Editing Tina Arena (section)

===Starting a solo recording career===
At age 17, Arena signed a record deal with Graffiti Records, which released her debut single, "[[Turn Up the Beat]]", in 1985. Australian musicologist, [[Ian McFarlane]], described it as having a "dance-pop" style.<ref name="McFarlane"/> ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]''{{'}}s Tim Elliott said that it "failed to impress".<ref name="Elliott">{{cite news | last1 = Elliott | first1 = Tim | title = Why the French love Tina Arena more than Australians | url = http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/why-the-french-love-tina-arena-more-than-australians-20130930-2un5j.html | access-date = 27 October 2015 | work = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | date = 8 October 2013 }}</ref> It had been recorded in the previous year with [[Brian Cadd]] producing at Flagstaff Studios in Melbourne.<ref name="Kimball BC">{{cite web | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080306130200/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/35967/20080307-0002/www.milesago.com/Artists/cadd.html | url = http://www.milesago.com/Artists/cadd.html | title = Brian Cadd | last1 = Kimball | first1 = Duncan | publisher = Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions | year = 2002 | archive-date = 6 March 2008 | access-date = 27 October 2015 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> When the single did not appear in the top&nbsp;50 her planned album was scrapped.<ref name="Kimball BC"/>

Following her 1985 recording, Arena sang advertising jingles and worked on the pub and club circuit to earn a living.<ref name="Elliott"/><ref name="Bush">{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tina-arena-mn0000597585/biography | title = Tina Arena | author = Bush, John | publisher = [[AllMusic]]| work = [[All Media Guide]] | access-date = 27 October 2015 }}</ref> She performed solo shows and in bands, including as a member of a nine-piece ensemble, Network.<ref name="McFarlane"/> She also appeared in musicals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/artists/tina-arena/biography/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005200534/http://www.mtv.com/artists/tina-arena/biography/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 October 2013 |title=Tina Arena Bio |publisher=MTV |access-date=22 July 2013}}</ref> In 1987, she supported American artist [[Lionel Richie]] on his Australian tour<ref name="McFarlane"/> following a number of charity performances.