Tag: Australian Idol

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Idol Performances: Contestant’s Choice

The Australian Idol finals kicked off with a bang last night. The topic was Contestant’s Choice, and our top 12 were encouraged to choose songs that represented them.

Ben McKenzie showed a maturity beyond his years, keeping his composure despite being first up on the big stage. I loved what he did to Maroon 5’s “Sunday Morning,” slowing it down and upping the emotional content. Ben’s such a likeable sweet kid, and he shows more and more diversity every time we see him.

Mark Da Costa turned up the volume with his cover of U2’s “Vertigo.” I’m still not feeling any real connection with this guy. It feels like he’s simply imitating the artists he covers, rather than being himself. I’ve never liked this song, and he didn’t do anything to change my mind.

Poor little Lana Krost. She’s a very sweet, very talented girl, but she really seems to struggle to keep her nerves under control. I also felt the song choice was a curious one. “Shiver” was never one of Natalie Imbruglia’s biggest hits, and I didn’t feel Lana really connected with it either. I honestly would have preferred to hear her sing something from the world of theatre. As that’s her background and that’s where she feels most comfortable, I think it would have helped her keep those nerves under control.

Daniel Mifsud didn’t convince the judges, but I really appreciated what he tried to do with “Cry Me a River.” I groaned when I heard he was covering Justin Timberlake (unlike most girls, I just don’t like the guy), but the guitar heavy arrangement made it much cooler. However, while this was also the redeeming feature, it was also what let him down. Daniel did a great job, but the band was just too overpowering.

Carl Riseley was the surprise package of the night, delivering a swing version of Australia’s unofficial anthem, “Waltzing Matilda.” I spent the first half of it asking myself whether he was kidding, and the second half certain this was the smartest song choice of the night. It was an incredibly weird pairing, but we’re such a patriotic lot that it somehow worked.

Holly Weinert came out with something to prove, determined to show Australia that she’s not the alt-country chick she’s been branded. A cover of The Gossip’s “Standing in the Way of Control” was certainly the way to do it. Her vocals and presence were really strong, but I just didn’t like it. I would have bought an album with music along the lines of her cover of “Easy,” but I wouldn’t buy this.

It almost seemed like the Idols were deliberately choosing material by bands I hate. The big difference with Matt Corby and his cover of the snoozeworthy Coldplay song “The Scientist” is that he made me love it. The performance had so much control and intensity it was captivating. I think it just may have been the best performance of the night.

Natalie Gauci stripped back Powderfinger’s rock anthem “On My Mind.” She’s just such a competent performer, she never seems to put a foot wrong. Unlike Mark Da Costa, Natalie really seems to know who she is and she’s able to inject that into every song she sings. This was very cool.

Jacob Butler turned a corner with a rocking cover of The Killers’ smash “When You Were Young.” At times his energetic performance compromised the vocals, but it was so enjoyable that it hardly mattered. What was important is that Jacob was finally cutting loose. So long as he does more of this, he’ll be fine.

Next up we had the consummate professional, Tarisai Vushe. She built her cover of Alicia Keys’ “If I Was Your Woman” like a woman who’s been singing for a lot longer. What I love most about Tarisai is that she has a big voice, but she doesn’t overuse it. When she does bring it out though, it’s spectacular.

Marty Simpson showed why you shouldn’t necessarily sing songs that you love with his take on “Can’t Stand Losing You.” He’s obviously a really big Police fan, he even has a tattoo to prove it, but it really didn’t work for me. Marty just doesn’t have this kind of intensity (he’s a surfer from the laidback Central Coast after all) and he’d be better off sticking to mellower material.

Brianna Carpenter brought a touch of cabaret to her cover of The Beach Boys’ classic “God Only Knows.” I thought the arrangement was great, but her pitch problems really let her down. Perhaps this was a case of nerves? I’ve heard her sing a lot better than this, and I hope we get the opportunity to see her do so again.

