The first season of ''

Australian Idol ''Australian Idol'' is an Australian singing competition, which began its first season in July 2003 and ended its initial run in November 2009. As part of the ''Idol'' franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program '' Pop Ido ...

'' was produced by Fremantle Media subsidiary Grundy Television in association with UK company 19TV, and was broadcast on

Network Ten Network 10 (commonly known as Ten Network, Channel 10 or simply 10) is an Australian commercial television network owned by Ten Network Holdings, a division of the Paramount Networks UK & Australia subsidiary of Paramount Global. One of five ...

for 19 weeks in the latter half of 2003. The judges were

Mark Holden Mark Ronald Holden (born 27 April 1954) is an Australian singer, actor, TV personality, record producer, songwriter, and barrister. He was a pop star in the 1970s and had four top 20 hit singles, "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again" (May 1976 ...

Marcia Hines Marcia Elaine Hines, AM (born July 20, 1953), is an American-Australian vocalist and TV personality. Hines made her debut, at the age of 16, in the Australian production of the stage musical '' Hair'' and followed with the role of Mary Magdale ...

and

Ian "Dicko" Dickson Ian Ross Perrygrove (born 28 March 1963) better known as Ian "Dicko" Dickson or simply “Dicko” is an English Australian television and radio presenter, television producer, music journalist and former record company executive and talent sco ...

Overview

When Network Ten paid $15 million for the first season of ''Australian Idol'' they anticipated it to be a critical and financial success, like it had been in other countries such as the UK and the USA. When the show aired for the first time in August 2003 it was very successful, attracting a diverse ranges of viewers, from people wanting the crazy auditions to people who wanted to hear great voices. The audition process went through several major cities in Australia including Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Darwin. Towards the end of its run, ''Australian Idol'' became the most popular TV show in the country with more ratings than major events such as the AFL Grand Final. The Grand Final at the Sydney Opera House attracted more than 3 million viewers. The controversial winner of the competition was

Guy Sebastian Guy Theodore Sebastian (born 26 October 1981) is an Australian singer and songwriter who was the winner of the first ''Australian Idol'' in 2003, judge on Australia's '' The X Factor'' from 2010 to 2012 and again from 2015 to 2016, and coach ...

. He beat

Shannon Noll Shannon Noll (born 16 September 1975) is an Australian singer-songwriter who first came to prominence as runner-up of the Australian Idol (season 1), first season of ''Australian Idol'' in 2003, which led to him being signed to Sony Music Austr ...

who finished in 2nd place,

Cosima De Vito Cosima De Vito (born 1 November 1976), also known as Cosima, is an Australian pop and R&B singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Perth, Western Australia, she is best known for her cover of the classic Australian hit " When the War Is Over" (20 ...

who came in 3rd place, Paulini Curuenavuli who came in 4th place & Rob Mills who finished in 5th place. After Idol, it was these five, the Final 5, who were the most successful out of the Top 12. Other Idol contestants from Season 1 to release music were Rebekah LaVauney, Peter Ryan and

Courtney Act Shane Gilberto Jenek (born 18 February 1982), better known under the stage name Courtney Act, is an Australian drag queen, singer and television personality. Courtney first came to prominence competing on the first season of ''Australian Idol' ...

. In the third semi final, just before the live verdict, one of the contestants, Anthony Sumbati, was disqualified for taking part in a radio interview without the consent of the producers. He later performed in the Grand Final as one of the performances outside the Sydney Opera House. In the wildcard show, a contestant named Daniel Wakefield was originally meant to be in the top 12, but due to his contract, he wasn't able to be in the top 12. Instead of having one contestant chosen by the judges and the other chosen by Australia, three contestants were chosen, two by Australia and one by the judges.

Semi-Finals

Group 1

* ''Chelsea Gibson'' – " Beautiful" (

Christina Aguilera Christina María Aguilera (; ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Known for her four-octave vocal range and ability to sustain high notes, she has been referred to as the " Voice o ...

) * ''Shannon Thompson'' – " Lately" (

Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, pop, sou ...

) * ''Natalie Ferguson'' – "

Son of a Preacher Man "Son of a Preacher Man" is a song written and composed by American songwriters John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins and recorded by British singer Dusty Springfield in September 1968 for the album ''Dusty in Memphis.'' Springfield's version was produc ...

" (

Dusty Springfield Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien (16 April 1939 – 2 March 1999), known professionally as Dusty Springfield, was an English singer. With her distinctive mezzo-soprano sound, she was a popular singer of blue-eyed soul, pop and dra ...

) * ''Lorena Alegria'' – " To Zion" (

Lauryn Hill Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and record producer. She is often regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, as well as being one of the most influential musicians of her generation. ...

) * '' Daniel Wakefield'' – "

You'll Never Walk Alone "You'll Never Walk Alone" is a show tune from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical ''Carousel''. In the second act of the musical, Nettie Fowler, the cousin of the protagonist Julie Jordan, sings "You'll Never Walk Alone" to comfort and enco ...

" ( Gerry & the Pacemakers) * ''Veronica Stewart'' – "

I Want to Know What Love Is "I Want to Know What Love Is" is a power ballad by the British-American rock band Foreigner. It was released in November 1984 as the lead single from their fifth album, ''Agent Provocateur''. The song hit number one in both the United Kingdom ...

" ( Foreigner) * '' Peter Ryan'' – "

Right Here Waiting "Right Here Waiting" is a song by American singer and songwriter Richard Marx. It was released on June 29, 1989, as the second single from his second album, '' Repeat Offender''. The song was a global hit, topping charts in many countries aroun ...

" (

Richard Marx Richard Noel Marx (born September 16, 1963) is an American adult contemporary and pop rock singer-songwriter. He has sold over 30 million albums worldwide. Marx's self-titled debut album went triple-platinum in 1987, and his first single, " D ...

) * ''Eli Diache'' – "

Angel In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God. Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles inc ...

" (

Sarah McLachlan Sarah Ann McLachlan OC OBC (born January 28, 1968) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. As of 2015, she had sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is '' Surfacing'', for which she won two Grammy Awards (ou ...

) Advancing to the Top 12: Daniel Wakefield and Peter Ryan
Wildcard Contenders: Eli Diache

Group 2

* ''

'' – "

My Heart Will Go On "My Heart Will Go On" is a 1997 song recorded by Canadian singer Celine Dion. The song serves as the main theme to James Cameron's blockbuster film '' Titanic'', based on an account of the transatlantic ocean liner of the same name which ...

" (

Celine Dion Céline Marie Claudette Dion ( ; born 30 March 1968) is a Canadian singer. Noted for her powerful and technically skilled vocals, Dion is the best-selling Canadian recording artist, and the best-selling French-language artist of all time. Her ...

) * ''Marc Stockley'' – "

Let it Be Let It Be most commonly refers to: * ''Let It Be'' (Beatles album), the Beatles' final studio album, released in 1970 * "Let It Be" (Beatles song), the title song from the album It may also refer to: Film and television * ''Let It Be'' (1970 ...

" (

The Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developm ...

) * ''

Hailey Cramer Hailey Cramer (born 1987) is an Australian nu-soul singer from Melbourne, Australia. Cramer has worked with other prolific Australian and international artists, including Pez, whom she featured with on his ''Festival Song'', 360, Gotye and suppo ...

'' – " Run to You" (

Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed "Honorific nicknames in popular music, The Voice", she is Whitney Houston albums discography, one of the bestselling music artists ...

) * ''Sidney Maynard'' – "

Ribbon in the Sky "Ribbon in the Sky" is a song by American singer Stevie Wonder. The ballad was first featured on the 1982 greatest hits album, ''Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I'', and charted at No. 54 pop, No. 21 Adult Contemporary, and No. 10 R&B in the ...

