Matthew Saunoa
Encyclopedia
Matthew Saunoa is a New Zealand pop
singer who rose to musical fame as the winner of the Third season of New Zealand Idol
in 2006.
After winning the third season
, his winner's single, "Hold Out
" topped the New Zealand Singles Chart, however it did not secure Saunoa an album contract with Sony Music. Saunoa did not release any further music independently, and in result experienced disappointment and periods of depression.
Saunoa later appeared on Pop's Ultimate Star
, and has since moved to the Gold Coast
, Australia
with his family, where he joined a band.
, Auckland
to a Samoa
n family, and attended De La Salle College
, where he was a lead singer at school events. Before appearing on Idol, he worked as a builder in Levin
. Saunoa relocated to the Gold Coast
.
of New Zealand Idol
in 2004. After this birth of his first son, Harlyn, Saunoa retried and was accepted onto the show.
On 17 October 2006, betting agency Centrebet
announced their final-wee kprediction that Saunoa would win the competition, with his odds at $1.66 and runner up Indira Moala's at $2.10. However, before the finale began, the odds moved to put Moala as the favourite to win. Along with the 'New Zealand Idol' title, he won NZ$
50,000 cash, a Daihatsu Terios
, a holiday in Rarotonga
and recording contract. Saunoa shared some of the prize money with Moala, and sold the Tarios to raise money for a deposit on a house purchase to provide security for his family.
", on the finale of New Zealand Idol on 29 October 2006. Written by James Reid of The Feelers
, it was released for purchase by Shock Records
on 31 October 2006, with a download
available on 6 November. The song debuted on the New Zealand Singles Chart at number one the day of its digital release, and remained on the chart for twenty-three weeks. "Hold Out" was also used as TV One's theme tune in the summer of 2006–07. However, due to the low sales of the song, Saunoa did not secure a contract to record a studio album
.
Saunoa contested the reality television show Pop's Ultimate Star
, and came third, with TrueBliss
singer Joe Cotton
and New Zealand Idol season two
runner-up Nik Carlson receiving first and second places, respectively.
As "Hold Out" was Saunoa's only solo musical release, Saunoa felt guilty for not making more of his New Zealand Idol title, and for letting his supporters down. In an interview with the Manawatu Standard
in 2010, Saunoa stated, "I got to release a single, and that was it. I just felt I was left to rot. After climbing what seemed an impossible mountain it felt like I had fallen and landed flat on my face." However, in 2009, Saunoa formed a band with Lionel Nelson, formerly of Herbs
, and Melaanie Viether. The group, named Brown Suga, began performing at the Gold Coast
, in Australia
. Of the collaboration, Saunoa said, "We work really well together and I get to do a lot of solo stuff...Being with Kiwi people and other Polynesian people, I don't know, something really clicks." He moved to Mudgeeraba
with his partner, Lisa-Jane McKenzie, and children, Harlyn and Ashton.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer who rose to musical fame as the winner of the Third season of New Zealand Idol
New Zealand Idol
NZ Idol, more commonly known as New Zealand Idol, was the New Zealand version of the Idol series originated as the hit British TV series Pop Idol. New Zealand first saw the Idol format when TV2 aired American Idol 2, which garned impressive ratings...
in 2006.
After winning the third season
New Zealand Idol (season 3)
The third season of New Zealand Idol commenced in July 2006. The judges were Iain Stables, Megan Alatini and Frankie Stevens.-Auditions:The auditions were held at the following locations:* Telstraclear Pacific Events Centre, Manukau...
, his winner's single, "Hold Out
Hold Out (song)
"Hold Out" is a single released by New Zealand Idol Season three winner Matthew Saunoa as the winner's single. This single was written by The Feelers front man, James Reid.It reached number one on the New Zealand charts for one week in 2006....
" topped the New Zealand Singles Chart, however it did not secure Saunoa an album contract with Sony Music. Saunoa did not release any further music independently, and in result experienced disappointment and periods of depression.
Saunoa later appeared on Pop's Ultimate Star
Pop's Ultimate Star
Pop's Ultimate Star was TV2's reality television show which pits former reality contestants againest each other, most of whom are former NZ Idol contestants. The show was produced by Eyeworks Touchdown, with first prize $50,000 and a Kia 'Rio' car. It is hosted by Dominic Bowden and was originally...
, and has since moved to the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
with his family, where he joined a band.
Early life
Saunoa was born in PapatoetoePapatoetoe
Papatoetoe is a suburb in the Auckland conurbation in northern New Zealand. One of the larger suburbs of the area commonly known as South Auckland, it is located to the northwest of central Manukau, and 18 kilometres southeast of Auckland city centre....
, Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
to a Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
n family, and attended De La Salle College
De La Salle College, Mangere East
De La Salle College is an integrated Catholic secondary boys' school Auckland, New Zealand. Established in 1953 by the De La Salle Brothers, it continues to educate young men in the Catholic faith and Christian values. Students are encouraged to develop every aspect of their person and a strong...
, where he was a lead singer at school events. Before appearing on Idol, he worked as a builder in Levin
Levin, New Zealand
Levin is a town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand, and is the largest town in the Horowhenua district. It is 90 kilometres north of Wellington, 50 kilometres south of Palmerston North, and two kilometres to the east of Lake Horowhenua....
. Saunoa relocated to the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
.
New Zealand Idol
Saunoa unsuccessfully auditioned for the initial seasonNew Zealand Idol (season 1)
The first season of New Zealand Idol was produced by Fremantle Media subsidiary Grundy Television in association with UK company 19TV, and was broadcast on TVNZ in the early half of 2004...
of New Zealand Idol
New Zealand Idol
NZ Idol, more commonly known as New Zealand Idol, was the New Zealand version of the Idol series originated as the hit British TV series Pop Idol. New Zealand first saw the Idol format when TV2 aired American Idol 2, which garned impressive ratings...
in 2004. After this birth of his first son, Harlyn, Saunoa retried and was accepted onto the show.
| Round | Song choice | Original artist |
|---|---|---|
| Top 18 | "To Love Somebody To Love Somebody (song) "To Love Somebody" is the second single released by the Bee Gees from their third LP, Bee Gees 1st.The band's manager Robert Stigwood wanted Barry Gibb to write a soul song for Otis Redding. Barry, along with Robin wrote "To Love Somebody," a soulful ballad in the style of Sam & Dave or The Rascals... " |
The Bee Gees |
| Top 10 | "Living for the City Living for the City "Living for the City" is a 1973 hit single by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla label, from his Innervisions album. Reaching #8 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and #1 on the R&B chart, the record is driven by a slow bass synth groove that manages to exude a certain amount of tension, an appropriate... " |
Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist... |
| Top 9 | "I Don't Want to Be I Don't Want to Be "I Don't Want to Be" is a song by Gavin DeGraw appearing on his 2003 debut album Chariot. It was released as a single in Australia in 2004, and in the UK in 2005.... " |
Gavin DeGraw Gavin DeGraw Gavin Shane DeGraw is an American musician and singer-songwriter. He is known for his songs "Chariot", "Follow Through", "I Don't Want to Be" , "In Love with a Girl", and "Not Over You".-Early life:DeGraw grew up in the Catskills in South Fallsburg,... |
| Top 8 | "Amazed Amazed "Amazed" is the title of a song written by Marv Green, Aimee Mayo and Chris Lindsey. The first version of the song was recorded by the American country music group Lonestar, whose version was released in March 1999 as the second single from their 1999 album Lonely Grill... " |
Lonestar Lonestar Lonestar is an American country music group consisting of Richie McDonald , Michael Britt , Keech Rainwater , Dean Sams , and Michael Hill . McDonald left the band in November 2007 for a solo career before returning in 2011... |
| Top 7 | "Something About the Way You Look Tonight Something About the Way You Look Tonight "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" is a song by Elton John, released in 1997 as the first single from The Big Picture. The song and its video were dedicated to the memory of Gianni Versace, murdered that year.... " |
Elton John Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor... |
| Top 6 | "Try a Little Tenderness Try a Little Tenderness "Try a Little Tenderness" is a love song written by Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly and Harry M. Woods, and recorded initially on December 8, 1932 by the Ray Noble Orchestra followed by both Ruth Etting and Bing Crosby in 1933... " |
Otis Redding Otis Redding Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B... |
| Top 5 | "Crazy Crazy (Gnarls Barkley song) "Crazy" is the debut single from Gnarls Barkley, a musical collaboration between Danger Mouse and Cee Lo Green, and is taken from their 2006 debut album St. Elsewhere... " |
Gnarls Barkley Gnarls Barkley Gnarls Barkley is an American soul duo comprising Danger Mouse and Cee Lo Green. Their first studio album St. Elsewhere was released in 2006; along with its first single "Crazy". Both single and album were a major commercial success and have been noted for their large sales by download... |
| Top 4 | "Sitting Inside My Head" | Supergroove Supergroove Supergroove is a New Zealand funk rock music group. Their debut album Traction was released in 1994. The group disbanded in 1997 but recently reformed in 2007.- History :... |
| "Welcome Home" | Dave Dobbyn Dave Dobbyn Dave Dobbyn, ONZM is an award-winning New Zealand musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. In his early career he was a member of the rock group Th' Dudes and was the main creative force in pop band DD Smash... |
|
