Craig Porteils
Encyclopedia
Craig Porteils is a Greek Australian
musical composer, songwriter
, lyricist
, guitarist
, record producer
, and former performer based out of Sydney
, Australia
.
where he experienced great success writing for huge artists such as Cher
, having helped produce her 3× platinum album Heart of Stone whiched peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard 200
, by contributing to the song "If I Could Turn Back Time
", which went to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100
. He also has produced Billy Idol
's top 10 hit "Cradle of Love
" from the album Charmed Life, Tevin Campbell
's top 10 hit Back to the World
, Guns n Roses' number 1 hit "Knockin' on Heaven's Door
", Fleetwood Mac
's Behind the Mask
, Terence Trent D'arby's Symphony or Damn
, Rod Stewart
's "Rhythm of My Heart
", Ozzy Osbourne
's No More Tears
, and Richie Sambora
's "One Light Burning".
Porteils has been the production manager and composer of many American film scores and soundtrack
s, such as Parenthood, starring Ron Howard
, Frankie and Johnny, starring Al Pacino
, Three of Hearts
, Johnny Handsome
, starring Micky Rourke, and Cry-Baby
, starring Johnny Depp
.,
In 1996, Porteils returned to Australia to work in the music industry of his native country. He has participated in the production of the popular show Australian Idol
and produced albums for Shannon Noll
and Guy Sebastian. He has produced for many winners of the show in studio. Some of his Australian collaborations include Diesel
, Cactus Child, Wendy Matthews
, Shortstack, David Campbell
, Deni Hines
, Ultimo, Damien Lieth, Young Divas
, Joel Turner
, Michala Banas
, The Noll Brothers, The Jefferson and Human Nature
.
(ERT) and MAD TV (Greece) that Porteilis along with fellow Greek-Australian songwriter and record executive Cameron Giles-Webb have written the lyrics to two songs called "Right on Time" and "This is Our Night" for Greek superstar Sakis Rouvas
as two of three potential candidates that will compete in the Greek National Final where both the public and a professional jury will vote on 18 February to select Rouvas' entry to represent Greece
in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
in Moscow
.
Porteils and Giles-Webb will be competing against an up-and-coming Greek lyricist Alexandra Zakka, whose first works as a songwriter was her collaboration for the Eurovision. All three songs have been produced by Dimitris Kontopoulos
, as had been previously confirmed by ERT, while the names of the lyricists and the song titles as well as vague descriptions of the genres of the songs were revealed on 10 February. Originally, the songs were to be presented at a press conference on ERT at the Hilton Hotel on 11 February, however, small pieces of information were given out the day before, while the official press conference where the songs will be presented for the first time will take place on 12 February. On 18 February 2009, Rouvas will perform all three songs in the National Final, with full choreography by Fokas Evangelinos. The selected entry will represent Greece in the Eurovision.
The song "Right on Time" was described as a dynamic, mid-tempo song, while "This Is Our Night" was characterized as an imposing dance
song.
Greek Australian
Greeks are the seventh-largest ethnic group in Australia, after those declaring their ancestry simply as "Australian". In the 2006 census, 365,147 persons declared having Greek ancestry, either alone or in conjunction with another ethnicity....
musical composer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, lyricist
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, and former performer based out of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Career
Proteils began his career in the decade of the 1980s, as the guitarist of his own band. However, Proteils soon realized that his strengths were in behind-the-scenes production and started producing music in continuation. From 1989-1996, Porteils was based out of Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
where he experienced great success writing for huge artists such as Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
, having helped produce her 3× platinum album Heart of Stone whiched peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, by contributing to the song "If I Could Turn Back Time
If I Could Turn Back Time
"If I Could Turn Back Time" is a song written by Diane Warren and was released on June 1, 1989 as the second North American and first European single release from American singer/actress Cher's twentieth album Heart of Stone by Geffen Records....
", which went to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. He also has produced Billy Idol
Billy Idol
William Michael Albert Broad , better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. A member of the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X...
's top 10 hit "Cradle of Love
Cradle of Love
"Cradle of Love" is a rock song written by Billy Idol and David Werner for Idol's 1990 fourth studio album Charmed Life. The song is the album's sixth track, and was released as its first single. The song became one of Idol's biggest hits in the United States, where it reached #2 on the Billboard...