" (

) * '' Rebecca Tapia'' – " Shadowland" (''from''

The Lion King ''The Lion King'' is a 1994 American animated musical drama film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The 32nd Disney animated feature film and the fifth produced during the Disney Renaissance, ...

) * '' Axle Whitehead'' – " Pastime Paradise" (

) * '' Kelly Cavuoto'' – " Bring Me to Life" (

Evanescence Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer and musician Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. After recording independent EPs as a duo in the late 90's, and a demo CD, Evanescence released their de ...

) * ''Mathew Chadwick'' – " Truly" (

Lionel Richie Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. (born June 20, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and television personality. He rose to fame in the 1970s as a songwriter and the co-lead singer of funk band the Commodores; writing and recor ...

) Advancing to the Top 12: Mathew Chadwick and Kelly Cavuoto
Wildcard Contenders: Cosima De Vito, Rebecca Tapia and Axle Whitehead

Group 3

* ''Jennifer Pearl'' – " The Day You Went Away" (

Wendy Matthews Wendy Joan Matthews (born 13 January 1960) is a Canadian-born Australian singer-songwriter who has been a member of Models and Absent Friends and is a solo artist. She released Top 20 hit singles in the 1990s including " Token Angels", " ...

) * ''Ryan Sheppard'' – "

Swear It Again "Swear It Again" is a song by Irish boy band Westlife. It was released on 19 April 1999 in the United Kingdom and on 25 February 2000 in the United States as the first single from their debut album, ''Westlife'' (1999). The song peaked at number ...

" (

Westlife Westlife is an Irish pop vocal group formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1998. The group currently consists of members Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne. Brian McFadden was a member, until he left in 2004. The group temporari ...

) * ''Martine Robert'' – "

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is a 1957 folk song written by British political singer-songwriter Ewan MacColl for Peggy Seeger, who later became his wife. At the time, the couple were lovers, although MacColl was still married to his ...

" (

Roberta Flack Roberta Cleopatra Flack (born February 10, 1937) is a retired American singer. She topped the ''Billboard'' charts with the No. 1 singles " The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", " Killing Me Softly with His Song", " Feel Like Makin' Love", " W ...

) * ''Anthony Sumbati'' – "

The More I See You "The More I See You" is a popular song composed by Harry Warren, with lyrics by Mack Gordon. The song was first published in 1945. Other recordings "The More I See You" has been subsequently recorded by many artists, notably by: * Bing Crosby ...

" (

Michael Bublé Michael Steven Bublé ( ; born September 9, 1975) is a Canadian singer. A four-time Grammy Award winner, he is often credited for helping to renew public interest and appreciation for traditional pop standards and the Great American Songb ...

) * ''

Rebekah LaVauney The first season of ''Australian Idol'' was produced by Fremantle Media subsidiary Grundy Television in association with UK company 19TV, and was broadcast on Network Ten for 19 weeks in the latter half of 2003. The judges were Mark Holden, Marc ...

'' – " Ex-Factor" (

) * ''

'' – " Better Man" (

Robbie Williams Robert Peter Williams (born 13 February 1974) is an English singer and songwriter. He found fame as a member of the pop group Take That from 1990 to 1995, and achieved commercial success after launching a solo career in 1996. His debut stu ...

) * ''Yolande Jackson'' – "

Winter Winter is the coldest season of the year in Polar regions of Earth, polar and temperate climates. It occurs after autumn and before spring (season), spring. The tilt of Axial tilt#Earth, Earth's axis causes seasons; winter occurs when a Hemi ...

" (

Tori Amos Tori Amos (born Myra Ellen Amos; August 22, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She is a classically trained musician with a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Having already begun composing instrumental pieces on piano, Amos won a full ...

) * ''

'' – "

What a Wonderful World "What a Wonderful World" is a song written by Bob Thiele (as "George Douglas") and George David Weiss. It was first recorded by Louis Armstrong and released in 1967 as a single. It topped the pop chart in the United Kingdom, but performed p ...

" ( Louis Armstrong) Advancing to the Top 12: Guy Sebastian and Shannon Noll
Wildcard Contenders: Rebekah LaVauney and Yolande Jackson

Group 4

* ''Mary Lane'' – " Holding Out for a Hero" (

Bonnie Tyler Gaynor Sullivan (née Hopkins; born 8 June 1951), known professionally as Bonnie Tyler, is a Welsh people, Welsh singer who is known for her distinctive husky voice. Tyler came to prominence with the release of her 1977 album ''The World Start ...

) * ''Michelle Cashman'' – "

" (

) * ''Costa Zacharia'' – " Whenever You Call" (

Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the ...

) * '' Brielle Davis'' – "Even God Must Get the Blues" (

Jo Dee Messina Jo Dee Marie Messina (born August 25, 1970) is an American country music artist. She has charted six number-one singles on the ''Billboard'' country music charts. She has been honored by the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country ...

) * '' Levi Kereama'' – " Nice and Slow" (

Usher Usher may refer to: Several jobs which originally involved directing people and ensuring people are in the correct place: * Usher (occupation) ** Church usher ** Wedding usher, one of the male attendants to the groom in a wedding ceremony ** Fiel ...

) * '' Cle Wootton'' – " Come to Me" ( Diesel) * ''Brandon Burns'' – " Better Man" (

) * '' Lauren Buckley'' – " Imagine" (

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...

) Advancing to the Top 12: Cle Wootton and Lauren Buckley
Wildcard Contenders: Levi Kereama

Group 5

* ''Marcus Jones'' – " Burn for You" (

John Farnham John Peter Farnham AO (born 1 July 1949) is a British born Australian singer. Farnham was a teen pop idol from 1967 until 1979, billed then as Johnny Farnham, but has since forged a career as an adult contemporary singer.McFarlane (1999). Enc ...

) * '' Ben Manusama'' – "

Hard to Say I'm Sorry "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" is a power ballad written by bassist Peter Cetera, who also sang lead on the track, and producer David Foster, for the group Chicago. It was released on May 17, 1982, as the lead single from the album '' Chicago 16''. On ...

" (

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

) * ''Alex Longstaff'' – " Even When I'm Sleeping" ( Leonardo's Bride) * ''Anton Aktila'' – " End of the Road" (

Boyz II Men Boyz II Men (pronounced ''boys to men''), also known as B2M, is an American vocal harmony group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are currently a trio composed of baritone Natha ...

) * ''

Rhett Butler Rhett Butler (Born in 1828) is a fictional character in the 1936 novel ''Gone with the Wind'' by Margaret Mitchell and in the 1939 film adaptation of the same name. It is one of Clark Gable's most recognizable and significant roles. Role Rhe ...

'' – "Smack That" (

Akon Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam (; born April 16, 1973), known mononymously as Akon, is a Senegalese-American singer, record producer, and entrepreneur. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of " Locked Up" (featuring Styles ...

) * '' Paulini Curuenavuli'' – " Somewhere" (

Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers awar ...

) * ''

'' – "

You Don't Own Me "You Don't Own Me" is a popular song written by Philadelphia songwriters John Madara and David White and recorded by Lesley Gore in 1963, when Gore was 17 years old. The song was Gore's second most successful recording and her last top- ...

" ( Lesley Gore) * '' Rob Mills'' – "

Angels In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God. Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles include ...

" (

) Advancing to the Top 12: Paulini Curuenavuli and Rob Mills
Wildcard Contenders: Stu Campbell and Courtney Act

Wildcards

* ''Eli Diache'' – "

Permission to Shine ''Permission to Shine'' is the debut studio album by the Filipino band 6cyclemind. It has 12 tracks and was released under BMG Records Pilipinas in 2003. The carrier single "Biglaan" reached number one on the NU107 and RX 93.1 charts and the ac ...