So tonight we’ll lose one of them. I think Lana’s time may be up, but I’d love to hear your views!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Aussie Idol Takes Out Top Teen Honours

Australian Idol graduates proved they’re tops with teens, taking out several major awards at last night’s Dolly Teen Choice Awards in Sydney.

Dean Geyer was named hottest music act, a title that may have as much to do with his looks as his talent. Last year’s third-place getter was thrilled to attend the awards show with his lady love, Lisa Origliasso of The Veronicas.

“This is the first awards night we’ve been to as a couple – it’s awesome,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

Guy Sebastian’s Close to The Sun was named most popular album, and Anthony Callea’s “Addicted To You” was the most downloaded ringtone. No, I can’t believe there’s an award for that either.

Australian Idol host James Mathison showed up his sidekick Andrew G by taking home the coolest VJ title.

Dan O’Connor showed his move to acting was a wise one by winning the King of Teen crown. Dan was the second top 12 competitor ousted from Australian Idol 2, but he’s stuck around a lot longer on teen soap Neighbours.

But the comment of the night has to go to Aussie Idol judge Dicko’s daughter, Edie. It seems the 14-year-old felt her daggy Dad was far too old for the Dolly awards.

“I brought him with me, he’s got too much grey hair to be here,” she said. Nice one Edie!

Image source: DianeSunshineCoast @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Idol Top 12 Announced!

Australia, meet your Australian Idol finalists. Last night we welcomed the final four members of the group to the fray, and prepared for the business end of the competition.

Daniel Mifsud and Mark Da Costa were the audience favourites, scoring the highest number of viewers votes after their performances on Sunday night. I was disappointed, but not surprised. I was sweating on Husny scoring one of the spots, knowing Mark could never convince the other judges to back him, but it was not to be. There’s been so much hype around the other boys though, the result was a little predictable.

Not so the judges’ choices, which came after a sublime performance from last year’s oddbod, Bobby Flynn.

Carl Riseley was the first judges’ pick, something I really didn’t expect. I know he did quite well on Sunday night, but surely one good performance isn’t enough. The judges’ second choice was a lot more obvious. Natalie Gauci has been such a consistent performer throughout this competition, and she certainly deserves her place.

So what did you think? I’d love to know your views on the wildcards, and the top 12 generally? Who shouldn’t have missed out, and who doesn’t deserve a top spot?

Image source: jason ilagan @ Flickr.com

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Idol Wildcard Round

After the wildcard round last night, Australian Idol is one step closer to the finals. Tonight we’ll discover the four singers who’ll round out the top 12, and the games will really start. All the singers last night knew they needed to really impress to earn their place amongst the chosen ones. Some people brought their “A Game,” yet others failed to live up to expectations.

Jack Byrnes kicked off the show with his take on The Doobie Brothers’ classic “Long Train Runnin’.” I love Jack’s energy, and he has a really distinctive voice. Yet I find his performance a bit affected. It seems like he’s more interested in the big notes and how the song goes together rather than what’s behind it. He just feels false to me.

No one could say the same thing for our next performer Husny Thalib. It was a very different Husny this week. The flashy campiness of his Lenny Kravitz cover was a world away from his take on “I Believe.” It certainly wasn’t perfect. This bare bones track exposed every one of Husny’s vocal weaknesses. But, for some reason, it didn’t matter. He was just so believable, so passionate, and I found that so much more compelling. You can teach someone how to sing with the right training, but you can’t teach someone how to really interpret the way Husny does. I loved it.

Carl Riseley really surprised me with his swing interpretation of The Everly Brothers’ smash, “Bye Bye Love.” I didn’t particularly like the arrangement, but his vocals were much stronger than I’ve heard before. This kid’s really improving. He’s got to learn some stage presence and how to move, but just look how far he’s come. Last night I finally saw him though Marcia’s eyes.

Sarah Lloyde did her best to show her diversity with the sassy Christina Aguilera hit, “Candyman.” She’s vocally very strong, but the arrangement really let her down. I know it must be hard to compress a song into one and a half minutes, but there was too much dead time here. Even when she was singing, most of it was just ad-libbing and wailing. She’s a real talent, but this just didn’t show us that. I absolutely loved her outfit though.