" from the album Charmed Life, Tevin Campbell
Tevin Campbell
Tevin Jermod Campbell is an American R&B singer-songwriter and actor. He scored a string of R&B chart hits as a teenager in the early to mid-1990s.-Music career:...
's top 10 hit Back to the World
Back to the World (Tevin Campbell album)
-Reception:In terms of sales, Back To The World was a disappointment compared to his first two albums T.E.V.I.N. and I'm Ready only reaching Gold status...
, Guns n Roses' number 1 hit "Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan for the soundtrack of the 1973 film Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid. It reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.-Story line and song structure:...
", Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
's Behind the Mask
Behind the Mask (album)
Behind the Mask is the 15th studio album by British/American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released in 1990. It was the first album released by the band after the departure of guitarist Lindsey Buckingham. He was replaced by Billy Burnette and Rick Vito, both guitar players, singers and songwriters....
, Terence Trent D'arby's Symphony or Damn
Symphony or Damn
Terence Trent D'Arby's Symphony or Damn* is Terence Trent D'Arby's third album, released in 1993 on Columbia Records. This album marked something of a comeback for Maitreya after the previous album "Neither Fish Nor Flesh", and was generally well received by many critics...
, Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
's "Rhythm of My Heart
Rhythm of My Heart
"Rhythm of My Heart" is a rock song written by Marc Jordan and John Capek for Rod Stewart's 1991 album Vagabond Heart. The song is the album's opening track, and was released as its first single...
", Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
's No More Tears
No More Tears
- 2002 Reissue :- Personnel :Musicians* Ozzy Osbourne – vocals* Zakk Wylde – guitar* Bob Daisley – bass* Randy Castillo – drums* John Sinclair – keyboards, pianoAdditional personnel* Mike Inez – inspiration, musical direction...
, and Richie Sambora
Richie Sambora
Richard Stephen "Richie" Sambora is an American rock guitarist, producer, musician, singer, and songwriter who is the longtime lead guitarist of the rock band, Bon Jovi. He and frontman Jon Bon Jovi form the primary songwriting unit of the band...
's "One Light Burning".
Porteils has been the production manager and composer of many American film scores and soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s, such as Parenthood, starring Ron Howard
Ron Howard
Ronald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor, director, and producer. He came to prominence as a child actor, playing Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years, and later the teenaged Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for six years...
, Frankie and Johnny, starring Al Pacino
Al Pacino
Alfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
, Three of Hearts
Three of Hearts (film)
Three of Hearts is a 1993 comedy/romance film directed by Yurek Bogayevicz and starring William Baldwin, Kelly Lynch, and Sherilyn Fenn.- Plot summary :...
, Johnny Handsome
Johnny Handsome
Johnny Handsome is an 1989 American crime-drama film directed by Walter Hill and starring Mickey Rourke, Ellen Barkin and Morgan Freeman. The film was written by Ken Friedman, from the novel by John Godey. The music for the film was written, produced and performed by Ry Cooder, and Jim Keltner...
, starring Micky Rourke, and Cry-Baby
Cry-Baby
Cry-Baby is a 1990 American teen musical film written and directed by John Waters. It stars Johnny Depp as 1950s teen rebel "Cry-Baby" Wade Walker, and also features an expansive ensemble cast that includes Amy Locane, Iggy Pop, Traci Lords, Ricki Lake, Kim McGuire, David Nelson, Susan Tyrrell, and...
, starring Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp
John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II is an American actor, producer and musician. He has won the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor. Depp rose to prominence on the 1980s television series 21 Jump Street, becoming a teen idol...
.,
In 1996, Porteils returned to Australia to work in the music industry of his native country. He has participated in the production of the popular show Australian Idol
Australian Idol
Australian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
and produced albums for Shannon Noll
Shannon Noll
Shannon Noll first came to prominence as runner-up of the first series of Australian Idol which led to him being signed to Sony BMG. Since then he has released five Top 10 albums and ten Top 10 singles. His first two albums That's What I'm Talking About in 2004 and Lift in 2005 debuted at No...
and Guy Sebastian. He has produced for many winners of the show in studio. Some of his Australian collaborations include Diesel
Johnny Diesel
Johnny Diesel is an Australian musician, who has released material as leader of Johnny Diesel & the Injectors, under his birth name, or by the epithet Diesel...
