Bpath Counter
Issue 2, January 14, 2004:
Norway’s Kurt Ready
To Conquer the World
After winning the World Idol
contest in London recently, Norwegian Kurt Nilsen (25) is ready to take
on the world.
By IRINA LEE
No one had expected that the
25-year-old, gap-toothed plumber from Arna, outside of Bergen, would have
any chance at winning the World Idol contest. 11 Pop Idols from around
the world took part in the competition.
Face of a Hobbit
Just one month before the competition started, bookmakers around the
world were certain that American Idol Kelly Clarkson would win the contest.
Although Kurt Nilsen had become hugely popular in Norway after winning
the Norwegian version of Pop Idol in May, no one ever thought that he
could take home the victory in the international version of the contest.
The bookmakers had rated him as the least likely competitor to win, and
the odds were 15/1, meaning that anyone who would bet on him could win
15 times their bet if he won.
Following Nilsen’s Christmas Day performance of U2’s "Beautiful
Day," Australian judge Ian Dickson said, "You have the voice
of an angel and the face of a hobbit. If they had a Middle-earth Idol
you’d be it."
But, against all odds, Kurt Nilsen impressed the viewers around the globe
by his performance. With "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King"
ruling the international box office, viewers proved that they were ready
to embrace a hobbit as their pop idol too. In the complicated Electoral
College system, Nilsen captured maximum points from 10 of the 11 countries
voting.
Disgruntled
Each nation gave its maximum of 12 votes to its native winner. Then,
the winner of each country's vote received 10 points, followed by nine
for second, eight for third, and on down the line.
Nilsen picked up 106 out of 112 possible points. Kelly Clarkson came in
second, with 97 points. Several million viewers around the world followed
the show, and Clarkson appeared increasingly disgruntled on the show as
the votes came in for Nilsen and not for her. Clarkson left immediately
after the cameras were turned off, and Kurt seemed surprised he could
not find her after the show.
"Everybody wanted to talk to me and take pictures," he said.
"I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye," he told New York
Post.
Nilsen was stunned by his victory and looks forward to further pursue
his music career on a larger scale. He agreed that his plumbing days were
now behind him.
Still Has His Tools
"But I still have my plumbing tools and had to use them at home
last week, when a pipe sprung a leak," Nilsen said.
Nilsen, a father of two, is due to release his cover version of Tal Bachman’s
"She’s So High", which was a big hit in Norway, in the
U.K. shortly, according to British newspaper The Sun.
According to Dagbladet, Kurt Nilsen may be on his way to wider international
success after winning the honorary title of "World Idol". The
pop music star-makers 19 Management, created by Simon Fuller, who put
together the Spice Girls and the Idol concept, wants to sign the Norwegian
talent.
Dagbladet claimed to know that a dialog was underway between Nilsen’s
Norwegian manager Jan Fredrik Karlsen and 19 Management in London, despite
no public confirmation from either side.
19 Management has the American and British Idol winners under contract,
but Nilsen, who won the global final, has signed with BMG and the tiny
Norwegian management company Playroom.
"It surprises me that they haven’t done it (signed Kurt) already.
Kurt has really done well and he should have good prospects in the future,"
said British business manager Adam Hopkins of Target.
Possible U.S. Release
Discussions are also underway to see if his single will get a U.S.
release.
"We have to now take the next couple of weeks to have meetings,"
says his manager Jan Fredrik Karlsen.
If his record is released here, Nilsen will have to deal again with the
idea that he doesn't have the classic good looks of a pop music idol.
Despite his new, relative wealth, Kurt told New York Post that he will
not have his teeth fixed to remove what has become his trademark –
a wide space between his front teeth.
"I’m really happy with the way I am, because if I changed my
look I think people would think that I had [sold out]," Nilsen said.
Nilsen returned to Norway after spending New Year’s day in a London
studio, where the holiday show was filmed.
He was greeted at the airport in Bergen by thousands of hysterical fans,
a marching band, the city’s mayor and other assorted dignitaries.
He was later congratulated via telephone by Norway’s Prime Minister.
Previous Stories:
• Issue 1, January
7, 2004
Dragsten Honors Sons of
Norway's Founding Fathers