Another talent who suffered from another underwhelming performance was Dave Andrews. He tackled “The Dolphin’s Cry,” a risky move that didn’t pay off. He certainly had the right intensity in the first verse, but somewhere in there it became karaoke to me.

Early favourite Daniel Mifsud delivered the sort of performance I’d hoped he would. I must admit, I was nervous when I heard he’d chosen “Lay Your Love On Me.” It was more of the same middle of the road soft rock that saw him miss out last time. Yet the arrangement was genius, and that saved this from being more forgettable blandness. Yes, yes, yes.

Natalie Gauci was another early favourite who used the wildcard to show why she deserved to be in the top 12 all along. Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” was the perfect song choice for her – strong, different, and feminine. I loved the way she used the stage, and she sang flawlessly. Natalie’s never really put a foot wrong in the competition, and I’m almost positive she’ll be in the top 12 after this.

Mark Da Costa closed the show with more straight-up rock, this time a cover of “Evie Part 1.” Mark’s another performer with great energy, but I still can’t see what the judges are raving about. His voice has a wonderful rock and roll rasp, but it seems like he falls off just about every note. He’s good, but I don’t think he’s that good.

So who’ll go through? My money’s on Daniel Mifsud, Mark Da Costa, and Natalie Gauci. The judges rave about these three so much that I’m sure they’ll choose whoever the viewers don’t. The fourth spot is really anyone’s guess. I’d love to think it’ll be Husny, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the safer performers like Sarah or Jack get a run.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Holly and Brianna Join Australian Idol Top 12!

After some truly breathtaking performances, Holly Weinert and Brianna Carpenter took their rightful places amongst the Australian Idol top 12 last night.

I was so thrilled to see these girls make it through. They bring something truly unique to the top 12, and I can’t wait to follow their progress in the competition. You know, with so much talent amongst the Idol ranks this year it’s going to be really difficult to vote people out every week!

Before we do though, we’ve got the wildcard round on Sunday. Last night each judge chose two people to have a second chance at Idol glory. I was thrilled that the judges did it this way. It’s allowed us to have a very different bunch of contestants – not the contestants the majority wanted but the contestants that one person believed in enough. I’m also glad the wildcards weren’t chosen on the basis of gender. It seems crazy to me that Idol franchises seem so concerned with an even gender mix.

And so, Australia, your wildcard contestants are: Daniel Mifsud, Husny Thalib, Carl Riseley, Natalie Gauci, Mark Da Costa, Jack Byrnes, Dave Andrews, and Sarah Lloyd. It’s really a mixed bag, isn’t it? I’m thrilled that Husny, Daniel, and Natalie have another shot at making it through. I’m also expecting big things from Dave and Jack. Bring on Sunday!

Image source: Wikimedia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Idol Semifinals: Group 4

After a couple of days predicting, I actually got it right last night! I was thrilled that the two Central Coast boys, Ben McKenzie and Marty Simpson, were voted through the top 12. Well done boys! Australia definitely got it right this time.

With the announcement out of the way, it was time to hear the final group of girls. Sarah Lloyd started us off with a gutsy rendition of Jennifer Hudson’s Dreamgirls hit, “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going.” I thought she performed really well, but I just don’t find her very interesting. There was nothing to fault here, but I wouldn’t go out and buy her albums.

Morgan Hosking is more my kind of performer. Funnily enough though, while she has the interest factor, the vocals let her down. She insisted a bad case of nerves marred her performance of Alanis Morissette’s “You Learn,” and maybe that’s all it is. The sad thing is, we hadn’t seen a lot of Morgan before last night so Australia’s going to take her on face value. I think she could have brought something very cool to the competition, but she won’t go through with this effort.

After some half-good acts, Holly Weinert was a breath of fresh air. During the audition rounds this chick from Mildura got lost amongst all the other guitar girls. Yet last night she held her own and established herself as a unique force in the competition. I loved everything about her stripped-back version of “Easy.”

