Superstar Status Confirmed As Paceman Now Tears Up The Charts
The Age
Tuesday January 9, 2007
IT HAS taken Brett Lee seven years and 143 one-day internationals to attain his current ranking, sixth, among the world's bowlers. But to reach No. 4 in India's music charts, Lee required just 30 minutes.
In that half hour, between matches at the Champions Trophy last year, Lee penned the lyrics to You're The One For Me, a duet performed with Indian Bollywood icon Asha Bhosle. The combined drawing power of Asha and Lee ensured that the single surged to No. 4 inside the first week, and all but sealed plans for the Australian to complete a studio album for release in India within the next year. "We had talked about it for a while, but in the end it happened really quickly," said Lee, who plays guitar and sings in English and Hindi in the song. "We had a break in between games last year, so I wrote the lyrics in half an hour and we headed up to a studio in Mohali to record it. Then we hired a room in our hotel in Mumbai to shoot the video. I have been shooting commercials since I was 20, so it all came pretty naturally." Those close to the Australian team are hardly surprised at Lee's latest endeavour. The fast bowler seldom travels anywhere without his guitar, and can often be found jamming with teammates and opposing players after games. Earlier this year, Lee and South Africa's AB de Villiers entertained guests at a Johannesburg hotel after the third Test. Lee also played with England skipper Andrew Flintoff in a hotel bar in Nagpur last year. The fact that Lee chose India to launch his music career is unsurprising. Though he has never played a Test there, Lee has established himself as a marketable figure in the second most populous country. "I have about a dozen offers on the table for roles in Bollywood movies which I would love to do, but it is difficult because you need 50 or so days to shoot them," he said. "But I definitely plan to record an album in the break after the World Cup. I'm hoping to write songs that appeal to Indians." Lee is not the first cricketer to delve into music and film. C. Aubrey Smith, who captained England against South Africa in 1889, left the game to pursue an acting career. In Bollywood, Asha is huge. According to Wikipedia, the 73-year- old has recorded over 12,000 songs in 14 languages, and been involved in more than 900 films. "She is the Aretha Franklin of India," Lee said. For those in Australia more interested in Lee's bowling than his crooning, there appears to be further good news. Having rectified a glitch in his run-up early in the Ashes series, Lee is confident of a further surge up the rankings ahead of the World Cup. "I had a couple of chats with Troy Cooley and my brother, Shane, about what was going on," he said. "I could really feel the difference in the last couple of games."ONLINE? Watch Dean Jones and Martin Blake wrap up the Ashes and preview what's next for Australia and England at theage.com.au
© 2007 The Age
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