Ben Lummis Fan Blog

2004-05-23T10:45:00.000+12:00

More Ben's web presence
Hi all, I just found more links for Ben - Ben Lummis unofficial fansite and The Ben Lummis Fanatics Yahoo group

2004-05-21T22:16:00.000+12:00

2day's Best Msg 4 Ben
"hey yal.. ben, ino u remembred "the humble shall be exalted". u r truly blessd ..." - maz

2004-05-21T22:10:00.000+12:00

The undisputed Top of the Pops
Don't forget to tune in to TV2 6pm, 22th May to watch Ben performing on Top of the Pops music show.

2004-05-21T21:52:00.000+12:00

Ben's No.1 again
Congratulations to Ben, whose debut single - They Can't Take That Away, has reached the number one spot on this week's New Zealand singles chart:

Other achievements so far:
First local song to debut at #1 in over four years
7th New Zealand artist to debut at #1
Highest ever debut on the Airplay Charts #29
Most added single at radio this week
New Zealand Chart #6
Pop Chart #17
Adult Contempory Chart #56
Easy Listening Chart #66

2004-05-17T22:48:00.000+12:00

Today's Best Message for Ben
"It was with 'Shock and Awe' that I predicted Ben would win this war.... and for once I'm right!! - BEN FOR PRIME MINISTER!!!" - George Bush

2004-05-17T22:39:00.000+12:00

Ben is coming to town
Wellington: 19th May 4pm at Sounds Lambton Quay
Christchurch: 20th May 4pm at The Palm
You better watch out, You better not cry... Don't forget to get your autograph!

2004-05-14T22:17:00.000+12:00

Today's Best Message for Ben
"U HAV EVERY THING BEN: THE VOICE,THE LOOKS THE PERSONALITY U HAV DA HOLE PACKAGE SO LUV U LOTS ,GO HARD MAN ,KEEP IT REAL BRO AND U ROK CUZ!!!!!" - mrs lummis

2004-05-14T22:12:00.000+12:00

Sing along to Ben's new single

They can't take that away
(S. Kipner/A.Frampton/S.Smith)
Whatever I give you
You give me back so much more
You give me that something
I never knew I was looking for
Whenever I need you
It's like you read my mind
You're already waiting
Up ahead at the finish line

I Don't know if I'll get there
Cos it could change in 15 minutes
But here I am in the moment
I won't hold back
I'm gonna live it

I Don't know where this is going
Or how hard it's gonna be
You get the scars to prove it
When you wear your heart out on your sleeve
I'm still standing here today
In your eyes I'm still the same
And they can't take that away

I stood at the ocean
Too afraid to swim
You said 'How will you ever know
How far you'll go
If you don't jump in?'
I stared up at a mountain
And it looks so high
But you started pushing me
'til I believed
That I could touch the sky

I Don't know if I'll get there
Cos it could change in 15 minutes
But Here I am in the moment
I won't hold back
I'm gonna live it

You can't say if it'll happen
You can't say it isn't true
Cos I'm the one that's going through it
Right in front of you

I Don't know where this is going
Or how hard it's gonna be
You get the scars to prove it
When you wear your heart out on your sleeve
But I'm standing here today
In your eyes I'm still the same
And they can't take that away

I'm still standing here today
In your eyes I'm still the same
And they can't take that away

Can't say if it will happen
Can't say it isn't true
Cause I'm the one that's going through it
Right in front of you

Don't know where this is going
How hard it's gonna be
You get the scars to prove it
When you wear your heart out on your sleeve
I'm still standing here today
In your eyes I'm still the same
And they can't take that away
Oh no, no they can't take that away

2004-05-12T23:10:00.000+12:00

Today's Best Message for Ben
"You the man Ben. Knew you'd go all the way when i first saw u. Go hard and all the way. You're gonna go all the way and win world idol man!! No doubt about it." - Buds

2004-05-12T22:43:00.000+12:00

They can't take that away, but you can
That's right, Ben's winning single "They can't take that away" is in store now. Take your copy away (after paying for it of course). Better yet, get it signed by Ben the man himself this Saturday May 15th 3pm at the Sounds Music Store in the Botany Town Centre.

2004-05-11T22:05:00.000+12:00

Today's Best Message for Ben
"Nz Idol Couldnt Go To A Nicer Guy You Did New Zealand Proud God Bless Bro" - Andrew

2004-05-11T18:12:00.000+12:00

Ben's official site
Ben is getting an official website very soon. Go there and register to be notified of the website launch.