" ( Bachelor Girl) * ''Stu Campbell'' – "Whisper Your Name" ( Harry Connick, Jr.) * ''Yolande Jackson'' – "

Stuck Stuck may refer to: Film and television * ''Stuck'' (2001 film), a short film directed by Jamie Babbit * ''Stuck'' (2002 film), a Canadian TV drama directed by Lindsay Bourne * ''Stuck'' (2007 film), a thriller directed by Stuart Gordon and starr ...

" ( Stacie Orrico) * ''Liban Aden'' – " Where I Wanna Be" (

Donell Jones Donell Jones (born May 22, 1973) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is most notable for the hits " U Know What's Up", " Where I Wanna Be", and his cover of Stevie Wonder's " Knocks Me Off My Feet". Jones' first studio ...

) * ''Rebekah LaVauney'' – "

Exhale (Shoop Shoop) "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" is a song by American recording artist and actress Whitney Houston, featured on the soundtrack for the film '' Waiting to Exhale''. It was released as the lead single from the soundtrack on November 7, 1995, by Arista Re ...

" (

) * ''Courtney Act'' – "

You Shook Me All Night Long "You Shook Me All Night Long" is a song by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, from the album ''Back in Black''. The song also reappeared on their later album ''Who Made Who''. It is AC/DC's first single with Brian Johnson as the lead singer, repl ...

" ( AC/DC) * ''Axle Whitehead'' – " Yesterday" (

) * ''Cosima De Vito'' – " Predictable" (

Delta Goodrem Delta Lea Goodrem AM (born November 9, 1984) is an Australian singer, songwriter, and actress. Goodrem signed to Sony Music at the age of 15. Her debut album, '' Innocent Eyes'' (2003), topped the ARIA Albums Chart for 29 non-consecutive wee ...

) * ''Levi Kereama'' – " Maria Maria" ( Santana) * ''Rebecca Tapia'' – "

Let's Get Loud "Let's Get Loud" is a song recorded by American singer Jennifer Lopez for her debut studio album ''On the 6'' (1999). Originally written by the song's co-writer Gloria Estefan for herself, she felt as if the song was too similar to her previous ...

" ( Jennifer Lopez) Advancing to the Top 12: Rebekah LaVauney, Levi Kereama and Cosima De Vito

Weekly Song Themes

Top 12 – The 70s

Top 10 – Australian #1s

Top 8 – Australian Made

The Top 12 Contestants

Guy Sebastian

Guy Sebastian was the winner of the first series of Australian Idol. Sebastian's performances on Australian Idol: :''Audition'': "

" (

) :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': " Back at One" (

Brian McKnight Brian Kelly McKnight (born June 5, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, radio host and multi-instrumentalist. He is most recognized for his strong head voice, high belting range and melisma. McKnight is known for ...

) :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': " Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (

Judy Garland Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. While critically acclaimed for many different roles throughout her career, she is widely known for playing the part of Dorothy Gale in ''The ...

) :''Top 40'': "

" ( Louis Armstrong) :''Top 12'': "

The Love You Save "The Love You Save" is a song recorded by the Jackson 5 for Motown Records. It was released as a single on May 13, 1970, and held the number-one spot on the soul singles chart in the US for six weeks and the number-one position on the ''Billboard ...

" ( Jackson Five) :''Top 10'': "

(Everything I Do) I Do It for You "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams. Written by Adams, Michael Kamen, and Robert John "Mutt" Lange, the power ballad was the lead single for both the soundtrack album from the 1991 film '' R ...

" (

Bryan Adams Bryan Guy Adams (born 5 November 1959) is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, composer, and photographer. He has been cited as one of the best-selling music artists of all time, and is estimated to have sold between 75 million and mor ...

) :''Top 8'': " You're the Voice" (

) :''Top 6'': "

When Doves Cry "When Doves Cry" is a song by American musician Prince, and the lead single from his sixth studio album '' Purple Rain''. According to the DVD commentary of the film '' Purple Rain'' (1984), Prince was asked by director Albert Magnoli to write a ...

" (

Prince A prince is a Monarch, male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary title, hereditary, in s ...

) :''Up, Close & Personal'': "

When I Get You Alone "When I Get You Alone" is the debut single of American singer Robin Thicke—under the name Thicke—released on September 23, 2002. It was originally to be featured on his debut studio album ''Cherry Blue Skies'', before being placed on a revamp ...

" (

Robin Thicke Robin Alan Thicke (born March 10, 1977) is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He is best known for his 2013 hit single " Blurred Lines", which is one of the best-selling singles of all time. At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, h ...

) :''Top 5'': "

Hidden Agenda Hidden Agenda or Hidden Agendas may refer to: Video games * ''Hidden Agenda'' (1988 video game), a 1988 text-based game * ''Hidden Agenda'' (2017 video game), a thriller video game developed by Supermassive Games for the PlayStation 4 Film * ...

" (

Craig David Craig Ashley David (born 5 May 1981) is a British singer and songwriter who rose to fame in 1999, featuring on the single " Re-Rewind" by Artful Dodger. David's debut studio album, ''Born to Do It'', was released in 2000, after which he has rel ...

), "

Hello ''Hello'' is a salutation or greeting in the English language. It is first attested in writing from 1826. Early uses ''Hello'', with that spelling, was used in publications in the U.S. as early as the 18 October 1826 edition of the '' Norwi ...

" (

) :''Top 4'': "

The Way You Look Tonight "The Way You Look To-night" is a song from the film '' Swing Time'' that was performed by Fred Astaire and composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics written by Dorothy Fields. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1936. Fields remarked, ...

" (

Jerome Kern Jerome David Kern (January 27, 1885 – November 11, 1945) was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in ove ...

Dorothy Fields Dorothy Fields (July 15, 1904 – March 28, 1974) was an American librettist and lyricist. She wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films. Her best-known pieces include " The Way You Look Tonight" (1936), "A Fine Romance" (1936), " ...

Hit the Road Jack "Hit the Road Jack" is a song written by the rhythm and blues singer Percy Mayfield and recorded by Ray Charles. The song was a US number 1 hit in 1961, and won a Grammy award for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording, becoming one of Charles' sig ...

" (

Percy Mayfield Percy Mayfield (August 12, 1920August 11, 1984) was an American Rhythm and blues singer with a smooth vocal style. He also was a songwriter, known for the songs " Please Send Me Someone to Love" and " Hit the Road Jack", the latter being a song ...

) :''Top 3'': "

Can't Take My Eyes off You "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" is a 1967 song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio. It was recorded as a single by Frankie Valli. The song was among his biggest hits, earning a gold record and reaching No. 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 for a ...

" (

Frankie Valli Francesco Stephen Castelluccio (born May 3, 1934), better known by his stage name Frankie Valli, is an American singer, known as the frontman of the Four Seasons beginning in 1960. He is known for his unusually powerful lead falsetto voice. ...

), "

Climb Every Mountain "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" is a show tune from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical '' The Sound of Music.'' It is sung at the close of the first act by the Mother Abbess. It is themed as an inspirational piece, to encourage people to take eve ...

" (

Julie Andrews Dame Julie Andrews (born Julia Elizabeth Wells; 1 October 1935) is an English actress, singer, and author. She has garnered numerous accolades throughout her career spanning over seven decades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy ...

, ''from

The Sound of Music ''The Sound of Music'' is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the 1949 memoir of Maria von Trapp, ''The Story of the Trapp Family Singers''. ...