, Cactus Child, Wendy Matthews
Wendy Matthews
Wendy Joan Matthews is an Australian adult alternative pop singer originally from Canada who has been a member of Models and Absent Friends and is a solo artist...
, Shortstack, David Campbell
David Campbell (Australian musician)
David Joseph Campbell is an Australian singer and stage performer. He has performed and recorded many different genres of music from rock to classics. He is the son of singer Jimmy Barnes.-Theatre career:...
, Deni Hines
Deni Hines
Dohnyale "Deni" Sharon Hines is a solo R&B artist who had chart success in the 1990s in Australia and New Zealand. She is the daughter of Marcia Hines....
, Ultimo, Damien Lieth, Young Divas
Young Divas
Young Divas was an Australian girl group that had consisted of previous Australian Idol contestants. The original line up consisted of season one finalist Paulini Curuenavuli, season two finalist Ricki-Lee Coulter, season three winner Kate DeAraugo and runner-up Emily Williams...
, Joel Turner
Joel Turner (musician)
Joel Turner is an Australian beatboxer, singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and record producer best known for the Australian hit song "These Kids". As a beatboxer, he is recognised for his raw power, deep bass, and trademark sounds such as his "third voice", cowbell, teeth beats and bass guitar...
, Michala Banas
Michala Banas
Michala Elizabeth Laurinda Banas is a New Zealand television actress, and singer now living in Australia.-Career:Born in Wellington, New Zealand, she starred in her first commercial at only 18 months of age....
, The Noll Brothers, The Jefferson and Human Nature
Human Nature (band)
Human Nature are an Australian pop vocal group. The group was originally formed as a doo-wop band in 1989 while the current members were at school together in Sydney. So far, the band has had 17 Top 40 hits and five Top 10 hits in Australia since 1996 when their first album Telling Everybody was...
.
Eurovision Song Contest 2009
On 10 February 2009, it was revealed by the Greek networks Ellinikí Radiofonía TileórasiElliniki Radiofonia Tileorasi
The Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation is the Greek state-owned public radio and television broadcasting corporation. It is a member of EBU.Since 70's ERT is part of the Eurovision Song Contest, organized by EBU...
(ERT) and MAD TV (Greece) that Porteilis along with fellow Greek-Australian songwriter and record executive Cameron Giles-Webb have written the lyrics to two songs called "Right on Time" and "This is Our Night" for Greek superstar Sakis Rouvas
Sakis Rouvas
Anastasios "Sakis" Rouvas II , often referred to mononymously as Sakis, is a Greek musician, television and film artist, businessman, and former pole vaulter who is one of the most successful and influential entertainers of all time in Greece and Cyprus...
as two of three potential candidates that will compete in the Greek National Final where both the public and a professional jury will vote on 18 February to select Rouvas' entry to represent Greece
Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Greece participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the song "This Is Our Night" sung by Sakis Rouvas. The Greek national television broadcaster Ellinikí Radiofonía Tileórasi announced that it had internally selected Rouvas to represent Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest on July 15,...
in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Eurovision Song Contest 2009
The Eurovision Song Contest 2009 was the 54th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest and was hosted by Russia after their win in 2008. It took place between 12 and 16 May 2009 at the Olympic Indoor Arena in Moscow, Russia....
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
Porteils and Giles-Webb will be competing against an up-and-coming Greek lyricist Alexandra Zakka, whose first works as a songwriter was her collaboration for the Eurovision. All three songs have been produced by Dimitris Kontopoulos
Dimitris Kontopoulos
Dimitris Kontopoulos is one of the most famous Greek music composers known for his dance-pop music.-Personal life:Dimitris Kontopoulos was born in Athens, Greece on November 9, 1971...
, as had been previously confirmed by ERT, while the names of the lyricists and the song titles as well as vague descriptions of the genres of the songs were revealed on 10 February. Originally, the songs were to be presented at a press conference on ERT at the Hilton Hotel on 11 February, however, small pieces of information were given out the day before, while the official press conference where the songs will be presented for the first time will take place on 12 February. On 18 February 2009, Rouvas will perform all three songs in the National Final, with full choreography by Fokas Evangelinos. The selected entry will represent Greece in the Eurovision.
The song "Right on Time" was described as a dynamic, mid-tempo song, while "This Is Our Night" was characterized as an imposing dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
song.