2004-05-11T18:06:00.000+12:00

Msg Board is back
I'm really sorry that the message board has been missing in action over the 'critical period'. Apparently due to some hardware problems all the data were lost, so I had to create a new tag-board. Very annoying isn't it..

2004-05-10T21:32:00.000+12:00

BEN WON!!
A huge congratulations to Ben for winning the NZ Idol title! Thank you to everyone who voted for Ben. He so deserves every single one of the votes, because he is truly a star. The result announcement was very emotional. Ben thanked the public and God with tears in his eyes, while his fans and family exploded in jubilations. This is it eh. This is what NZ Idol should be about - Finding a true talent that won't be found otherwise! All the best to Ben and his promising career ahead. We look forward to it :-)

2004-05-10T21:13:00.000+12:00

Nearly there....
Only a few minutes to go before we find out who is our very first NZ Idol!!! The latest tally at 7pm was 60% Ben and 40% Michael. So it's looking pretty rosy.

2004-05-09T23:01:00.000+12:00

GET OUT & VOTE BEN!!
The country needs you. For more information, click here for the essay on why you should vote Ben.

2004-05-09T21:59:00.000+12:00

Ben's "Final" performance recap
First of all, congratulations to Ben for making this far. We thank you for entertaining us over the last three months. And once again, Ben did not fail to deliver.... Anyhoo, the show began with a duet between Ben and Michael, singing "History Never Repeats". Then we heard Ben talked about how he thought of Michael as a little brother to him rather than the competition. He felt people warmed up to him after the rock show, which boosted his confidence. Now he is much more comfortable performing on the stage.

Kiss from a Rose
Ben looked very smart and classy in the grey suit and red shirt. His singing has definitely improved since the last time he sang this song in the British Invasion special. The voice is still very strong, but also very smooth and soulful, very enjoyable to listen. Ben has totally perfected his stage performance. He started off by sitting on the staircase before standing up and working the crowd. The audience seemed to enjoy it very much.
What the judges said...
Paul: "You should make an album, and you should put that song on..."
Fiona: "This time there was so much heart in there."
Frankie: "I enjoyed the song the first time round. I don't think Seal could have sung any better. It's Ben's song now."

Livin on a prayer
Another revival of earlier songs, Ben gave a electrifying performance in his 'love it or hate it' leather pants. But just before the performance began, Dom talked to a young fan in the audience, who was sporting the same hairstyle as Ben and looked just like him (I was thinking gosh this couldn't be his son!). Anyway, back at the performance, Ben did a great job working up the crowd. He went into the audience and gave everyone a hand.
What the judges said...
Paul: "...Very fine."
Fiona: "You've got the energy, you've got the look... you're doing so well."
Frankie: "You can sing the genre pretty well - i thought you did it better the first time you performed it."

I believe I can Fly
Before the song, we got a recap of Ben's time on NZ Idol. It's very interesting to see how much he improved over the course of only a few months and footage from the first audition which never aired until now. Ben chose to sing another slow song tonight, which is a bit disappointing, because I really wanted to see some of his dance moves. Anyway the singing was absolutely beautiful, in particular the trills at the end were done flawlessly. He managed to make this otherwise ubiquitous song his own. Well done!! Apparently, Ben told Paul that he wanted to become a pilot...
What the judges said...
Paul: "You're flying buddy - right up the charts."
Fiona: "That was wonderful."
Frankie: "I don't wholeheartedly agree with my fellow judges - that was a bit uneven in parts."

They can't take that away
The final performance of the night was truly the highlight of the whole serie. Ben's version of the first NZ Idol winner's single was sensational. Not only did he showed off every bit of his vocal talents in one song, it was a heartful and sincere rendition. It was very moving and I could sense it in the crowd. Once again, Ben did some truly amazing trills, only a R&B great could. Ben's brilliant performance finished with a 'standing' ovation. OK I can't wait to get a copy of this single!! AND VOTE BEN SO I CAN HAVE THE SINGLE!!!!