While Holly provided a point of difference, our next singer Madison Pritchett showed she’s incredibly bland. Her voice is really nothing spectacular, and her stage presence didn’t impress me either. Her take on Avril Lavigne’s “When You’re Gone” was far too sugary sweet. I can see this girl modelling for Dolly magazine, not on the world music stage.

From the bland to the extraordinary, enter one of my favourite contestants, Brianna Carpenter. Some of my first loves let me down this week, so I was thrilled at this performance. Regina Spektor’s “Fidelity” was the perfect song for her: unique, kooky, and playful. I just hope that Australia understands how great this was and votes her through, as the competition really needs someone like her.

Seasoned Idol performer Rosie Ribbons closed with a very different take on REM’s indie anthem “Everybody Hurts.” There’s no denying that Rosie’s a great singer. But it feels like she’s putting together a collection of impressive notes, rather than really singing and connecting with a song. Maybe that’s enough to do well over in Britain, but this kind of superficial performance won’t impress Australia. I found it downright painful.

I really hope Holly and Brianna join the top 12 after last night. Their performances were the only ones that really had star quality for me. Having said that, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Sarah took one of their places. Disappointed, but not surprised.

So tonight we’ve got the girls’ verdict, and the wildcard announcements. Given the talent that’s been rejected, Sunday’s going to be one hell of a night!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Idol Semifinals: Group 3

Despite my confidence, it seems I was wrong again last night. No one was shocked to hear Tarisai Vushe announced as the first girl in the top 12. But no one expected that Lana Krost would join her, including Lana herself. I’m still not convinced that she’s ready for the competition, but there’s no denying she has talent. She’s undoubtedly going to improve week after week, and that’s going to be really fun to see.

Mark Da Costa opened the show with a bang with a rocking version of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.” The judges and audience seemed to love it, but it felt a bit weak to me. Perhaps you needed to be there to feel the energy. It was solid, but he didn’t seem to have the pipes to pull off some of the notes he aimed for.

While Mark’s energy didn’t reach me in TV Land, that of young Ben McKenzie certainly did. Ordinarily I chat through performances, criticising this and complimenting that. Yet while he sang “Mad World” I sat speechless, captivated. I think with all the focus on Matt Corby, this other sweet 16-year-old has been overlooked. I know I underestimated him, but I won’t make that mistake again. Wow.

I’m in two minds about Jack Byrnes’ performance. I thought his arrangement of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” was really innovative and fun. I thought his voice was very strong. I even loved the “mincey dancing” that Dicko panned. Yet I didn’t connect with it on an emotional level, and I just can’t put my finger on why.

Newcastle’s Dave Andrews came next with the John Farnham hit “That’s Freedom.” As a former Novocastrian, I had a personal interest in Dave. I wanted him to do well, but this was simply adequate. I couldn’t fault his singing at all. It was a beautiful arrangement. It’s just that there was nothing really special about it. He made it to the top 24 because of some quirky song choices and his great personality, but he didn’t showcase any of that last night.

Next up was another emotional investment, Lyall Adonis. He blew me away at his audition, yet it seems like he’s struggled with nerves throughout the rest of his time in the competition. He was still battling them last night. Listening to his performance of “Desperado” without the visuals, the vocal was pure and solid. But sadly we all know this competition is about more than the vocals.

Marty Simpson closed the show with The Fray’s hit “Over My Head.” I think Marty was great, but the band let him down here. It seemed like they were rushing and it made what could have been a great performance fall a little short. As a Central Coast resident, I’ve actually caught Marty playing around the place locally over the past few years. Let me tell you, he’s a real find and he’s got a lot more to give.

So tonight we’ll find out who’s through, and hear the last of the girls sing. Ben McKenzie deserves his place in the top 12 after last night, but I’m not so sure who should join him. I’m tossing up between Marty Simpson and Jack Byrnes. What about you?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Idol 5 Semifinals: Group Two

It was a big night in Australian Idol last night, with our first two contestants through to the top 12, and the first six girls singing for their supper.