'') ''TOUCHDOWN'' :''Top 2'': " I'll Be There" (

The Jackson 5 The Jackson 5 (sometimes stylized as the Jackson 5ive, also known as the Jacksons) are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was founded in 1964 in Gary, Indiana, and for most ...

), "

Crazy in Love "Crazy in Love" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé, featuring a rap verse and ad-libs from her future husband Jay-Z from her debut solo studio album '' Dangerously in Love'' (2003). The song was released as her official debut singl ...

" (

Beyoncé Knowles Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...

), " Angels Brought Me Here" ''(winner's single)''

Shannon Noll

Shannon Noll (born 16 September 1975), was runner-up to winner

. :''Audition'': " Hold Me in Your Arms" ( Southern Sons) :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': " Hold Me in Your Arms" ( Southern Sons) :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': " Burn for You" (

) :''Top 40'': " Better Man" (

) :''Top 12'': "

Help Is on Its Way "Help Is On Its Way" is a song by Australian band Little River Band, released in April 1977 as the lead single from the group's third studio album, ''Diamantina Cocktail''. The song peaked at number one on the Australian Kent Music Report T ...

" (

Little River Band Little River Band (LRB) are a rock band originally formed in Melbourne, Australia, in March 1975. The band achieved commercial success in both Australia and the United States. They have sold more than 30 million records; six studio albums r ...

) :''Top 10'': "

What About Me What About Me may refer to: * ''What About Me'' (film), a 1993 film featuring Richard Hell Albums * ''What About Me?'' (1 Giant Leap album), 2009 * ''What About Me'' (Anne Murray album), 1968 * ''What About Me?'' (Kenny Rogers album), 1984 * ''What ...

" ( Moving Pictures) :''Top 8'': " Already Gone" (

Powderfinger Powderfinger were an Australian rock band formed in Brisbane in 1989. From 1992 until their break-up in 2010, the line-up consisted of vocalist Bernard Fanning, guitarists Darren Middleton and Ian Haug, bass guitarist John Collins and drum ...

) :''Top 6'': "

Livin' on a Prayer "Livin' on a Prayer" is a song by the American rock band Bon Jovi, and is the band's second chart-topping single from their third album '' Slippery When Wet''. Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Desmond Child, the single, released in ...

" (

Bon Jovi Bon Jovi is an American rock band formed in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey. It consists of singer Jon Bon Jovi, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, guitarist Phil X, and bassist Hugh McDonald. Original bassist Alec John such quit th ...

) Bottom 3 :''Up, Close & Personal'': "

With or Without You "With or Without You" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the third track on their fifth studio album, ''The Joshua Tree'' (1987), and was released as the album's lead single on 16 March 1987. The song was the group's most successful singl ...

" ( U2) :''Top 5'': " Higher and Higher" (

Jackie Wilson Jack Leroy Wilson Jr. (June 9, 1934 – January 21, 1984) was an American singer and performer of the 1950s and 60s. He was a prominent figure in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. Nicknamed "Mr. Excitement", he was considered a mas ...

), " When a Man Loves a Woman" (

Percy Sledge Percy Tyrone Sledge (November 25, 1940 – April 14, 2015) was an American R&B, soul and gospel singer. He is best known for the song " When a Man Loves a Woman", a No. 1 hit on both the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and R&B singles charts in 196 ...

) :''Top 4'': "

I've Got You Under My Skin "I've Got You Under My Skin" is a song written by American composer Cole Porter in 1936. It was introduced that year in the Eleanor Powell musical film ''Born to Dance'' in which it was performed by Virginia Bruce. It was nominated for the A ...

", "

New York, New York New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

( Frank Sinatra) :''Top 3'': "

One 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...

" (

Harry Nilsson Harry Edward Nilsson III (June 15, 1941 – January 15, 1994), sometimes credited as Nilsson, was an American singer-songwriter who reached the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. His work is characterized by pioneering vocal ov ...

), "

Hey Jude "Hey Jude" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as a non-album single in August 1968. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The single was the Beatles' first relea ...

" (

) :''Top 2'': " Please Forgive Me" (

), "

Working Class Man "Working Class Man" is a song performed and made famous by Australian singer Jimmy Barnes. It was written by Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain. "Working Class Man" is generally considered Barnes' signature song as a solo artist. At the 1 ...

" (

Jimmy Barnes James Dixon "Jimmy" Barnes (née Swan; born 28 April 1956) is a Scottish-born Australian rock singer. His career, both as a solo performer and as the lead vocalist with the rock band Cold Chisel, has made him one of the most popular and best-s ...

), " Angels Brought Me Here" ''(winner's single)''

Cosima De Vito

Cosima De Vito (born 1 November 1976), came third in Australian Idol after withdrawing because of a sudden diagnosis of throat nodules. :''Audition'': " I Surrender" (

) :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': "

Call the Man "Call the Man" is a song by Canadian singer Celine Dion, recorded for her fourth English-language album, ''Falling into You'' (1996). It was released as the fifth and last single outside of North America on 9 June 1997. "Call the Man" was written ...

" (

) :''Top 40'': "

" (

) :''Wildcard Show'': " Predictable" (

) :''Top 12'': " Hot Stuff" (

Donna Summer LaDonna Adrian Gaines (December 31, 1948May 17, 2012), known professionally as Donna Summer, was an American singer and songwriter. She gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s and became known as the "Honorific nicknames in popular m ...

) :''Top 10'': " I Wanna Dance With Somebody" (

) :''Top 8'': " When the War Is Over" (

Cold Chisel Cold Chisel are an Australian pub rock band, which formed in Adelaide in 1973 by mainstay members Ian Moss on guitar and vocals, Steve Prestwich on drums and Don Walker on piano and keyboards. They were soon joined by Jimmy Barnes (at the ...

) ~ ''TOUCHDOWN!'' :''Top 6'': " What's Love Got To Do With It" (

Tina Turner Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939) is an American-born Swiss retired singer and actress. Widely referred to as the " Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", she rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue before ...

) :''Up, Close & Personal'': "

Hero A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like ''actor''), ''hero ...

" (

) :''Top 5'': " I Believe I Can Fly" (

R. Kelly Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and sex offender convicted of racketeering and multiple sex offenses. During his recording career, Kelly sold over 75 million records worldwide ...

), "

Respect Respect, also called esteem, is a positive feeling or action shown towards someone or something considered important or held in high esteem or regard. It conveys a sense of admiration for good or valuable qualities. It is also the process of ...

" (

Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the "Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in ''Rolling Stone''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With ...

) ~ ''TOUCHDOWN!'' Bottom 2 :''Top 4'': " L-O-V-E" (

Nat King Cole Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's music career began after he dropped out of school at the age of 15, and continued f ...

), "

Smile A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile. Among humans, a smile expresses d ...

" ( Charlie Chaplin) :''Top 3'': "

You Don't Have to Say You Love Me "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" (originally a 1965 Italian song, '"Io che non vivo (senza te)", by Pino Donaggio and Vito Pallavicini) is a 1966 hit recorded by English singer Dusty Springfield that proved to be her most successful single, ...

" (

), "

River Deep - Mountain High A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wat ...

" (

) Withdrawn After recovering Cosima signed with an independent label and became the first independent artist to debut at #1 on the charts. Her debut single was the cover of

's " When the War Is Over". Cosima later released several singles and a gold selling self-titled album.

Paulini Curuenavuli

Paulini Curuenavuli (born 15 October 1982), was eliminated on 27 October 2003, placed fourth. :''Audition'': "

Ain't No Mountain High Enough "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is a song written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson in 1966 for the Tamla label, a division of Motown. The composition was first successful as a 1967 hit single recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, an ...

" (

Marvin Gaye Marvin Pentz Gay Jr., who also spelled his surname as Gaye (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984), was an American singer and songwriter. He helped to shape the sound of Motown (music style), Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player ...

