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Post by Jopey on Oct 10, 2003 11:38:50 GMT -5
*waiting*
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Lou
Chatterbox
Calvin n Frankie Fan!!
Posts: 370
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Post by Lou on Oct 10, 2003 12:38:56 GMT -5
The middle of the afternoon on a hot September weekday in East London in a harshly lit studio, and the young members of S Club 8 are being primped and preened for a promotional photoshoot. The girls are fully made up, sporting sparkling lip gloss and flirty mini-skirts. Around them, outnumbering them by nearly three to one, are assorted record company management, photographers, PR's and stylists, while nearby are scattered the usual pop star accessories; designer handbags, sunglasses and personalised mobile phones. That a group of youngsters, most barely into their teens, should need a stylist to have their photo taken is perhaps in itself distressing. But given that S Ckub 8- the new incarnation of what was formerly known as S Club Juniors- is the brainchild of pop Svengali Simon Fuller, it is hardly suprising that nothing is left to chance. Certainly, while their contemporaries at the schools they left behind two years ago were spending this same afternoon in the old-fashioned pursuit of their education, these eight children had rather more pressing issues on their mind. Such as how best to promote the release of their lateset second album not to mention fitting in numerous television, video and recording commitments. They are undoubtedly heavy, some would say too heavy, pressures for ones so young- although of course, the Fuller controlled 19 Entertainment Management company is quick to emphasise that it operates entirely within the law,a nd that the children have permanant chaperones and personal tutors to keep them up to speed with schoolwork. But behind all this slick marketing machine, which sells the fantasy of pop stardom to children all over the country- and had been accused of peddling the "paedo pop"- is the reality that the S Club dream is slowly starting to fragment. There is talm of overwork, home-sickness, over-tiredness- including a suggestion that one of them recently fainted backstage before a performance- and also adolescent bickering. These are hardly the most desireble rumours as they approach their second anniversary as a band- although, of courrse they always present a cheery, united front. And undoubtedly raise worrying questions about the price these youngsters pay for their fame. The fact that the group have reached this milestone at all is testament itself to the ruthlessness of the marketing machine rub by Simon Fuller, as the group was onlyt ever intended to be a temporary novelty. In 2001, with the original S Club 7 at the peak of success, Fuller thought it would be novel to produce a "mini" version to accompany them on tour. Given that he is though to have made around 50 million from the S Club brand, this is perhaps hardly suprising. Auditions were held nationwide, with more than 10,000 eager children taking part. Forty three year old Fuller hand picked each member himself, the youngest Hannah Richings from Newbury, Berkshire, was only ten at the time. Their forst single hit number 2 in the charts- and thus, when the original S Club announced their decison to split last April, the "juniors" were catapukted into their newly vacated shows. They have modified the name to S Club 8. Such is the control of their management that little information has been released about the children. The bands website only features their first names, along with gossamer thin biographies. Instead, anxious to ensure a broad appeal, each child has been nickanamed designed to give them a "someone for everyone" attraction: the eldest 15 year old Aaron Renfree is the dancer, 14 year old Calvin Goldpsink is the heart throb, Jay Asforis, 13, is the professional, Daisy evans, 13 is the fashion addict, 13 year old Stacey McClean is northern soul, Rochelle Wiseman 13, is model behaviour and Francesca Sandford 14, is poster girl while Hannah, now 12 is the cutie. The childrens families are said to be under strict instructions not to talk to the press. So far, so Simon Fuller- his controlling influence over his proteges is legendary. But despite this tight net, some worrying details have still filtered through. As one music industry insider put it: Four of the band live away from their family and friends and their busy schedules mean they dont have the cahnce to get home often. I have often heard them talk about how much they miss family and friends. What sort of a lifestyle is that for children growing up- their parents arent there for them when they need them? They deffinately get home-sick! The four in question- Stacey, Calvin, Aaron and Hannah and ensconced with two chaperones in a £850, 000 townhouse in Londons Docklands where they are joined every morning by their fellow bandmates for mornings tutoring. Given strict rules prohibiting children under 16 from working more thna four hours a day, their work is limited, but nonetheless, what is undeniable is that the children still have to fit in a number of gruelling