As the picture shows, Matt Corby and Jacob Butler are our first two top 12 contestants. Did you pick it? I think most of us guessed that Matt was a shoe-in, but I’m surprised by Jacob’s inclusion. While his performance certainly wasn’t horrible, I didn’t think he was distinctive enough to earn the nation’s votes. He may not have been one of my favourites, but I’m still happy to see him there. This boy’s nothing if not committed, and once his nerves settle and he starts taking some risks he could really pull out something special.

After an uncharacteristically speedy announcement, Channel Ten brought us the first group of ladies. I didn’t think it was as strong as the men’s group that came before, but the performances of a select few showed we’re going to have an amazing top 12.

Sally Van Der Zwert was first up, taking inspiration from the original Idol with her cover of Kelly Clarkson’s “Never Again.” She has a pretty voice, but I felt she was a bit breathless and thin in patches. She’s a really attractive girl, but she’s lacking that elusive star quality. A decent, but ultimately unforgettable, performance.

Perhaps I forgot about Sally so quickly because Natalie Gauci came next. This girl captivated me, and the judges, from the start. I continued to be entranced by her cover of Christina Aguilera’s “Hurt.” I’ve never been a Christina fan, but I can appreciate the quality and difficulty of her songs. Natalie kept her cool, and was never daunted by the challenge of this powerhouse ballad. It was stunning, and while I’m biased, I thought it was better than the original.

Next up was a groovier Cheray Doughty than we’d previously seen. She moved and grooved her way around “Tell Me About It,” but I just don’t see her as Australia’s answer to Joss Stone. What I liked most about Cheray was her folky whimsical style, and I’d hate to see abandon that for this kind of disposable pop. The judges raved about her though, so apparently they saw something I didn’t.

While Cheray disappointed me, Tarisai Vushe delivered more than I’d ever expected. I’d originally perceived this African beauty as just another Whitney wannabe, with a big voice but little substance. But her dynamic performance of “River Deep, Mountain High” proved me wrong. As a matter of fact, she could be one of the most exciting performers we have. I loved the way Tarisai built this, from a tender ballad to a rock powerhouse. She’s a bundle of sass and sunshine, and there’s no justice if she doesn’t get through.

Next up we had Jesse Curran, with a country take on the U2 classic “One.” She sang beautifully, but following Tarisai made her look ordinary. It’s a shame as Jesse was already disadvantaged following the tabloid news about her relationship with country crooner James Blundell. When the public has branded you a home wrecker, it takes something spectacular to make them like you. This performance wasn’t enough.

Lana Krost closed the show with the number one hit, “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” It was a pleasant effort, but I felt she didn’t really understand what she was singing about. This is another girl with so much potential, but she seems a little too inexperienced to really make an impression on the competition.

So who will go and who will stay? This one seems a lot more clear-cut to me. If Natalie and Tarisai don’t make the top 12 after their consistent brilliance, I’ll be shocked.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Idol 5 Semifinals: Group One

Australian Idol 5 is off and racing after a cracking first semifinal. Following a thoroughly entertaining show last night I’m left wondering who will stay, and who will go. Some of the favourites underachieved, leaving some others to rise to the top of the pack. Right now, it really seems like it’s anyone’s game.

First up with the crowd-pleasing teen Matt Corby. So much has been said about Matt in this blog so far, but did his rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish” live up to the hype? Honestly, I think so. Sure, the performance could have been a bit more dynamic, but he certainly nailed the vocals. The performance showed real depth, and for his first time on the Idol stage I think he did a credible job.

This week the Idol forums were buzzing about Junior To’o. We’ve barely seen anything of this Sydney dad, yet there he was fighting for his place in the top 12 amongst early crowd favourites. While he may not have the profile of some of the other contestants, Junior took it in his stride to deliver a very mature performance of “Dear Mr President.” Junior brought a great sadness and believability to the song, and it was wonderful.