2004-05-04T23:31:00.000+12:00

Today's Best Message for Ben
"GO BEN U ROCK MY WORLD TOTALLY!!I THINK IM PREGNANT WITH UR CHILD!!I LOVE YOU BYE!" - emma

2004-05-04T16:50:00.000+12:00

Ben is back to the future

2004-05-03T20:19:00.000+12:00

Ben's FanPoll - Your favourite 80's performance by Ben?
1. Huey Lewis - Power of Love 56%
2. Both songs 44%
3. DeBarge - Rhythm of the Night 0%
4. Neither songs 0%

2004-05-03T20:17:00.000+12:00

Today's Best Message for Ben
"Ben you're a great performer, with great style, voice production and control, excellent rapport/ connection with audience. You fully deserve to, and can, go far. Keep your faith and trust in Jesus." - Michael

2004-05-03T20:08:00.000+12:00

Grand final here we come!!
A big congratulations to Ben for making it into the NZ Idol grand final. He will be facing Michael next week, who apparently won the most votes tonight. My favourite part of tonight's elimination show was when they asked adorable little kiddies about their favourite idols. Surprisingly, their answers were more diverse than I would have thought......

2004-05-02T21:24:00.000+12:00

Today's Best Message for Ben
"Ben u rock NZ boy keep ur luvin cumin!" - Jess

2004-05-02T20:27:00.000+12:00

Ben's "80's" performance recap
What a fantastic show, the competition between the final three is certainly getting tougher yet again (Only if they can all be winners). The show began with the usual group performance - Duran Duran's Hunry like a Wolf. Then we saw a clip of the final three's outing to The Edge studio for the morning radio interview. It was nice to see their facial expressions as opposed to just hearing the voice. Eventually, we learned that Ben will be performing first as the usual short clip about Ben's week came on. Ben talked about how he found the strength to improve (Dicko's comment being one factor) and the standard blurb about how he prepared for tonight's performance.

Power of Love
Ben looked rather smart singing Huey Lewis's hit made famous as the movie theme for 'Back to the Future'. He was wearing a black suit over pink t-shirt, which worked - amazingly. The performance itself was just brilliant, even better than last week's, which goes to show how much more talent Ben still has hidden from the world. He sang strongly and looked like a star. The crowd also sounded pretty please. In fact, I could sense a noticeable silent gap when the music stopped, probably because everyone was still recovering from the excitement.
What the judges said...
Paul: "You are powering your way to a huge career in the entertainment business."
Lucy: "I suspect you've even got something else in reserve - awesome performance."
Fiona: "You're a star in the making dude."
Frankie: "You feed off the crowd, and that's what it's about."

Rhythm of the Night
For the second performance, Ben sang DeBarge's chart-topping hit of 1985. For some reasons, I thought Ben's vocal performance wasn't as good as the previous one, but he sure made up with some great dance moves. In contrast to the smart outfit, Ben wore a full on Addidas tracksuit - somewhat made famous by Ben Stiller. Towards the end of the song, Ben even unzipped his jacket to either cool himself down or make the girls go wild :-). It seems certain that Ben will move on to the grand final next week. It better be cos Ben promised to Dom that he's going to bring out more amazing performances.
What the judges said...
Paul: "There's nothing to say Ben - that was absolutely fantastic ."
Lucy: "That rocked!"
Fiona: "Those moves - you kept them hidden from New Zealand for so long!"
Frankie: "Way to go."

2004-05-02T20:21:00.000+12:00

Ben's FanPoll - If Ben gets eliminated next week, which idol would you support then?
1. Camillia - 44%
2. Neither contestants - 32%
3. Michael - 24%
4. Both contestants - 0%

2004-05-01T20:23:00.000+12:00

Get ready for the forgotten decade
The decade might be forgotten, but the performance won't. Watch out for Ben on TV2, 7.30 pm tomorrow!! It's the '80s' special (not quite my cup of tea), so be prepare for some interesting outfits. According to rumours, Ben will be performing hits by Huey Lewis and DeBarge. GO BEN!!!

2004-05-01T20:03:00.000+12:00

Herald predicts Ben the winner
Alan Perrott of NZ Herald writes, "[Ben's] stars are aligning. From regular bottom three dweller, Ben has reinvented himself. The Camillia vote and anti-teenybopper backlash will see him pip Michael at the post." I couldn't agree more.

2004-04-29T21:48:00.000+12:00

Ben as Bon

2004-04-28T20:23:00.000+12:00

Ben on the Edge
Wow it was so cool to wake up this morning and hear the voice of Ben. The 3 idol finalists Ben, Michael, and Camillia were chatting to the Morning Madhouse crew and answering viewers' questions on the Edge. Ben talked about how his faith helped him improved each week. He also said the NZ artist he most like to work with is Adeaze. Apparently, Ben is a movie buff. The last one he saw over the weekend was '50 First Dates'.