& Tammi Terrell) :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': " Go to Hell" (

Nina Simone Eunice Kathleen Waymon (February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003), known professionally as Nina Simone (), was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist. Her music spanned styles including classical, folk, gospel, blue ...

) :''Top 40'': " Somewhere" (

) :''Top 12'': "

Don't Leave Me This Way "Don't Leave Me This Way" is a song written by Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, and Cary Gilbert. It was originally released in 1975 by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes featuring Teddy Pendergrass, an act signed to Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia Internat ...

" (

Thelma Houston Thelma Houston ( Jackson; born May 7, 1946) Retrieved . is an American singer. Beginning her recording career in the late 1960s, Houston scored a number-one hit record in 1977 with her recording of " Don't Leave Me This Way", which won the Gramm ...

) :''Top 10'': "

Eternal Flame An eternal flame is a flame, lamp or torch that burns for an indefinite time. Most eternal flames are ignited and tended intentionally, but some are natural phenomena caused by natural gas leaks, peat fires and coal seam fires, all of which c ...

" (

The Bangles The Bangles are an American pop rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1981. The band recorded several singles that reached the U.S. top 10 during the 1980s, including " Manic Monday" (1986), " Walk Like an Egyptian" (1986), "Hazy Shad ...

) :''Top 8'': "

Chains A chain is a wikt:series#Noun, serial assembly of connected pieces, called links, typically made of metal, with an overall character similar to that of a rope in that it is flexible and curved in compression (physics), compression but line (g ...

" (

Tina Arena Filippina Lydia "Tina" Arena (born 1 November 1967) is an Australian singer-songwriter, musician, musical theatre actress and record producer. She is one of Australia's highest-selling artists and has sold over 10 million records worldwid ...

) :''Top 6'': "

Freeway of Love "Freeway of Love" is a song by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was written by Jeffrey Cohen and Narada Michael Walden and produced by the latter for Franklin's thirtieth studio album '' Who's Zoomin' Who?'' (1985). The song features a notabl ...

" (

) ~ ''TOUCHDOWN!'' ''Bottom 2'' :''Up, Close & Personal'': " Fields of Gold" ( Sting) :''Top 5'': "

Un-Break My Heart "Un-Break My Heart" is a song by American singer Toni Braxton for her second studio album, '' Secrets'' (1996). The song was written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster. It was released as the second single from the album on October 7, 1 ...

" (

Toni Braxton Toni Michele Braxton (born October 7, 1967) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, actress and television personality. She has sold over 70 million records worldwide and is one of the best-selling female artists in history. Braxton has won ...

) & "

Survivor Survivor(s) may refer to: Actual survivors * *Last survivors of historical events Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional entities * Survivors, characters in the 1997 ''KKnD'' video-game series * ''The Survivors'', or the ''New Survivors Found ...

" (

Destiny's Child Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final line-up comprised Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Houston, Texas. After years of limite ...

) :''Top 4'': "

At Last "At Last" is a song written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the musical film ''Sun Valley Serenade'' (1941). Glenn Miller and his orchestra recorded the tune several times, with a 1942 version reaching number two on the US ''Billboard'' po ...

" (

Etta James Jamesetta Hawkins (January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012), known professionally as Etta James, was an American singer who performed in various genres, including gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, rock and roll, and soul. Starting her career in 1954, ...

) & "

Almost Like Being in Love "Almost Like Being in Love" is a show tune with music by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. It was written for the score of their 1947 musical ''Brigadoon''. The song was first sung by David Brooks and Marion Bell, in the Broadway p ...

" (

Natalie Cole Natalie Maria Cole (February 6, 1950 – December 31, 2015) was an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She was the daughter of American singer and jazz pianist Nat King Cole. She rose to success in the mid-1970s as an R&B singer with the ...

) Eliminated Paulini performed "

", "

The Voice Within "The Voice Within" is a song by American singer Christina Aguilera from her fourth studio album, ''Stripped'' (2002). The song was written by Aguilera and Glen Ballard, with production handled by Ballard. It is a piano-driven ballad that talks ...

", "

" and "

" during the ''Australian Idol'' national tour in 2004.

Rob Mills

Rob Mills aka Millsy (born 21 June 1982), was eliminated on 20 October 2003, placed fifth. :''Audition'': "

" (

) :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': "

" (

) :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': :''Top 40'': "

" (

) :''Top 12'': "

All Right Now "All Right Now" is a song by English rock band Free. It originally appeared on the band's third album '' Fire and Water'' (1970), which Free recorded on the Island Records label, formed by Chris Blackwell. Released as the album's second single, ...

" (

Free Free may refer to: Concept * Freedom, having the ability to do something, without having to obey anyone/anything * Freethought, a position that beliefs should be formed only on the basis of logic, reason, and empiricism * Emancipate, to procur ...

) :''Top 10'': " You Don't Treat Me No Good" (

Sonia Dada Sonia Dada was an American rock, soul, and rhythm and blues band, formed in Chicago in 1990. Founding member Daniel Pritzker enlisted Michael Scott, Paris Delane, and Sam Hogan after hearing the latter three sing in a subway station.Biography ...

) :''Top 8'': " Take Me Back" (

Noiseworks Noiseworks are an Australian hard rock band formed in Sydney in 1986 with bass guitarist Steve Balbi, guitarist Stuart Fraser, drummer Kevin Nicol, keyboardist Justin Stanley and lead vocalist Jon Stevens. They had four Australian Top 10 al ...

) :''Top 6'': " If I Could" (

1927 Events January * January 1 – The British Broadcasting ''Company'' becomes the British Broadcasting ''Corporation'', when its Royal Charter of incorporation takes effect. John Reith becomes the first Director-General. * January 7 * ...

) :''Up, Close and Personal'': "

When You Say Nothing at All "When You Say Nothing at All" is a country song written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz. It was a hit song for four different performers: Keith Whitley, who took it to the top of the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles chart on December 24, 1988 ...

" (

Ronan Keating Ronan Patrick John Keating (born 3 March 1977) is an Irish singer. He debuted in 1993 alongside Keith Duffy, Michael Graham, Shane Lynch, and Stephen Gately, as the co-lead singer (with Gately) of Irish pop group Boyzone. His solo career s ...

) :''Top 5'': " Too Close" (

Next Next may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film * ''Next'' (1990 film), an animated short about William Shakespeare * ''Next'' (2007 film), a sci-fi film starring Nicolas Cage * '' Next: A Primer on Urban Painting'', a 2005 documentary film Lit ...

) and " If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time" (

) Eliminated

Levi Kereama

Levi Kereama (Born 1981-4 October 2008) was eliminated on 13 October 2003, placed sixth. :''Audition'': :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': :''Top 40'': " Nice and Slow" (

) :''Wildcard Show'': " Maria Maria" ( Santana) :''Top 12'': "

Superstition A superstition is any belief or practice considered by non-practitioners to be irrational or supernatural, attributed to fate or magic, perceived supernatural influence, or fear of that which is unknown. It is commonly applied to beliefs an ...

" (

) :''Top 10'': "

Rock Your Body "Rock Your Body" is a song by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake from his debut studio album, ''Justified (album), Justified'' (2002). The Neptunes (consisting of Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams) wrote and produced the song. The song ...

" ( Justin Timberlake) :''Top 8'': " To the Moon and Back" (

Savage Garden Savage Garden was an Australian pop duo consisting of Darren Hayes on vocals and Daniel Jones on instruments. Formed in Brisbane, Queensland, in 1993, the duo achieved international success from the mid-1990s to early 2000s with the No. ...

