ROSEMARY ABBOTT | Sport
IDOL RETURNS
Former NZ Idol winner Ben Lummis has confirmed he can be ready to perform at next week’s NRL Grand Final, should organisers suddenly realise they need someone to sing in front of 80,000 people.
The 2004 NZ Idol winner has largely remained out of the musical spotlight for the past two decades, but says he has been closely monitoring developments after negotiations between the NRL and Australian singer Tones And I collapsed.
Tones And I had been approached to perform at the October 4 decider, but the deal fell through after she was unable to commit due to a prior commitment with Macklemore in the United States and rumours she didn’t want to perform their hit single “Dance Monkey”.
With the NRL deciding not to seek a replacement headline act, Lummis has reportedly decided the time is right for his long-awaited comeback.
“I can be in Sydney next weekend,” Lummis said.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on the NRL, but if they need someone who won NZ Idol 22 years ago, I’m available.”
Lummis also assured organisers he was more than capable of performing Tones And I’s biggest hit, Dance Monkey, despite having absolutely no prior connection to the song.
“I’ve heard it and I know the general vibe of the song, but it would be good if they let me perform my only hit single too..”
The NRL has reportedly declined to comment on whether Lummis is being considered, although officials are understood to be weighing up whether spending $1 million on grassroots rugby league initiatives is preferable to finding out what Ben Lummis has been doing since 2004.
Lummis, however, remains confident.
“I won New Zealand Idol,” he said.
“And if Tones And I can’t do Dance Monkey, I’m happy to give it a crack.”
More to come.
