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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 Idol' ...
'' 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, Marcia Hines 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. He beat Shannon Noll who finished in 2nd place, Cosima De Vito 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 Australian Idol (season 1), first s ...
. 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) * ''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 musi ...
) * ''Natalie Ferguson'' – " Son of a Preacher Man" ( Dusty Springfield) * ''Lorena Alegria'' – " To Zion" ( Lauryn Hill) * '' Daniel Wakefield'' – " You'll Never Walk Alone" ( Gerry & the Pacemakers) * ''Veronica Stewart'' – " I Want to Know What Love Is" ( Foreigner) * '' Peter Ryan'' – " Right Here Waiting" (
Richard Marx Richard Noel Marx (born September 16, 1963) is an American adult contemporary music, adult contemporary and pop rock singer-songwriter. He has sold over 30 million albums worldwide. Marx's Richard Marx (album), self-titled debut album went tri ...
) * ''Eli Diache'' – " Angel" ( Sarah McLachlan) Advancing to the Top 12: Daniel Wakefield and Peter Ryan
Wildcard Contenders: Eli Diache


Group 2

* '' Cosima De Vito'' – " My Heart Will Go On" ( Celine Dion) * ''Marc Stockley'' – " Let it Be" ( The Beatles) * '' Hailey Cramer'' – " Run to You" ( Whitney Houston) * ''Sidney Maynard'' – " Ribbon in the Sky" (
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 musi ...
) * '' Rebecca Tapia'' – " Shadowland" (''from'' The Lion King) * '' Axle Whitehead'' – " Pastime Paradise" (
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 musi ...
) * '' Kelly Cavuoto'' – " Bring Me to Life" ( Evanescence) * ''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 recordi ...
) 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) * ''Ryan Sheppard'' – " Swear It Again" ( Westlife) * ''Martine Robert'' – " The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" ( Roberta Flack) * ''Anthony Sumbati'' – " The More I See You" ( Michael Bublé) * ''
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" ( Lauryn Hill) * '' Shannon Noll'' – " Better Man" ( Robbie Williams) * ''Yolande Jackson'' – " Winter" ( Tori Amos) * '' Guy Sebastian'' – " What a Wonderful World" (
Louis Armstrong Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed "Satchmo", "Satch", and "Pops", was an American trumpeter and vocalist. He was among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and several era ...
) 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) * ''Michelle Cashman'' – " My Heart Will Go On" ( Celine Dion) * ''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 whi ...
) * '' 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" ( Robbie Williams) * '' Lauren Buckley'' – " Imagine" ( John Lennon) 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 Officer of the Order of Australia, AO (born 1 July 1949) is a British born Australian singer. Farnham was a Teen idol, teen pop idol from 1967 until 1979, billed then as Johnny Farnham, but has since forged a career as an Adu ...
) * '' Ben Manusama'' – " Hard to Say I'm Sorry" ( Chicago) * ''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 Nathan M ...
) * '' Rhett Butler'' – "Smack That" ( Akon) * '' Paulini Curuenavuli'' – " Somewhere" ( Barbra Streisand) * ''
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 Australian Idol (season 1), first s ...
'' – " You Don't Own Me" (
Lesley Gore Lesley Sue Goldstein (May 2, 1946 – February 16, 2015), known professionally as Lesley Gore, was an American singer, songwriter, actress, and activist. At the age of 16, she recorded the pop music, pop hit "It's My Party (Lesley Gore song), I ...
) * '' Rob Mills'' – " Angels" ( Robbie Williams) 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) * ''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 ...
" ( Whitney Houston) * ''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 AC/DC (stylised as ACϟDC) are an Australian Rock music, rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by Scottish-born brothers Malcolm Young, Malcolm and Angus Young. Their music has been variously described as hard rock, blues rock, and Heavy metal ...
) * ''Axle Whitehead'' – " Yesterday" ( The Beatles) * ''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 week ...
) * ''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 Jennifer Lynn Affleck (' Lopez; born July 24, 1969), also known as J.Lo, is an American singer, actress and dancer. In 1991, she began appearing as a Fly Girl dancer on the sketch comedy television series ''In Living Color'', where she rema ...
) 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'': " Ribbon in the Sky" (
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 musi ...
) :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': " Back at One" ( Brian McKnight) :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': " Somewhere Over the Rainbow" ( Judy Garland) :''Top 40'': " What a Wonderful World" (
Louis Armstrong Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed "Satchmo", "Satch", and "Pops", was an American trumpeter and vocalist. He was among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and several era ...
) :''Top 12'': " The Love You Save" ( 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 '' Robi ...
" ( Bryan Adams) :''Top 8'': " You're the Voice" (
John Farnham John Peter Farnham Officer of the Order of Australia, AO (born 1 July 1949) is a British born Australian singer. Farnham was a Teen idol, teen pop idol from 1967 until 1979, billed then as Johnny Farnham, but has since forged a career as an Adu ...
) :''Top 6'': " When Doves Cry" ( Prince) :''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) :''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), " Hello" (
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 recordi ...
) :''Top 4'': " The Way You Look Tonight" ( Jerome Kern & Dorothy Fields), Hit the Road Jack" (
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" (
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" (
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 Fi ...
, ''from The Sound of Music'') ''TOUCHDOWN'' :''Top 2'': " I'll Be There" ( The Jackson 5), " Crazy in Love" ( Beyoncé Knowles), " Angels Brought Me Here" ''(winner's single)''