2004-04-26T20:32:00.000+12:00

Today's Best Message for Ben
"Ben was sensational with his two performances. He would've easily stood tall on any world idol platform." - easitman

2004-04-26T20:29:00.000+12:00

Ben's FanPoll - Your favourite Rock performance by Ben?
1. Bon Jovi - Livin' on a prayer 40%
2. All 40%
3. Lenny Kravitz - American woman 20%
4. None 0%

2004-04-26T20:11:00.000+12:00

Ben's safe
Thanks to everyone who voted, Ben's safe from being the bottom two in tonight's elimination show. We also got to see Ben helping out at the Ronald McDonald House, where he served dinner and got a souvenir t-shirt in return - How very sweet. The result of elimination wasn't too surprising. With Luke gone, there looks to be an even fiercer competition next week. Can't wait.....

2004-04-25T21:12:00.000+12:00

Ben's "Rock" performance recap
Finally the scrutising wait is over when the NZ Idol show began promptly tonight, then we slowly discovered that Ben performs last, but it was all good because it really builds up the excitement in anticipation. Eventually, the relief came when the usual short video clip about Ben's week came on and we learned that Ben's been working out at Les Mills gym. Ben talked about how he wants to take the audience on a journey with each performance. Jason, the choreographer praised Ben for coming out of the square and ready to become the ultimate NZ Idol basically.

American women
Following the clip, we were rewarded by a brilliant performance of Lenny Kravitz's American women. The singing was flawless as usual, but what made it so special was the energy that he gave out. I was kept on the edge of my seat, controlling the urge to shout 'GO BEN' pointlessly. Not only did Ben looked absolutely spunky in all his glory (white singlet, black leather pants, and super cool sunglasses), he totally pulled off the rock genre, which we all presumed was his weak link. The crowd was obviously wooed, especially when he threw off his glasses like in a strip show (hehe!). The judges totally bought Ben's performance. To be honest, I thought Ben performed much better than Lenny Kravitz.
What the judges said...
Frankie: "The attitude is certainly there - still a bit of soul in the voice for a rock singer."
Karen: "Testosterone city - what it lacked in subtlety it made up for in thrust."
Fiona: "That was a fantastic choice of song, great vocal performance, great delivery."
Paul: "You took control of the song and you rocked the house."

Livin on a prayer
The second performance by Ben provided the perfect finale for tonight's show. He gave an exciting and energetic rendition of Livin' on a prayer by Bon Jovi. Ben looked like a rock star with ripped denim jeans and a fantastic attitude. He even did a walkabout in the audience and handed out plenty of big fives to some eager and lucky people. This performance totally topped his previous performance and frankly the whole night's performance. Ben had well and truly mastered the skill in working up the crowd and delivering what audience wants to see and hear. I wish I could be there to experience it one day. The judges were once again in unison about Ben's fantastic performance. But wait, Ben's still saving more for next week as he revealed to Dom.
What the judges said...
Frankie: "I liked that a whole lot better than your first song."
Karen: "I've always loathed that song. My opinion of the song hasn't changed but you're okay."
Fiona: "I think you've been one of the best performers tonight."
Paul: "You so deserve to be in the final of this competition."

2004-04-25T19:23:00.000+12:00

Ben's FanPoll - Your favourite performance from Ben so far?
1. Kiss from a Rose (British) - 24%
2. Treat her like a lady (Soul) - 24%
3. None - 24%
4. I can love you like that (Ballad) - 10%
5. All - 10%
6. Back at one (Top 24) - 5%
7. You oughta be in love (Homegrown) - 5%
8. Never too much (Top 10) - 0%
9. Hang on in there baby (Disco) - 0%

2004-04-25T19:21:00.000+12:00

Today's Best Message for Ben
"Ben you spunk of a man, go for it!!!!! You are the best talent on the show." - joanne

2004-04-25T09:53:00.000+12:00

Watch out for Ben 2night
Gosh as if this needs reminding, NZ Idol will be on tonight at 7.30pm TV2. It's the 'Rock' special and each idol will be singing two songs (Yay!). According to rumours, Ben will be singing songs by Lenny Kravitz and Bon Jovi. Can't wait!!! GO BEN!!!

2004-04-23T20:43:00.000+12:00

Today's Best Message for Ben
"Your my benny bo boo!" - tsounds!

2004-04-23T14:16:00.000+12:00

Download all your idol songs
This is got to be the coolest site for all idol lovers. Click here to download all the live performances by NZ Idol contestans in mp3 format, including our idol Ben!!

