of the votes, to be the first two conteders in the final ten. It turns out, that up untill the last few minutes, Zoe & Haifa Kayali, were at level pegging. What would Pop Idol have been without our Zoe?
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Zoe meets up for the first time with the other nine final ten contestants in December 2001. Little did she know that these nine, Gareth Gates, Rosie Ribbons, William Young, Korben, Aaron Bayley, Jessica Garlick, Hayley Evetts, Laura Doherty & Rik Wallar, would soon become her new best friends. Well apart from Rik however who pulls out of the first week due to a bad throat. Throughout the week leading up to their first Live Big Saturday, the ten go to press-conferences, vocal coaching, health farms & christmas shopping, whilst rehersing their first song for that week. The theme is Pop Idol, where the contestants have to sing a song of their own Pop Idols. Zoe sings "I Will Always Love You" to perfection. Claps and applause all round. They're all put to the public vote again, and unknown to her, Zoe comes third that week in the votes tally with 10.8%. Korben is the first one out, and the reality of it all slaps the remaining nine in the face.
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The theme on the second week is Christmas songs, because unsuprisingly it falls on the Christmas holidays! Rik has been replaced by Darius Danesh, and the gangs week has been a blast. They'd all bought Christmas gifts for another, Zoe buys and recieves from Rosie. Zoe ends the show, with "All I Want For Christmas" and, again, sings it fantasticly well, showing her fantastic vocal range. Unfortunatly its lovely Jessica who is going home for christmas, and she's gutted she's leaving. Zoe survives fourth with 14.2%, well deserved!
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Down to eight, the post-christmas shows theme is Burt Bacharach classics. Zoe's choice of song is "Say A Little Prayer", she sings it brilliantly. But what do the judges think?
Nikki: Consistanly good every week. You did it justice, great control, beautiful voice, well done.
Foxy: I dont like your outfit ata ll tonight. I dont think you've found yourself yet, but your voice was brilliant. No doubt.
Pete: I have to keep telling myself you're sixteen. I mean you dont know that song, not really that well. You've learnt it for a week, yet you sing it like you've been singing it for 30 years. Its fantastic.
Zoe comes in fourth place again with 11.4% of the votes, although the person to leave this week is Aaron. Its getting harder to say good-bye each week.
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Fourth show, and its movie songs. Zoe chooses 'Power Of Love', and reherses it all week. However when they realise the song has never been in a film, Zoe has to change songs to 'Streetlife', at 6 o'clock Friday evening. One day befor the show. With such a short time to reherse, on the night the performance goes well, but what do the judges think?
Pete: Up until 6 o'clock last night you had never sung that song. I take my hat off that you can sing that song in such a short time. Fantastic.
Simon: You're a pop star. Well done.
However Zoe drops down to fifth place tonight, with 7.8%, but luckily only two are put on the couch of cruelty that night, Rosie & Laura. Rosie survives. Laura however doesnt and is not suprised that she was the one to leave. Rosie & Zoe dont stop crying all night. They are sorry to see Laura go.
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The remaining six spend a week at health farm, Hanbury Manor. Zoe's hair goes straight in the sauna, and is a clear leader in dancing. This saturday they have to sing ABBA songs. Zoe choses "Thankyou For The Music" to end the show with. She sings great, and looks gorgeous. Its been a tough week. What did the judges think?
Foxy : It was dead good Zoe it really was. Best performance Ive seen you do in the final 10, because you sang the song, gave it a bit of Zoe. You remind me so much of Sonia, not to look at, but everything about your personality, your bubble. And tonight I thought you were fabba.
Simon: Its great you ended the show with a strong, confident performance. Well done.
Zoe recieves the best comments of the night, and is well pleased with them! "I'm all smiley now!" she says with the biggest and sweetest grin you'll ever see in your life. Her new hair has done her justice, she jumps up to third position with 14% of the votes. The person with the least amount of votes is Rosie, who sadly leaves that week.
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The competition is getting more intense by the minute as the five enter the last few remaining stages to find the winner. This week they return back to their home towns, and attend a premier! This week is my favourite week by far, The Big Band week. They are going to sing with a live band, and every single one of them are stars that night. But little 'fearless' Zoe is a complete superstar. She wows the judges, audience, and nation when she sings Judy Garlands "Get Happy" The judges are very impressed:
Simon: I think this was by far your best performance of the competition. I thought you were sensational. I was really, really, knovked out by that. Congratulations.
Nikki: Each week I love the fact that you adapt your look and your style to the track you're singing, and you're blossoming for me, you really are.
Foxy: You were fantastic tonight. I found tears coming out of my eyes because I was so proud that this little 16 year old girl who walked in in Manchester is standing there looking like that. Brilliant.
Pete: Nobody at 16 should be able to sing like that, you werent even born when we were listening to that. You did it credit, well done, fantastic.
Can this girl do no harm??:) Afterwards she says "I enjoyed every minite of that. I cant stop grinning now!" By the end of the amazing show, there has been a total of 2.5 million votes cast by the public. Zoe gets a fourth place position of 15.6% (what a disgrace! She shoulda been 1st!) which is just behind lovely brummie Hayley who leaves in tears. It was a hard week that week. We had five extremely talented stars. Next week was going to be even harder.
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Its the fab four returning for another night of song. Zoe is now the last female contestant remaining in the competition, but is enjoying every miniute of being with the three remaining boys (who wouldnt?), Darius, Will & Gareth. Rumors have it, that Zoe & Gareth are an item. "Its all lies, all lies!" say the pair, and the insist they're just best friends. The theme? Its Number Ones. The week is slightly different though, as the four have to sing two songs each instead of one. One up-tempo, and one ballad. Zoe chooses Jennifer Rush's "Power Of Love" & Whitneys "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" and doesnt dissapoint. She looks and sounds like a true Pop Idol. Even presenter Kate Thornton is knocked out. "She's got such a great voice," she says. But do the judges agree?
Pete: You've out-performed way above yourself. The songs tonight were just a little bit to far to reach for you.
Nikki: Last week I thought you did the best performance by far. This week I'm not convinced. But whatever happens you are a star."
Not as good as last week, but never mind, we thought you were a star! Unfortunatly though it was our Zoe who was eliminated from the competition, with 18.9% of a massive 3.7 million votes!! She goes up centre stage with Ant & Dec to watch her best bits, but firstly thanks the public. Then she embraces in a hug with best friend Gareth, who told her that they'd be 'friends for life'. But if you think that's the end of our Zo, you have another think coming! I know she's gonna be back in full force soon and shes going to take the nation by storm! So watch out people - this ones gonna be MASSIVE!
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