Shannon Noll

Shannon Noll (born 16 September 1975), was runner-up to winner Guy Sebastian. :''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" (
John Farnham John Peter Farnham Officer of the Order of Australia, AO (born 1 July 1949) is a British born Australian singer. Farnham was a Teen idol, teen pop idol from 1967 until 1979, billed then as Johnny Farnham, but has since forged a career as an Adu ...
) :''Top 40'': " Better Man" ( Robbie Williams) :''Top 12'': " Help Is on Its Way" ( Little River Band) :''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) :''Top 6'': " Livin' on a Prayer" (
Bon Jovi Bon Jovi is an American Rock music, 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 (American musician), Hugh McD ...
) Bottom 3 :''Up, Close & Personal'': " With or Without You" ( 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) :''Top 4'': " I've Got You Under My Skin", "
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 Uni ...
(
Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...
) :''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), "
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 release o ...
" ( The Beatles) :''Top 2'': " Please Forgive Me" ( Bryan Adams), "
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), " 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" ( Celine Dion) :''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 ...
" ( Celine Dion) :''Top 40'': " My Heart Will Go On" ( Celine Dion) :''Wildcard Show'': " 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 week ...
) :''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 " Queen of Disco", while her mus ...
) :''Top 10'': " I Wanna Dance With Somebody" ( Whitney Houston) :''Top 8'': " When the War Is Over" ( Cold Chisel) ~ ''TOUCHDOWN!'' :''Top 6'': " What's Love Got To Do With It" ( Tina Turner) :''Up, Close & Personal'': " Hero" (
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 whi ...
) :''Top 5'': " I Believe I Can Fly" ( R. Kelly), "
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), " Smile" (
Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consider ...
) :''Top 3'': " You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" ( Dusty Springfield), " River Deep - Mountain High" ( Tina Turner) 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 Cold Chisel'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" (
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 in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo ar ...
& Tammi Terrell) :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': " Go to Hell" ( Nina Simone) :''Top 40'': " Somewhere" ( Barbra Streisand) :''Top 12'': " Don't Leave Me This Way" ( Thelma Houston) :''Top 10'': " Eternal Flame" ( The Bangles) :''Top 8'': " Chains" ( Tina Arena) :''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 ...
" (
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'' :''Up, Close & Personal'': " Fields of Gold" (
Sting Sting may refer to: * Stinger or sting, a structure of an animal to inject venom, or the injury produced by a stinger * Irritating hairs or prickles of a stinging plant, or the plant itself Fictional characters and entities * Sting (Middle-eart ...
) :''Top 5'': " Un-Break My Heart" ( Toni Braxton) & "
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 limited ...
) :''Top 4'': " At Last" (
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, sh ...
) & "
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) Eliminated Paulini performed "
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 ...
", " The Voice Within", " Crazy in Love" and " Chains" 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'': " Swear It Again" ( Westlife) :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': " Swear It Again" ( Westlife) :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': :''Top 40'': " Angels" ( Robbie Williams) :''Top 12'': " All Right Now" (
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) :''Top 8'': " Take Me Back" ( Noiseworks) :''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" ( Ronan Keating) :''Top 5'': " Too Close" ( Next) and " If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time" ( R. Kelly) 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" (
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 ...
) :''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 and ...
" (
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 musi ...
) :''Top 10'': " Rock Your Body" (
Justin Timberlake Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with sales of over 88 million records. Timberlake is the recipient of numerous awards and ac ...
) :''Top 8'': " To the Moon and Back" ( Savage Garden) Bottom 3 :''Top 6'': " Every Little Step" ( Bobby Brown) Eliminated A record contract followed and he got into his band
Lethbridge Lethbridge ( ) is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada. With a population of 101,482 in its 2019 Alberta municipal censuses, 2019 municipal census, Lethbridge became the fourth Alberta city to surpass 100,000 people. The nearby Canadian ...
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" ( Lauryn Hill) :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': " Love Takes Time" (
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 whi ...
) :''Top 40'': " Ex-Factor" ( Lauryn Hill) :''Wildcard Show'': "
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 ...
" ( Whitney Houston) :''Top 12'': " Emotion" ( Samantha Sang) :''Top 10'': " Killing Me Softly with His Song" ( 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, before auditioning in 2004. Dubbed "The Rock Chick" by judge
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 ...
, 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" ( No Doubt) :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': "Chase The Dragon" ( Machine Gun Fellatio) :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': " You Oughta Know" (
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 tw ...
) :''Top 40'': " Bring Me to Life" ( Evanescence) :''Top 12'': " Whole Lotta Love" ( Led Zeppelin) 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) Bottom 3 :''Top 8'': " Mascara" ( 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) :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': " Turn Me On" ( Norah Jones) :''Top 40'': " Imagine" ( John Lennon) :''Top 12'': " Moondance" ( Van Morrison) :''Top 10'': " Lady Marmalade" ( Pink, Christina Aguilera, Mýa &
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 program '' Popstars'' 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) :''Top 40'': " Come to Me" ( Diesel) :''Top 12'': " Young Hearts Run Free" (
Candi Staton Canzetta Maria "Candi" Staton (, ) (born March 13, 1940) is an American singer–songwriter, best known in the United States for her 1970 remake of Tammy Wynette's " Stand by Your Man" and her 1976 disco chart-topper "Young Hearts Run Free". In E ...
) :''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.