2004-04-22T20:43:00.000+12:00

Ben's FanPoll
As if there isn't enough voting already, Ben's FanPoll is dedicated to gauge your opinions on Ben. It's located on the right-hand panel. Scroll down if you can't see. This week's poll will finish on Sunday.

2004-04-22T19:32:00.000+12:00

Today's Best Message for Ben
"Go Ben! Your Tha Bomb!! Don't blow up though!" - marx

2004-04-22T18:40:00.000+12:00

Musical treat
Are you suffering from fatigue, hallucination or perhaps a feeling of emptiness? If so, then head down to the closest music store and get a copy of Ben's music for the cure. Or Order online at Marbecks. NZ Idol's first album "Final 10: Homegrown" is out now and it contains two tracks featuring Ben - "Yesterday was Just the Beginning of My Life" (Track 1) and "You Oughta Be In Love" (Track 9). The only catch is you have to pay for songs sung by the other idols......

2004-04-22T18:29:00.000+12:00

New Fansite 4 Ben
Finally there is a proper fansite dedicated to Ben. Check it out and there's even a link to Ben's high school photo :-)

2004-04-22T18:07:00.000+12:00

Why Ben's gonna win?

His voice (he's a strong and versatile singer)
His look (hot, cute, spunky etc...)
His move (turned out he can dance too)
His bod (we can only speculate from years of league playing)
His personality (the humble kiwi attitude adored by all)
His performance (he's got real stage presence)

Conclusion - Ben's got the total package!!

But there's more!!!

Ben doesn't give the same consistent performance week after week like others. He's been raising the bar higher each time and will no doubt continue to do so. If you think Ben's performance was just the best ever this week, prepare to change your mind next week.

Conclusion No.2 - Ben's going for the star!!!

2004-04-21T12:56:00.000+12:00

Auckland Library online poll

WOW, even the Auckland Library is catching up to the NZ Idol fad. I urge all supporters to vote Ben in the Library's online poll. Click here to vote (On the bottom-right corner of the page).

2004-04-21T11:55:00.000+12:00

Ben's winning performance - Treat Her Like a Lady. Yep, this is the one that did it for me!

2004-04-21T10:50:00.000+12:00

Contributors wanted

I'd really love this fansite to be jam packed with info and news on Ben. Unfortunately I don't know a lot about Ben and I have a life besides NZ Idol (really?!), so it would be sweet if anyone would like to contribute to the left-hand side of the site. Either email me or post something on the message board if you're interested. Cheerio.

2004-04-21T10:42:00.000+12:00

More info about Ben:

Age: 25

Hometown: From Wellington but has lived in Auckland for the past six years.

Job: Teacher aid for special needs children.

Star sign: Gemini.

Are you superstitious? No.

What is your favourite feature? My eyes.

Favourite food: Taro and corned beef.

Which person in the world would you most like to meet? Beyonce.

Favourite overseas Idol: Guy Sebastian.

Favourite performer: Brian McKnight, Fred Hammond.

Favourite band: Commissioned.

How do you prefer to spend your spare time? At the movies.

What would be be surprised to learn about you? That I am really 25 years old.

When did you last cry? Last week.

When/In what environment did you start singing? At school.

What are your career aspirations? To be excellent at everything I do.

What's your favourite holiday destination? Paris.

Message to the New Zealand public: Thank you very much for your support.

2004-04-21T10:26:00.000+12:00

Some info about Ben: - from NZ Idol Blog

Age: 24
Location: Auckland
Audition City: Auckland
Other: Schoolboy rugby star, born-again Christian (is a member at Breakthrough church), helps disabled children in his spare time and he's single. Worked as a teacher aide at Arohanui - a Te Atatu South school for disabled children for two years.

SONG LIST:
Theatre Round Song: I believe I can fly (R Kelly)
Group 1 Song: Back at One (Brian McKnight)
Top 10: Never too much (Luther Vandross)
Top 9: You oughta be in love (Dave Dobbyn)
Top 8: Hang on in there baby (Johnny Bristol)
Top 7: I can love you like that (All 4 One)
Top 6: Kiss From a Rose (Seal)

Ok so i don't know a lot about Ben

2004-04-21T10:07:00.000+12:00

Hopefully everything is working so far. On the right hand panel, you should be able to see, starting from the top, a photo of Ben Lummis, the message board (feel free to use it), the archive of previous blog entries, and some website links. Enjoy!!

2004-04-21T09:17:00.000+12:00

Ben's fansite up and running.