Andre has last laugh

TEENAGE Australian pop-sensation Peter Andre is still reeling from his overnight success, and few can blame him.

In one short year, he had one of the biggest-selling singles of '93, landed prestigious support gigs for Bobby Brown and Madonna, and even came up with his debut album. Not bad for an underdog who used to come in last in talent quests with his renditions of Motown classics.

''I never used to win anything, as I would only pick Motown songs, while all the other kids were into the more contemporary stuff,'' said the 18-year-old teenage idol, who was in town recently to promote his album, Peter Andre.

That did not dampen his spirits, and it was exactly three years to the day since he won his first contest - singing Bobby Brown's hit Don't Be Cruel - that he supported the superstar in concert. Talk about eerie coincidences.

His triumph on the TV show New Faces brought him a recording contract as he became the protege of Melodion record producer, Ian ''Molly'' Meldrum.

On his own tour in '90, he dedicated a section of the concert to the musical influences that had spurred him on in his childhood. ''I did a verse of Don't Be Cruel , and it was a very emotional moment for people in the audience, as they all knew what it meant.'' The youngest of a family of six siblings, Andre was born in England but moved to Australia when his Cypriot parents fell in love with Surfers Paradise while on holiday.

The 13-year-old had to cope with being the only European in his school, and also with the commercial pop fluff that was winning over most of his peers.

''When I was growing up in England, the only radio station we had played Motown/R&B music all the time,'' he recalled with much nostalgia. ''My life revolved around songs by Marvin Gaye and George Benson. That would determine how happy or sad I would be in the day.'' His unflinching devotion paid off, as his second single, Gimme Little Sign , shot to the top of the Australian charts. It spent a phenomenal 36 weeks on the charts - Peter Andre had arrived.

Funky Junky , an infectious soul-inspired dance number, is perhaps more reflective of Andre's love for black music. A love he communicates enthusiastically to his fans in Asia.

''I love the culture in Asia, as I lived in Osaka for three months,'' he said.

The singer is on a tour that will see him cover Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Thailand. His debut album, for which he wrote nine of the 11 songs, features a fusion of ballads, reggae, pop and soul.

A series of projects is in the works for this bright, young talent, which could catapult him into the league of Australian superstar, John Farnham.

He intends to release his album in the US, and rumours have it that legendary maestro Quincy Jones may be interested in nurturing the teenager.

For the moment, Andre has no qualms about being labelled a flash-in-the-pan teenage idol by critics.

''Elvis (Presley) appealed to a teen audience but captured an older market as he grew older. These were people who had grown up with Elvis and loved him,'' he reasoned.

''Hopefully, my fans and I will grow together that way. I've got this big dream, and all I can say is: let's enjoy what we have, as we may not have it tomorrow.''