Peter Ryan

Peter Ryan, from New South Wales, was eliminated on 22 September 2004, placed eleventh. :''Audition'': "Comic Conversation" (
John Farnham John Peter Farnham Officer of the Order of Australia, AO (born 1 July 1949) is a British born Australian singer. Farnham was a Teen idol, teen pop idol from 1967 until 1979, billed then as Johnny Farnham, but has since forged a career as an Adu ...
) :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': " Now and Forever" (
Richard Marx Richard Noel Marx (born September 16, 1963) is an American adult contemporary music, adult contemporary and pop rock singer-songwriter. He has sold over 30 million albums worldwide. Marx's Richard Marx (album), self-titled debut album went tri ...
) :''Top 40'': " Right Here Waiting" (
Richard Marx Richard Noel Marx (born September 16, 1963) is an American adult contemporary music, adult contemporary and pop rock singer-songwriter. He has sold over 30 million albums worldwide. Marx's Richard Marx (album), self-titled debut album went tri ...
) :''Top 12'': " Your Song" (
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" (
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 ...
) :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': "Two Beds and a Coffee Machine" ( Savage Garden) :''Top 40'': " 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 recordi ...
) :''Top 12'': " If" (
Bread Bread is a staple food prepared from a dough of flour (usually wheat) and water, usually by baking. Throughout recorded history and around the world, it has been an important part of many cultures' diet. It is one of the oldest human-made f ...
) 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, Guy Sebastian 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.
Guy Sebastian'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'', 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
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 ...
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. In 2015 Sebastian was selected to represent Australia in the
Eurovision Song Contest The Eurovision Song Contest (), sometimes abbreviated to ESC and often known simply as Eurovision, is an international songwriting competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), featuring participants representing pr ...
. He finished 5th, and his song " Tonight Again" charted in the top 50 in a number of European countries, including No.6 in Iceland and 16 in Austria. Shannon Noll 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'' 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 Natalie Bassingthwaighte (; born 1 September 1975) is an Australian recording artist, actress, and Celebrity, television personality. Born and raised in Wollongong, New South Wales, she began her career in musical theatre. She later pursued an ...
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
Cosima De Vito 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'' reached #70. The album gave her two top 50 singles. In 2006 Paulini joined an all girl pop group called the " Young Divas" with other former Idol contestants including Kate DeAraugo, Emily Williams, Ricki-Lee Coulter and later Jessica Mauboy. They achieved success with a double platinum album and platinum and gold singles.
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 Australian Idol (season 1), first s ...
has become a successful drag queen performer based in Los Angeles. 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. She later went on to become a finalist in the competition, alongside fellow contestants Adore Delano and Bianca Del Rio, 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 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. In September 2014, Courtney Act, along with Willam Belli and Alaska Thunderfuck 5000, were the first drag queens to become ad girls for American Apparel. 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 and Donald Trump. 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