| Top 3 | "Let's Get It On Let's Get It On (song) "Let's Get It On" is a song and hit single by soul musician Marvin Gaye, released June 15, 1973 on Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records. The song was recorded on March 22, 1973 at Hitsville West in Los Angeles, California. The song features romantic and sexual lyricism and funk instrumentation by... |
Al Green Al Green Albert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"... |
| "Forever Now Forever Now (Cold Chisel song) "Forever Now" was a 1982 single from Australian rock band Cold Chisel. The second single from the album Circus Animals, it was the first Cold Chisel single to be penned by Steve Prestwich. The song reached number 2 in the New Zealand charts, and number 4 in Australia, the band highest chart... " |
Cold Chisel Cold Chisel Cold Chisel is a rock band that originated in Adelaide, Australia. It is one of the most acclaimed Australian rock bands of all time, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s and huge sales that continue to this day, although its success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to... |
|
| Top 2 | "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart? How Can You Mend a Broken Heart? "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" is an adult contemporary ballad released by the Bee Gees in 1971. The song had been written by Barry and Robin Gibb in August 1970, when the Gibb brothers had reconvened following a period of break-up and alienation... " |
The Bee Gees |
| "This Love" | Maroon 5 Maroon 5 Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. While they were in high school, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adam Levine, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, bass guitarist Mickey Madden, and drummer Ryan Dusick formed a garage band called Kara's Flowers and released one album... |
|
| "Every Breath You Take Every Breath You Take "Every Breath You Take" is a song by The Police on the band's 1983 album Synchronicity, written by Sting and Andy Summers . The single was one of the biggest hits of 1983, topping the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for eight weeks and the UK Singles Chart for four weeks. It also topped the... " |
The Police The Police The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland... |
|
| "Crazy Crazy (Gnarls Barkley song) "Crazy" is the debut single from Gnarls Barkley, a musical collaboration between Danger Mouse and Cee Lo Green, and is taken from their 2006 debut album St. Elsewhere... " |
Gnarls Barkley Gnarls Barkley Gnarls Barkley is an American soul duo comprising Danger Mouse and Cee Lo Green. Their first studio album St. Elsewhere was released in 2006; along with its first single "Crazy". Both single and album were a major commercial success and have been noted for their large sales by download... |
|
| "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing I Don't Want to Miss a Thing "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" is a song performed by American rock band Aerosmith for the 1998 film Armageddon. Written by Diane Warren, the song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 . The song stayed at number one for four weeks from September 5 to September 26, 1998... |
Aerosmith Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many... |
|
| "Living for the City Living for the City "Living for the City" is a 1973 hit single by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla label, from his Innervisions album. Reaching #8 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and #1 on the R&B chart, the record is driven by a slow bass synth groove that manages to exude a certain amount of tension, an appropriate... " |
Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist... |
|
| "When I Get You Alone When I Get You Alone "When I Get You Alone" is the first single by American singer Robin Thicke, released in 2002. It was originally to be featured on his debut album Cherry Blue Skies, before being placed on a revamped version of the album and his first released studio album A Beautiful World.-Writing and... " |
Robin Thicke Robin Thicke Robin Charles Thicke is an Award-winning American R&B singer-songwriter, musician, composer, and actor. Thicke's albums, which he previously released under the moniker Thicke, are noted for their feature of a predominantly R&B sound. Robin Thicke has penned hits for popular artists such as... |
|
| "Hold Out Hold Out (song) "Hold Out" is a single released by New Zealand Idol Season three winner Matthew Saunoa as the winner's single. This single was written by The Feelers front man, James Reid.It reached number one on the New Zealand charts for one week in 2006.... " (winner's single) |
Matt Saunoa |
On 17 October 2006, betting agency Centrebet
Centrebet
Centrebet is an Australian bookmaker licensed in the Northern Territory.Centrebet originated from Alice Springs, Northern Territory and was the first bookmaker to be licensed in Australia in 1993 and the first bookmaker to go online in the Southern Hemisphere. Centrebet was acquired by its biggest...
announced their final-wee kprediction that Saunoa would win the competition, with his odds at $1.66 and runner up Indira Moala's at $2.10. However, before the finale began, the odds moved to put Moala as the favourite to win. Along with the 'New Zealand Idol' title, he won NZ$
New Zealand dollar
The New Zealand dollar is the currency of New Zealand. It also circulates in the Cook Islands , Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. It is divided into 100 cents....
