KWC 2008 Vic Grand Final at the Matthew Flinders Hotel
Sunday 8th June 2008.
Remember these names (you will certainly hear more of them):
Peter Jenkins (from Mountain View, the Winner)
Penny Nicholas (from Matthew Flinders, Runner-Up)

This is one amazing story about an amazing raw talent in the Runner-Up: Penny “K” Nicholas (posted in the Vic Chat-Rooms)

Penny was told she was in the Grand Final during the week (on Thursday or so I believe) as a replacement for the Runner-Up from The Matthew Flinders Venue Final who was disqualified for not being as Aussie. She was rung up by the Organisers while at work, and was asked for her 2 song choices over the phone! Now, Penny is a first-time karaoke’er and was at a loss, and delayed her decision.

But she did give the Organisers her 2 song choices by Friday (and the Grand Final was on Sunday) – Black Velvet (which she sang at karaoke for the very first time when she participated at The Matthew Flinders Venue Final, where she came 3rd), and Angel (Sarah McLaughlan), one of her favourite songs, but never sung in public or at karaoke before. I am told that her appearance at the Vic Grand Final would be her 4th attempt at karaoke!!

Penny was going to go into the Grand Final “cold’ on those 2 songs, i.e. not having even had a go at them beforehand, let alone not practising them at all!

She was told by the Venue’s KJs, on Sunday afternoon (the Grand Final is on at 7pm that night), to call me to provide her with the 2 discs, as each Finalist had to bring their own discs to the Organisers at the Venue by 4.45pm on the Grand Final evening, and the Venue’s KJs don’t have those 2 songs.

Penny called me at 3pm for ME to bring the discs to the Venue – I told her that I have many versions of the 2 songs, and that she has to pick one version of each, and MUST at least run through each song first so as not to be surprised at what she might or might not encounter when she gets up to sing them. I offered to stop whatever I was doing at my place, for her to do this.

After much coaxing, Penny eventually said OK, and got to my place at 3.30pm. I put the 2 songs on for her, she sang them each, just the once (and she was amazing then), and then asked for some performing tips (she was later described as a Drama Teacher when the KJ introduced her at the Grand Final ….!! and here I am, talking about singing to the audience and feeling the words of the songs!! What the!!??!!).

She then had to rush home, shower and get ready to get to the Venue by 4.45pm.

On the phone to her earlier, I told her she MUST listen to, and sing to, the 2 songs on her way home, and on the way to the Venue, before she hands in the 2 discs to the Organiser – she had to borrow her brother’s car to come to my place, as hers did not have a CD-player in it!

She was remarkably cool and calm when I met up with her at the Venue – she came ALONE – and only told her friends about it that evening and hoping that they will turn up in time. She said her parents are overseas, but her brother and her cousin will come, “later”. Wow! Unlike the other Finalists, who all came with family and an adoring entourage (some as big as 20+), she is virtually alone.

As usual, after each performance, the loudest applause and screams and whistles are from each of the performers’ family members and supporters – with not much of a supporter group in her corner (just the 6 of us “regulars” from the Venue, her brother and her cousin), I feared that Penny’s performances will be followed by relative silence.

But hey, was I wrong!

Much to their credit, the crowd can see talent when talent hits them squarely in their faces – there were applause and whistles throughout when Penny did the very sultry “Black Velvet”, and the crowd was hushed while she performed her emotional “Angel” and gave her the applause she so deserved when she finished, with her head bowed.

That said it all – no supporters to brag of, but the general public cheering for her – that says so much about her performances!

And to come 2nd in a hot State Final, against 18 other campaigners (and some very seasoned comp-chasers amongst them), performing 2 songs, one of which she had only sung in public the once before, and the other she’s attempting for the very first time … !!??!! …. that says so much for her raw talent!

PENNY NICHOLAS – a name to remember and watch out for … (I hope I got her surname right!)

It is such heart-warming encounters at karaoke that makes going to various venues worthwhile for me …

PS: PETER JENKINS, the other name to remember, was the standout last night - no question about it! Think he was also introduced as a Drama Teacher ...

PPS: Brief reviews of the Vic Grand Final under Gig Comments; more detailed reviews in Chat-Victoria

Submitted by CHINA, from CAULFIELD on 08-06-2008

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