Tag: Wes Carr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Wes Carr Wins Australian Idol

Wes Carr has taken out this year’s season of Australian Idol, beating Luke Dickens in a thrilling season finale. Luke was clearly the underdog, but we all know that in Australia that means nothing as everyone loves to see the Aussie battler get up. But after standout performances every week, it’s exciting to see Wes come through with the goods.

It’s also a good thing that Wes’ first single “You” is fantastic, because we’re going to hear a lot more of it in the coming weeks! It’s at radio and available for digital download now, with the CD single to come on December 3.

The single will include some highlights of Wes’ Idol journey: new recordings of “Get Back,” “Desire,” and “If I Were a Carpenter.”

Sony Music chairman Denis Handlin says he’s “very excited” about working with the boy from Bondi.

“This year’s Idol series has uncovered an exceptional array of talent. The changes to the format this year have proven very successful and most importantly Australian Idol has discovered an outstanding winner in Wes,” he said.

“In keeping with the exciting changes of this year’s show and overwhelming public support for the finalists, we are very happy to announce that the winner’s single will be released now before he heads into the studio to work on his debut album.”

Wes’ album should be in stores in the New Year!

Congratulations Wes!

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Luke Dickens and Wes Carr Head to the Opera House

This is it Australia: our two Australian Idol finalists have been decided and they’re heading to the Opera House next Sunday! Mark Spano was eliminated, leaving Luke Dickens and Wes Carr to battle it out for the title.

The highlight of the show was the unveiling of the potential winner’s singles. That’s right, singles. For the first time ever, the singers have selected different songs to release should they become the next Australian Idol. It makes sense really: the contestants are always different so why have we forced them to sing the same song for so long? Best of all, neither song is the “I can’t believe I’m here and I won” anthem we’re used to. These are actually the kind of songs people might want to buy!

Luke Dickens’ is a song called “When We Hear Hallelujah,” a moving ballad with a tinge of country. I was drawn in but it kind of lost me towards the end. It’s a lot better than anything we’ve heard out of the Australian Idol competition, but it’s just not my kind of song.

Wes Carr’s single, “You,” was a completely different matter. What a fantastic song! This bluesy love song is the sort of thing I could happily listen to when it’s played to death on radio.

I love both Luke and Wes. They’re so talented, and I really have no clue who Australians are going to choose. But if the winner’s singles give us any indication of what sort of artist these guys will be, I hope Wes comes through in the end.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Chrislyn and Wes Head to Australian Idol Finals

Australian Idol semifinal two got straight to business tonight, announcing Chrislyn Hamilton and Wes Carr have made Microphoneit 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.

Image source: Guillame Leroy @ Stock.xchng