promotions, sometimes rising as early as 5 am for tv appearances. All these are heavy monitored by a team of minders and record company staff- an insight into which is afforded by one of the childrens former schoolteachers. Nicholas Spruytenburg taught Jay Asforis for a year at the Avon House School in Woodford Green, Essex. Jay lft at the age of ten to go to stage school, but returned with his bandmates to give a performance in late 2001. "The minders ruled the band with an iron fist" Mr Spruytenburg says "They would not let anyone see them before the act" I discussed lessons with them, and they insisted Jay was receiving private tutoring although I have no doubt this has dropped off. When it came to the performance I was shocked by what I saw, They looked like adults and were acting like them on stage, and I thought it was entirely inappropiate. Jay just have been obly 11 at the time. It was alll quite raunchy. That, however was only the start. By this year, the group had embarked on a 20 date nationwide tour, supporting the original S Clubs farewell tour. Again 19 Management is keen to stress that the children got plenty of rest between tour dates. Nonetheless, rumours persist that the youngsters are over-tired- not helped by a report from a music industry insider (denied by 19) that Daisy collapsed before a performance on the Saturday chart show CD:UK a few weeks ago. "She was aken into a room and given water and then recovered sufficiently to go out and perform with the band, but everyone was quite shaken up" the source said. The S Club 8 members will, of course, not be children for ever, a fact of which Mr Fuller will only be too aware. Indeed, he is already poised to launch the hunt for a new, even younger band to replace them- in the words of a music industry executive perhaps S Club foetuses? The question for those close to S Club 8, as they embark on their latest promotional schedule, is whether their time in the spotlight will cause any lasting damage??
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Lou
Chatterbox
Calvin n Frankie Fan!!
Posts: 370
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Post by Lou on Oct 10, 2003 12:42:13 GMT -5
Phew!! that tuk a LONG time! sorry about the wait! ;D
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Post by Jopey on Oct 10, 2003 13:24:06 GMT -5
yuck! thats horrible! poor daisy though
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Post by Emz on Oct 10, 2003 14:25:01 GMT -5
thats obv written by sum1 who dnt like them, its totally biased
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Post by Bink on Oct 10, 2003 14:40:58 GMT -5
Yeah, they say they miss their friends and family in almost every interview, but they also say that they absolutely love what their doing.
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Post by Cazza on Oct 10, 2003 14:46:14 GMT -5
fanx 4 that! did u type it all up?! poor daisy if its tru!
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Post by Sc8Nightmare on Oct 10, 2003 14:56:15 GMT -5
Thanks lou!!....... .....im shocked an appalled at the article, oh well , *carries on his merry way*
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Post by :::~*mandi loves aaron*~::: on Oct 10, 2003 15:06:19 GMT -5
thats jsut mean, yah poor daisy, i wonder why she did faint, not gettin enoigh sleep i guess.... didn't at the end it said that s club 8 are gettin older nad will stop soon or what? i hope not i luv them and i hope they do'nt stop!!!
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Post by frankiefan on Oct 10, 2003 15:12:34 GMT -5
Written by some one who dont like them!
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~!Lilly!~
Chatterbox
S Club 8 CRAZY!!
Posts: 153
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Post by ~!Lilly!~ on Oct 10, 2003 17:21:30 GMT -5
what an evil reporter! Poor Daisy! I hope S Club 8 don't ever split up! love, Lilly
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Lou
Chatterbox
Calvin n Frankie Fan!!
Posts: 370
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Post by Lou on Oct 10, 2003 17:58:01 GMT -5
fanx 4 that! did u type it all up?! poor daisy if its tru! yuppy i sure did!!
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Post by viky on Oct 10, 2003 20:45:47 GMT -5
That person who wrote the article doesn't just dislike them, he's an idiot. With people like him running the media, no wonder S Club 8 don't get any airplay. You shouldn't believe everything he says, especially that thing about Daisy fainting.
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Post by SClub8DazeFan on Oct 10, 2003 20:52:22 GMT -5
well, I hope it isn't like that, it was their dream so I'd guess they're probably enjoying almost all of it. if what happened to daze happened, I feel bad, but I hope it won't happen more
I think that S Club 8 should be around for a while, I think people like watching their transitions as they get older. I don't think they're going anywhere anytime soon!
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Post by annietpotc on Oct 11, 2003 1:56:37 GMT -5
yeah..... thats jst a stupid report....
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