) Bottom 3 :''Top 6'': " Every Little Step" (

Bobby Brown Robert Barisford Brown (born February 5, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter and dancer. Brown, alongside frequent collaborator Teddy Riley, is noted as one of the pioneers of new jack swing: a fusion of hip hop and R&B. Brown started h ...

) Eliminated A record contract followed and he got into his band Lethbridge with his three brothers. On 4 October 2008, Levi died after falling from the balcony of the Brisbane hotel where he had been staying.

Rebekah LaVauney

Rebekah LaVauney (born 7 October 1977), was eliminated on 6 October 2003, placed seventh. :''Audition'': :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': " Joyful, Joyful" (

) :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': " Love Takes Time" (

) :''Top 40'': " Ex-Factor" (

) :''Wildcard Show'': "

" (

) :''Top 12'': "

Emotion Emotions are mental states brought on by neurophysiological changes, variously associated with thoughts, feelings, behavioral responses, and a degree of pleasure or displeasure. There is currently no scientific consensus on a definition. ...

" (

Samantha Sang Cheryl Lau Sang (born 5 August 1951), known professionally as Samantha Sang, is an Australian singer. She had an earlier career as a teenage singer under the stage name Cheryl Gray, before adopting the stage name she is more widely known as in 1 ...

) :''Top 10'': "

Killing Me Softly with His Song "Killing Me Softly with His Song" is a song composed by Charles Fox with lyrics by Norman Gimbel. The lyrics were written in collaboration with Lori Lieberman after she was inspired by a Don McLean performance in late 1971. Denied writing credi ...

" ( The Fugees) :''Top 8'': " Heading in the Right Direction" ( Renee Geyer) Eliminated She released a single cover of Renée Geyer's "Heading in the Right Direction" (which she had previously performed on the show) which was featured on her only commercial release, an EP titled 'Chapter 1' (2005). The EP also featured a collaboration with Joel Turner and the Modern-Day Poets, "Behind Bars", which was also included on their self-titled album.

Kelly Cavuoto

Kelly Cavuoto (born 3 June 1981), was eliminated on 6 October 2003, placed eighth. Prior to ''Australian Idol'', she had many years singing experience with rock bands throughout

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

, before auditioning in 2004. Dubbed "The Rock Chick" by judge

, she covered a selection of harder edged rock songs throughout the series, at odds with most other contestants who chose to cover pop songs. :''Audition'': "

Just A Girl "Just a Girl" is a song by American band No Doubt for their third studio album, '' Tragic Kingdom'' (1995). Released as the record's lead single in the United States on September 21, 1995, it was written by Gwen Stefani and Tom Dumont, and pr ...

" (

No Doubt No Doubt is an American rock band from Anaheim, California, formed in 1986. For most of their career, the band has consisted of vocalist Gwen Stefani, guitarist Tom Dumont, bassist Tony Kanal, and drummer Adrian Young. Since the mid-1990s, t ...

) :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': "Chase The Dragon" ( Machine Gun Fellatio) :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': "

You Oughta Know "You Oughta Know" is a song by Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, released as the lead single from her third studio album, '' Jagged Little Pill'' (1995) on July 6, 1995. After releasing two studio albums, Morissette left MCA Records Canada and ...

" (

Alanis Morissette Alanis Nadine Morissette ( ; born June 1, 1974) is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known for her emotive mezzo-soprano voice and confessional songwriting, Morissette began her career in Canada in the early 1990s with two ...

) :''Top 40'': " Bring Me to Life" (

) :''Top 12'': "

Whole Lotta Love "Whole Lotta Love" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin. It is the opening track on the band's second album, ''Led Zeppelin II'', and was released as a single in 1969 in several countries; as with other Led Zeppelin songs, no single was ...

" (

Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are c ...

) Bottom 3 :''Top 10'': "

Tomorrow Tomorrow may refer to: * Tomorrow (time), the day after today * The future, that which occurs after the present Periodicals * ''To-Morrow'' (Chicago magazine), a magazine from 1903 to 1909 * ''Tomorrow'' (New Zealand magazine), a left-wing ma ...

" (

Silverchair Silverchair were an Australian rock band, which formed in 1992 as Innocent Criminals in Newcastle, New South Wales, with Ben Gillies on drums, Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars, and Chris Joannou on bass guitar. The group got their big break ...

) Bottom 3 :''Top 8'': "

Mascara Mascara is a cosmetic commonly used to enhance the upper and lower eyelashes. It is used to darken, thicken, lengthen, and/or define the eyelashes. Normally in one of three forms—liquid, powder, or cream—the modern mascara product has vari ...

" ( Killing Heidi) Eliminated In January 2004, Cavuoto appeared as a co-host for Channel Ten's '' Video Hits'' music program. She has recently adopted a Vietnamese orphan after visiting the country on a charity mission for the WWF.

Lauren Buckley

Lauren Buckley (born 29 March 1986), was eliminated on 29 September 2003, placed ninth. At only seventeen at the time, she was the youngest finalist of the first season. Also memorable was her elimination from the show, in which she broke down and cried while singing her farewell song. She completed the song with the assistance of her fellow Idol contestants. :''Audition'': " Cry Me a River" (

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, i ...

) :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': " Turn Me On" (

Norah Jones Norah Jones (born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar; March 30, 1979) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. She has won several awards for her music and as of 2012, has sold more than 50 million records worldwide. '' Billboard'' named her the ...

) :''Top 40'': " Imagine" (

) :''Top 12'': " Moondance" (

Van Morrison Sir George Ivan Morrison (born 31 August 1945), known professionally as Van Morrison, is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose recording career spans seven decades. He has won two Grammy Awards. As a teenager in ...

) :''Top 10'': "

Lady Marmalade "Lady Marmalade" is a song written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan, originally for Nolan's disco group. The song is famous for the repeated refrain of " ''Voulez-vous coucher avec moi''?" in French as part of the chorus, a sexually suggestive line ...

" (

Pink Pink is the color of a namesake flower that is a pale tint of red. It was first used as a color name in the late 17th century. According to surveys in Europe and the United States, pink is the color most often associated with charm, politeness, ...

Mýa Mya Marie Harrison (; born October 10, 1979), (stylized as Mýa), is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress. Born into a musical family, she studied ballet, jazz, and tap dance as a child. Initially, Mýa began her career as a VJ ...

Lil' Kim Kimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1974), Those giving 1974 include: * * * * * better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and reality television personality. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, she lived much of he ...

). Originally ( Labelle) Eliminated

Cle Wootton

Cle Wootton (born Cleonie Morgan-Wootton on 15 November 1981), was eliminated on 29 September 2004, placed tenth. Of English and Jamaican descent, she was an early favourite with the judges, however failed to maintain an interest from fans. She has also appeared in the children's drama program '' Ship to Shore'' in 1993 playing the character Babe and appeared on the

reality television Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...

program ''

Popstars ''Popstars'' is an international reality television franchise aimed to find new singing talent. Serving as a precursor to the ''Idol'' franchise, '' Popstars'' first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the girl gr ...

'' in 2002. :''Audition'': " Pussy Town" ( Machine Gun Fellatio) :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': "

Ain't Nobody Better "Ain't Nobody Better" is a song by American house/techno group Inner City. The single was the third consecutive number-one on the ''Billboard'' dance chart in the US. It also made it into the top 10 in the United Kingdom, Finland and Switzerland. ...

" (

Inner City The term ''inner city'' has been used, especially in the United States, as a euphemism for majority-minority lower-income residential districts that often refer to rundown neighborhoods, in a downtown or city centre area. Sociologists somet ...