50,000 cash, a Daihatsu Terios
Daihatsu Terios
The Daihatsu Terios is a mini SUV, first released in 1997 by the Japanese car manufacturer Daihatsu. The engines are a modified Daihatsu Charade 1.3 litre or kei car 660 cc unit, with constant four wheel drive or two wheel drive , respectively. It has 5-speed manual transmission or...
, a holiday in Rarotonga
Rarotonga
Rarotonga is the most populous island of the Cook Islands, with a population of 14,153 , out of the country's total population of 19,569.The Cook Islands' Parliament buildings and international airport are on Rarotonga...
and recording contract. Saunoa shared some of the prize money with Moala, and sold the Tarios to raise money for a deposit on a house purchase to provide security for his family.
After NZ Idol
Saunoa performed his winner's single, "Hold Out (song)Hold Out (song)
"Hold Out" is a single released by New Zealand Idol Season three winner Matthew Saunoa as the winner's single. This single was written by The Feelers front man, James Reid.It reached number one on the New Zealand charts for one week in 2006....
", on the finale of New Zealand Idol on 29 October 2006. Written by James Reid of The Feelers
The Feelers
The Feelers are a New Zealand rock band formed in the early 1990s in Christchurch by James Reid , Matthew Thomas and Hamish Gee .-History:...
, it was released for purchase by Shock Records
Shock Records
Shock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
on 31 October 2006, with a download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
available on 6 November. The song debuted on the New Zealand Singles Chart at number one the day of its digital release, and remained on the chart for twenty-three weeks. "Hold Out" was also used as TV One's theme tune in the summer of 2006–07. However, due to the low sales of the song, Saunoa did not secure a contract to record a studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
.
Saunoa contested the reality television show Pop's Ultimate Star
Pop's Ultimate Star
Pop's Ultimate Star was TV2's reality television show which pits former reality contestants againest each other, most of whom are former NZ Idol contestants. The show was produced by Eyeworks Touchdown, with first prize $50,000 and a Kia 'Rio' car. It is hosted by Dominic Bowden and was originally...
, and came third, with TrueBliss
TrueBliss
TrueBliss were a New Zealand pop girl group formed in April 1999. The band were formed on the popular television show Popstars, which aired on TV2 for nine weeks in the search for a new girl group...
singer Joe Cotton
Joe Cotton
Joanne Monique "Joe" Cotton, born September 25, 1978, is a Canadian-born New Zealand pop singer who gained recognition as one fifth of the girl group TrueBliss, formed in 1999 on Popstars. Cotton has since joined a cover band, The Mermaids Danceband...
and New Zealand Idol season two
New Zealand Idol (season 2)
The second season of New Zealand Idol commenced on 3 July 2005. The judges were Paul Ellis, Jackie Clarke and Frankie Stevens.-Auditions:The auditions were held at the following locations:* Telstraclear Pacific Events Centre, Manukau...
runner-up Nik Carlson receiving first and second places, respectively.
As "Hold Out" was Saunoa's only solo musical release, Saunoa felt guilty for not making more of his New Zealand Idol title, and for letting his supporters down. In an interview with the Manawatu Standard
Manawatu Standard
The Manawatu Standard is the daily paper for the Manawatu region based in Palmerston North with satellites in Feilding and Marton. The Manawatu Standard has been recognized as one of the best in New Zealand being a finalist in the 2008 Qantas Media Award for best regional daily newspaper...
in 2010, Saunoa stated, "I got to release a single, and that was it. I just felt I was left to rot. After climbing what seemed an impossible mountain it felt like I had fallen and landed flat on my face." However, in 2009, Saunoa formed a band with Lionel Nelson, formerly of Herbs
Herbs (band)
Herbs are a New Zealand reggae vocal group formed in 1979 once described as "New Zealand's most soulful, heartfelt and consistent contemporary musical voice". It has been said their debut EP Whats' Be Happen? "set a standard for Pacific reggae which has arguably never been surpassed".-History:Herbs...
, and Melaanie Viether. The group, named Brown Suga, began performing at the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
, in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Of the collaboration, Saunoa said, "We work really well together and I get to do a lot of solo stuff...Being with Kiwi people and other Polynesian people, I don't know, something really clicks." He moved to Mudgeeraba
Mudgeeraba
Mudgeeraba is a suburb of the Gold Coast. Mudgeeraba is remnant of the type of township that characterises the rural hinterland of the Gold Coast. Subdivision of land was conventional and buildings were traditionally rural or rural commercial. Mudgeeraba, like other areas, was an early centre,...
with his partner, Lisa-Jane McKenzie, and children, Harlyn and Ashton.