Australian Idol semifinal two got straight to business tonight, announcing Chrislyn Hamilton and Wes Carr have made 
it into the Top 12. I’d suspected it might go this way, and I’m definitely not disappointed. They’re such different performers, but both so very strong. I look forward to watching their journeys!
Luke Dickens was up first to perform with “Mustang Sally.” I thought it was a perfect song for his big raspy voice, and I really enjoyed it. His performance was a bit stiff, but you can learn that sort of stuff. He’s so likeable and quintessentially Australian. A really solid start.
Oh Brooke Wilkie. My heart broke for her. I was really enjoying her take on Paulo Nutini’s “New Shoes” for the first verse, but then her lack of voice seemed to catch up with her. She’s clearly sick, and without the experience of knowing how to handle it the whole song came crashing down around her. She’s a talent and hopefully she’s feeling better for the wildcard round. It’d be a shame to have her journey end just through bad luck.
Tom Williams was probably thrilled to follow Brooke. It made his version of “You Raise Me Up” seem almost adequate. The truth is, he’s just not up to a song like this. It started out OK, but he by the end it was paling it comparison. I really hope the teenage girls don’t vote him through just because he’s cute.
Things really kicked up a notch when Natalie Colavito took to the stage. I’ve heard Idol contestants sing “Listen” time and time again. It’s one of those songs, with all the big notes and inspiration lyrics. Yet Natalie brought something different to her performance and I lapped it up. There’s a sincerity about her, a quiet strength, which is just so appealing.
Amanda Grafanakis followed with Pink’s “Who Knew.” I really like the different flavour she brings to the competition, but I’m not sure she really showed us what she can do here. It’s a shame. We need a rock chick. While it was enjoyable, I’m not sure she did enough to comvince the voters of that.
Thanh Bui closed the show with a rousing rendition of “One.” There’s no denying this guy has a killer voice. It reminds me a lot of John Farnham’s, which isn’t a bad compliment is it? He hits some big notes, but he also delivers them with the passion that I’ve felt has been missing in some Idol contestants of the past. The stand-out of the night for me.
If this was just a singing competition, I’d say Thanh Bui’s going through to the finals and that either Natalia Colavito or Luke Dickens will join him. But it’s not. And I’m a little concerned that because of that Tom Williams may just claim one of those elusive top 12 positions.
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