Carl Riseley showed yet again why I call him a poor man’s Michael Bublé. This time around he tackled “Home,” a song that should have been right up his alley considering his Navy background. But this guy just simply isn’t good enough. He didn’t do a bad job, but he’s just not strong enough to compete at this level.

Next up we had Daniel Mifsud, my early favourite, with Diesel’s “Tip of my Tongue.” When the judges said this was “underwhelming” I think they were spot on. He sang well, he performed well, but on the whole it was all just very average. I’d expect to hear something on a par with this performance at any local pub. He was so popular he may find himself in the top 12 anyway, but based on that performance alone he doesn’t deserve it.

It seems people either love or hate Husny Thalib. Personally, I fall into the former category. He brings a sense of drama and theatrics to Idol that we haven’t seen since drag queen Courtney Act. While the song “If You Can’t Say No” may alienate a few people, he really sold it to me. Really strong vocals, distinctive dance moves, outrageous costuming: this boy has style.

The show was closed out with serial reality TV offender Jacob Butler. I was a bit of a fan of Jacob’s work on The X Factor, but I can’t say he won me over here. “Chasing Cars” is such a monotonous song that he really had nowhere to go with it. It’s a shame. He’s a strong performer, but I doubt this will win him votes.

I predict Matt and Daniel will probably win their places in the top 12, based purely on their popularity. However, I’d really love to see Husny take Daniel’s place. He worked his leather-clad butt off for it, and he really deserves it.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Idol: Stars In the Making

The auditions are behind us, so it’s time to forget the loonies and focus on the talent unearthed by this season of Australian Idol. And what talent there is, with so many gifted musicians the traditional Top 100 was expanded to 136.

So who are the best of the bunch? Here are just a few of the talented performers that impressed me so far.

I must admit, Daniel Mifsud caught my eye on one of the earliest Australian Idol ads this year. He wasn’t singing: it was an entirely superficial reaction to his pretty hair and laid-back fashion sense. I called him Blue Scarf Boy for some time, so it’s nice to be able to use his real name. But this boy isn’t just sexy; he can actually sing, and he seems to have quite the musical knowledge. His take on Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” was breathtaking. While I usually go for guitar boys, I’m pretty smitten by Daniel.

I mentioned I had a thing for guitar boys, right? I didn’t have to wait too long to find someone who fit that mould. Lyall Adonis has the voice of an angel, and a laid-back vibe that reminds me a lot of Amos Lee. The song he played for his audition is by far the best original piece I’ve heard in an Idol audition. As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure his was the best Idol audition I’ve seen. This guy is a real find, and girls are going to go crazy for his dimples. Like Daniel, he was also wearing a scarf. Coincidence?

Lyall wasn’t the only guitar boy who won me over. I couldn’t resist the charms of Matt Corby, who played a stellar rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.” I generally hate when people harp on about how contestants are “only 16,” but I can’t help but make an exception in Matt’s case. He plays guitar better than most people twice his age, and his voice has a huskiness that seems incongruous to his youth. He also makes me feel like a dirty old woman. Sixteen-year-olds did not look like that when I was at school.

But I’m not just going gaga over the guys. Aussie Idol is also serving up some outstanding female talent. Melbourne’s Natalie Gauci had the judges fawning all over her, and with good reason. Not only is this raven-haired songstress an absolute stunner, she’s also incredibly gifted. She checks all the musical boxes, with her emotive voice, piano skills, and songwriting credentials. However, as she proved with her cover of “I Will Survive,” she’s not above belting out a pop song. Natalie also seems to have her head screwed on, so she seems a shoe-in to make the top 24, at least.

Brianna Carpenter is shaping up to be this season’s Chanel Cole. The quirky dress, sunny personality, and quiet confidence are all there. But Australian Idol has come a very long way since Chanel reveled in her odd-girl-out status in season two. Now we actually embrace singers that are a little left of centre. I loved Brianna’s audition song “Jacqueline,” and I’m hopeful that she’ll find our revamped talent quest is a perfect fit for her uniqueness.

So there’s what I think, but I’d love to hear from you. Who do you love, or hate, on Idol this year?