) :''Top 40'': " Come to Me" ( Diesel) :''Top 12'': "

Young Hearts Run Free "Young Hearts Run Free" is a disco song written by David Crawford and originally recorded by American soul singer Candi Staton in 1976. In 1996, it was covered by American house music singer Kym Mazelle for the triple-platinum selling soundtr ...

" ( Candi Staton) :''Top 10'': " That's the Way Love Goes" (

Janet Jackson Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreog ...

) Eliminated In 2004, she appeared in a musical production called ''Gabba Gabba Hey'', a rock musical featuring the music of the

Ramones The Ramones were an American punk rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first true punk rock group. Despite achieving a limited commercial appeal in the United ...

. In 2005, she appeared on an episode of the children's television series '' Streetsmartz''. She performed in ''Hair'' in 2007; and '' Hairspray'' in 2010, in the role of DJ Motormouth Maybelle in Melbourne's theatre musical version of . In 2017, she was performing as Mrs Phelps in the Australian edition of

Matilda the Musical ''Roald Dahl's Matilda'', simply known as ''Matilda'' or ''Matilda the Musical'', is a stage musical with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and a book by Dennis Kelly, based on the 1988 novel '' Matilda'' by Roald Dahl. The musical's narrativ ...

Peter Ryan

Peter Ryan, from

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, was eliminated on 22 September 2004, placed eleventh. :''Audition'': "Comic Conversation" (

) :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': " Now and Forever" (

) :''Top 40'': "

" (

) :''Top 12'': "

Your Song "Your Song" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was John's first international Top 10 chart single. "Your Song" was first released by American rock band Three Dog Night in Ma ...

" (

Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...

) Eliminated

Mathew Chadwick

Mathew Chadwick (born 19 July 1983), was eliminated on 22 September 2004, placed twelfth. :''Audition'': " I Want To Make Magic" ( Fame) :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': " Tiny Dancer" (

) :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': "Two Beds and a Coffee Machine" (

) :''Top 40'': " Truly" (

) :''Top 12'': " If" ( Bread) Eliminated He is now under the management of Richard Macionis, who also manages 2004 idol cast off Ricki-Lee Coulter and Idol's musical maestro, John Foreman. Mathew is now performing in Queensland's Dracula's Cabaret Restaurant along with Macionis. Prior to Australian Idol he had played Fred as part of the Scooby Doo section of Warner Brothers Movie World in his home state, Qld.

Finals elimination chart

Elimination chart

Commercial Releases

Since winning Australian Idol,

has released ten top 10 albums, with eight reaching the top 5, including three #1's. Sebastian has also released 23 top 20 singles, with 14 reaching the top 10, including six #1's.Guy Sebastian in the Australian Charts
. australian-charts.com. Retrieved 21 January 2012. He has the most #1 singles for an Australian male vocalist in Australian music history, and he is third overall for all Australian acts.Ryan, Gavin (19 August 2012
Guy Sebastian Equals Abba For Number 1 Hits In Australia
Noise11. Archived fro
the original
on 19 August 2012. He has a total of 69 platinum and seven gold certifications in Australia, the highest accreditations for any Australian Idol contestant.
Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 30 March 2019. Sebastian's debut album '' Just As I Am'' reached #1 and 6× platinum, eventually selling 480,000 copies. ''Just As I Am'' remains the highest selling album ever released by an Australian Idol contestant.ARIA’s End Of Decade Charts*
PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. 7 January 2010. Archived fro
the original
on 21 January 2012.

's winner's single " Angels Brought Me Here" debuted at #1 and reached 5× platinum.ARIA Accreditations – 2019 Singles
Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 30 March 2019. The song was the highest selling single in Australia in 2003, and won the 2004 Highest Selling Single

ARIA Award The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (commonly known informally as ARIA Music Awards, ARIA Awards, or simply the ARIAs) is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Austr ...

. In 2010 ARIA announced it was the highest selling song of the previous decade. Sebastian's second and third albums were platinum sellers. '' Beautiful Life'' peaked at #2, with '' Closer to the Sun'' reaching #4 His fourth album '' The Memphis Album'' peaked at #3 and went on to sell 2× platinum. Sebastian's 5th album '' Like It Like That'' achieved platinum certification.australiancharts.com Guy Sebastian-Albums
australian-charts.com Retrieved 28 August 2009 His next two albums, '' Twenty Ten'' and ''

Armageddon According to the Book of Revelation in the New Testament of the Christian Bible, Armageddon (, from grc, Ἁρμαγεδών ''Harmagedōn'', Late Latin: , from Hebrew: ''Har Məgīddō'') is the prophesied location of a gathering of armies ...

'', gained double platinum certification.ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2012 Albums
. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 27 January 2013
. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 31 October 2014 ''Armageddon'' was his second album to achieve #1. Sebastian's eighth album ''

Madness Madness or The Madness may refer to: Emotion and mental health * Anger, an intense emotional response to a perceived provocation, hurt or threat * Insanity, a spectrum of behaviors characterized by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns * ...

'' has been certified gold. " Like it Like That", the 4× platinum title track from his fifth album, reached #1 and was the highest selling Australian artist song of 2009.ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles
. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 14 March 2014 " Who's That Girl" the only single released from ''Twenty Ten'' also reached #1 and was certified 5× platinum. It was nominated for the 2011 ARIA Best Pop Release and Song of the Year, and won the Highest Selling Single ARIA.ARIA Award nominees announced for 2011
ariaawards.com.au. 12 October 2011. Archived fro
the original
on 22 January 2012.Winners of the 2011 ARIA Awards
Yahoo!7. 27 November 2011. Archived fro
the original
on 21 January 2012. " Don't Worry Be Happy", ''Armageddons lead single, reached #5 and gained 5× platinum certification.ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2012 Singles
.Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 15 June 2012. The third single, " Battle Scars" featuring

Lupe Fiasco Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (born February 16, 1982), better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco ( ), is an American rapper, singer, record producer, and entrepreneur. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his debut album, '' Lupe Fiasco's ...

, became his sixth #1 single in Australia, and has been certified 12× platinum. Sebastian's most recent album, '' T.R.U.T.H.'', became his third to reach #1, and has been certified gold. During his career Sebastian has received 34

nominations, winning seven of them including Best Pop Release and Best Live Act.Here are all the winners from the 2019 ARIA Awards
The Music Network. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019. Sebastian also had success outside of Australia with his first single reaching #1 in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia and New Zealand in 2004. His first album reached #3 in New Zealand. "Angels Brought Me Here" gained platinum and ''Just As I Am'' double platinum accreditation in New Zealand. Sebastian has achieved five further top ten singles in New Zealand since then, including another #1 with "Who's That Girl", and now has a total of six platinum and three gold certifications there. Sebastian is currently the only Australian Idol contestant to chart in the US. "Battle Scars" reached #71 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, #23 on the ''Billboard'' Digital Songs Chart and #1 on the ''Billboard'' R&B/Hip-hop Digital Song Chart. It spent 20 weeks in the Hot 100 and was certified platinum in the US for sales of one million. "Battle Scars" also reached #2 in

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...

. In 2015 Sebastian was selected to represent Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest. He finished 5th, and his song " Tonight Again" charted in the top 50 in a number of European countries, including No.6 in

Iceland Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its ...

and 16 in

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

released his first single " What About Me?" in February 2004. It debuted at #1 and remained at the top for four weeks. It was certified 4× Platinum and was the highest selling single in Australia in 2004. His debut album '' That's What I'm Talking About'' was also a chart topper gaining 5× Platinum accreditation selling 350,000 copies. Both the single and album were nominated as highest seller at the 2004 ARIA Awards. His second album ''

Lift Lift or LIFT may refer to: Physical devices * Elevator, or lift, a device used for raising and lowering people or goods ** Paternoster lift, a type of lift using a continuous chain of cars which do not stop ** Patient lift, or Hoyer lift, mobile ...

