Rex Goudie
 Age: 19 "I want to represent Newfoundland the way she deserves: with guts and glory." Rex Goudie began singing for his grandmother at the age of three. "Nan would have me going around the house singing Sunday School songs and occasionally a bit of folk music," he says. "She never had me leave a room without singing her a song." He first began singing in public a year later. With a diverse musical taste ranging from Frank Sinatra to AC/DC, Rex formed a band with three of his friends when he was 16 called the "Purple Monkey Band Squad." He considers Canadian Idol a great opportunity. "It's been a bit of a struggle finding a place to sing," he says. "I'm from a tiny port community ? not the best place for a guy to want to start a music career." Rex is now enrolled at Memorial University where he hopes to study mechanical engineering. A self-described "car nut," Goudie works as a mechanic for his father's trucking company during the summer. He calls himself a "decent" hockey player and says he's "proud to be known as a nice guy." Rex likes to snowmobile and loves to eat alouettes. "Moose meat and spices ? beautiful!" His favourite movie is The Fast and the Furious and he can't part with this white ball cap. "Maybe if I win I'll throw it into the crowd," he says. Rex says he couldn't live without his guitar. "It's been there for me through some of the toughest times of my life." The song title that best describes him? The Blues Man, by Alan Jackson. "The lyrics go: He's a singer, a natural born guitar ringer, kind of a clinger, to sad old songs. He's not a walk behinder, he's a new note finder, his name's a reminder of a blues man that's already gone. That song fits me to a tee," he says.
Rex's fun facts: Which musical act would you most like to see in concert? Metallica, ACDC, Bruce Springsteen and U2
What has been the biggest accomplishment of your life? My biggest accomplishment had to be surviving my first few months in life. According to my mother, I was a pretty sick baby, born a bit premature. I had tubes and cups and whatnot taped all over me, didn't look like I was going to survive, but here I am. What are you the most proud of? I'm proud of being known as a nice guy. People who know me know exactly who I am when they meet me. I try to be as open as I can and treat everybody equally. I think that helps me keep my nice guy image, I like it, cause it helps me make good friends. Which item could you not live without? If I had to live without my guitar, I'd go nuts. My guitars have helped me through some of the hardest times in my life. When I ever get lonely, or I'm feeling down over something, I just sit by myself and play music. It soothes me and helps me cope with he problem in a more sensible manner. What's been the best day of your life? That HAS to be the day I graduated from high school, or the day I made the Top 32 in Canadian Idol. Both days gave me a lot of confidence in myself, and made me see that I can do a lot of things when I really try hard enough. If you could meet one person, living or dead, who would it be and why? I'd love to meet either Bruce Springsteen or Jim Cuddy. Those men write beautiful music, music so deep that they had to live trough the experience in order to be able to even sing the song, let alone write it. It would be interesting to talk to them about music and where it's gone since the days when they started out, and to get a few pointers on how to harness the emotions to write songs such as theirs. What do you think has gotten you this far in the competition? I think its a mix of me just being myself and my little bit of talent. I have fun when I'm doing anything musical, as I said; it's a vent for me. I feel relieved every time I get off the stage, or every time I finish a song. I think the judges are seeing that and how I relate to my music.. What will it take for you to become the Canadian Idol? A combination of sheer luck, determination, and personality. If I just be myself, a regular guy off the gravel roads of Burlington, I think that I can win the votes of Canadians, well hopefully. What has been the most challenging part of the competition so far? I'd have to say the week of the Top 100. We were worked like dogs, and the level of stress was immense, even for a carefree guy like me. I worked hard enough to lose my voice. Also, after every day, some of the people we became friends with were gone, and sometimes, I had to gin a whole new circle of friends in order to make it without being totally freaked out. Whose career path would you like to follow and why? I have a ton of respect for guys like Springsteen and Seger, who kept their own style throughout their career. Their music is timeless and will always be played. I like people like Kelly Clarkson too. She took full advantage of her opportunity on American Idol 1 and made herself a definite force in the music industry. What part of the Canadian Idol experience has surprised you the most? The part that has surprised me the most, other than me making it to the top 32, is the supportiveness of everyone involved in the show, the producers, the judges and everyone has been very kind and helpful throughout the whole experience. What did you learn about yourself during the Top 100? I learned that I can concentrate more on the task at hand when called upon. I had a rough time of it a few weeks ago, (hence worst day ever), and had to put the whole ordeal out of my mind and concentrate on doing my best and giving it my all. I figure that I can use that to my advantage sometimes, and not let people get to me. What was your reaction when you made the Top 32? I literally hit the roof. When Zack Werner told us that we were the Top 32, my whole body seemed to jump. It seemed so surreal and breathtaking. Who has been the greatest inspiration of your life? I'd have to say my father. He is the hardest working man I know. He always does what he has to do in order to make it in life, he holds back for nothing. Dad always stood tall in the face of adversity, which inspires me to be a better person, and to do my best at everything I do. Who has helped to make you the singer you are today? I think I'm the singer I am today thanks to a lot of people. My "sister", Ceilia helped a lot. I used to sing a lot of punk and whatnot. She introduced me to more mellow, elaborate music in the past few years and I think I've helped myself by singing those types of songs. They gave me more range and a softer, less punk voice. Also, my ex girlfriend, Terri, helped. Throughout our relationship, I tried to sing to her every chance I had. The softer songs that used to put her to sleep over the phone helped me work on my lower range and my softer notes, and it showed me what people meant when they put emotion in music. I used to sing to myself after a while, in order to relieve stress and to help ease heartaches, so she helped me again. What song touches you the most? Why does it affect you so much? There are a few songs that hit me like a ton of bricks. "I'm with You", by Avril Lavigne, was the song my ex loved so much when we were seeing each other, she wanted it to be OUR song, (know what I mean), now after she's gone, when I hear it, I either have to turn off the radio, or I freeze up. So I guess you can say I'm still hurting from that. The other one that hits me hard is "He ain't heavy, He's my brother", by the Hollies. I sang this song at my late Uncle Rex's funeral. His death was so tragic; he died of cancer in January 2004. He was 43 years old. When I hear that song I think of him and the good laughs we had working together, and his two children he left behind.
What do you do to keep your nerves in check during the competition? I just sing. I sing familiar songs and get myself all pumped. I try to remember what it's like when I'm home on the beer and singing for no other reason than to have fun, because to me that's what music is all about, having fun and letting out your emotions. Then I feel comfortable. How has this competition changed you? This competition has given me a lot of confidence about my singing and my music. After learning what the judges think and that my style of music is reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen and others, I'm very confident in myself as a singer and a person, not overconfident though, that's not me at all. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? The phrase "right on." |