'' also reached #1 on the ARIA charts and remained in the top 50 for 53 weeks. It was accredited 3× platinum with 210,000 copies sold. Lift received a nomination for best pop release at the 2006 ARIA Awards and the lead single "

Shine Shine may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Shine'' (film), a 1996 Australian film based on the life of David Helfgott, a pianist * Shine, a fictional character in the American animated TV series ''Shimmer and Shine'' Lite ...

" was nominated for highest selling single. "Don't Give Up" a duet with Natalie Bassingthwaighte was also nominated for highest selling single at the 2007 ARIA Awards. His third album, '' Turn It Up'', was released in 2007 peaking at #3 and reaching platinum accreditation. His fourth album No Turning Back: The Story So Far, released in 2008 peaked at #7, and his fifth album "A Million Suns" released in 2011 reached #8. Neither of these albums reached certification. Noll has released ten top 10 singles including three #1's.australian-charts.com Shannon Noll in Australian charts
Retrieved 13 October 2009 He is the only artist in Australian music history to achieve ten consecutive top 10 singles. He has released seven more singles since achieving this, with two reaching the ARIA Top 50, the highest one peaking at #26. He has gained 17 platinum and three gold accreditations during his career. Noll has had some success outside Australia with his debut single What About Me reaching #2 in Ireland and #10 in New Zealand. His debut album also peaked at #31 on the New Zealand charts.newzealandcharts.com Shannon Noll in the New Zealand Charts
Retrieved 13 October 2009

released " When the War Is Over" as her debut single in mid-2004 through her own independent label, CDV Records. It was a #1 hit and sold over 70,000 copies resulting in platinum status. Her debut self-titled album '' Cosima'' peaked at #2 on the charts and reached gold certification. Her second single " Now That You Can't Have Me" peaked at #42 on the charts. Her second album '' This Is Now'' that was released in September 2007 didn't chart in the ARIA Charts. Paulini Curuenavuli released a debut single titled " Angel Eyes" which reached #1 and platinum certification. It stayed at the top spot for four weeks. Her debut album ''

One Determined Heart ''One Determined Heart'' is the debut studio album by Australian recording artist Paulini, released through Sony BMG Australia on 23 July 2004. The album produced by Audius Mtawarira and recorded by Louise Wheatley, mostly features cover songs ...

'' also reached #1 and received platinum status. Her Christmas EP " Amazing Grace: Songs for Christmas" peaked at #72. Her second album ''

Superwoman Superwoman is the name of several fictional characters from DC Comics. Most of them are, like Supergirl, women with powers similar to those of Superman, like flight, invulnerability, and enhanced strength. Detective Comics, Inc. trademarked ...

'' reached #70. The album gave her two top 50 singles. In 2006 Paulini joined an all girl pop group called the "

Young Divas Young Divas was an Australian pop girl group formed in 2006 by Sony BMG Australia, initially for a one-off single and national tour to promote all members as solo artists. The original line-up consisted of former ''Australian Idol'' contestants ...

" with other former Idol contestants including Kate DeAraugo, Emily Williams, Ricki-Lee Coulter and later

Jessica Mauboy Jessica Hilda Mauboy (born 4 August 1989) is an Australian singer, songwriter and actress. Born and raised in Darwin, Northern Territory, she rose to fame in 2006 on the fourth season of ''Australian Idol'', where she was runner-up and subseq ...

. They achieved success with a double platinum album and platinum and gold singles.

has become a successful drag queen performer based in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wor ...

. In December 2013, Logo announced that Courtney Act was among 14 drag queens who would be competing on the sixth season of

RuPaul's Drag Race ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' is an American reality competition television series, the first in the ''Drag Race'' franchise, produced by World of Wonder for Logo TV (season 1–8), WOW Presents Plus, VH1 (season 9–14) and, beginning with the f ...

. She later went on to become a finalist in the competition, alongside fellow contestants

Adore Delano Daniel Anthony Noriega, (born September 29, 1989) better known under the stage name Adore Delano, is an American drag queen, singer-songwriter, and television personality. Noriega appeared as a contestant on the seventh season of '' American Id ...

and

Bianca Del Rio Roy R. Haylock (born June 27, 1975), better known by the stage name Bianca Del Rio, is an American drag queen, comedian, actor, and costume designer. She is known for winning the sixth season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race''. Since her time on ''Drag R ...

, but in the season finale lost the title to Bianca Del Rio. In July 2014, Courtney Act became the first drag performer in history to sing live with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Act appeared as a guest performer with

Cheyenne Jackson Cheyenne David Jackson (born July 12, 1975) is an American actor and singer. His credits include leading roles in Broadway musicals and other stage roles, as well as film and television roles, concert singing, and music recordings. After beginn ...

in "Hello, Gorgeous! Cheyenne Jackson Goes to the Movies". The two sang a duet of "Elephant Love Song" from the 2001

Baz Luhrmann Mark Anthony Luhrmann (born 17 September 1962), known professionally as Baz Luhrmann, is an Australian film director, producer, writer and actor. With projects spanning film, television, opera, theatre, music and recording industries, he is re ...

film

Moulin Rouge Moulin Rouge (, ; ) is a cabaret in Paris, on Boulevard de Clichy, at Place Blanche, the intersection of, and terminus of Rue Blanche. In 1889, the Moulin Rouge was co-founded by Charles Zidler and Joseph Oller, who also owned the Paris Oly ...

. In September 2014, Courtney Act, along with

Willam Belli Willam Belli (, born June 30, 1982), mononymously known as Willam, is an American drag queen, actor, singer-songwriter, reality television personality, author, and YouTuber. Willam came to prominence as a contestant on the fourth season of ' ...

and

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 Justin Andrew Honard (born March 6, 1985) is an American drag queen and recording artist known by the stage name Alaska Thunderfuck 5000, primarily known mononymously as Alaska, from Erie, Pennsylvania. She is best known as the runner-up on th ...

, were the first drag queens to become ad girls for

American Apparel American Apparel Inc. is an online-only retailer and former brick-and-mortar stores operator based in Los Angeles, California. Founded by Canadian businessman Dov Charney in 1989, it was a vertically integrated company that ranked as one of the ...

. They worked for the campaign Support Artists, Support Ethical Manufacturing of the fashion brand, featuring three limited exclusive T-shirts that honors each drag queen's talents and allure. Courtney also has a Wig Company called Wigs By Vanity that she set up in 2003 for drag queens with a business partner and fellow drag queen, Vanity Faire. In December 2015, Courtney was featured on two singles from the Christmas Queens LP, "From Head To Mistletoe", and "Christmas Sweater" with fellow American Apparel ad girls Willam and Alaska. As of 2016, Act has been a foreign correspondent for the Australian news website, Junkee. Act covered the Presidential election of 2016 for the site, attending rallies of both

Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, diplomat, and former lawyer who served as the 67th United States Secretary of State for President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, as a United States senat ...

and

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of ...

. Following Trump's election, Act also participated in and reported on the 2017 Women's March. Rob Mills experienced a very short lived career at Sony BMG with one gold selling single "

Ms. Vanity "Ms. Vanity" is the debut single by former ''Australian Idol'' contestant Rob Mills. "Ms. Vanity" was released as the lead single from Mills's debut album '' Up All Night'', and peaked at number 6 on the Australian ARIA In music, an aria (It ...

" and an album titled '' Up All Night'' which peaked at #21. He was later dropped from the label. He appeared in the Australian 2008 production of '' Wicked'', and has also worked in television.

References

External links

Official Australian Idol websiteIdol 2023 website
{{Australian Idol Australian Idol 2003 Australian television seasons