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Second season (2004)
The second season of Australian Idol debuted on July 13, 2004. The level of success of the contestants in the first season has lured over 50,000 people throughout Australia to audition.
As well as the five larger cities, the judges also visited Canberra, Hobart, Darwin and Tamworth this year. Of the twelve finalists, three were from Sydney, two were from Melbourne, and one each from Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Hobart, Perth, Canberra, Adelaide and Bega.
The winner was Casey Donovan. She beat out Anthony Callea (2nd), Courtney Murphy (3rd), Hayley Jensen (4th) & Chanel Cole (5th). The final 2, as well as Ricki Lee, were the only contestants of the Top 12 to score hits, although Chanel Cole & Daniel Belle did team up under the label Spook, to release an album in mid to late 2005, with the two best-selling contestants being Casey & Anthony. Ngaiire Joseph (Top 30 contestant) and Marty have released a single each in late 2005. Hayley will be releasing an album in early 2006.
On a darker note, Telstra, a major sponsor of the series, made an embarrassing error when they issued a series of half-page advertisements in major newspapers congratulating Donovan on her victory, and linking to her website. However, the address was incorrect, leading to a website about gay porn star Casey Donovan, rather than the singer's. The company issued a prompt apology upon realising their mistake. *
After this season, judge Dicko bowed out of the series, later to appear in the Seven Network reality TV shows My Restaurant Rules and most recently, Dancing with the Stars. The 2004 season was also notable for an Asian contestant named "Flynn", who sang the Freestylers song "Push Up" after being found from a terrible audition, in the same vein as William Hung.
Bottom three statistics
Third season (2005)
The third season of Australian Idol debuted on July 26, 2005. The first of three semi-finals was held on August 16, 2005 with three of the Final 12 contenders announced the following night on August 17, 2005. The replacement judge for Dicko was 2Day FM radio host Kyle Sandilands.
For the first time in Australian Idol history there were 13 finalists. This came about during the Wildcard Verdict show on September 5, 2005. The judges initially chose James Kannis and Emily Williams to go through to the final. This left one spot which was chosen by the Australian public. Out of the remaining contestants the two that received the highest votes were Dan Spillane and Roxane LeBrasse. With only 1% between them, Dan was announced as the final member of the Top 12. This meant Roxane had missed out yet again. The judges decided however that Roxane was too good to be left out of the Top 12 so they made it a Top 13. That catch was that two contestants were eliminated in the first round of the finals.
Eventually, the winner was decided, and it was Kate DeAraugo. She beat Emily Williams (2nd), Lee Harding (3rd) & Dan England (4th). Lee Harding has been signed to Sony BMG and released his first single, "Wasabi", in mid December 2005, and an album in February 2006. Dan England has been announced to be touring with Shannon Noll. Emily Williams has also been signed to Sony BMG after much controversy from her fans complaining that Emily should have got a record contract before 3rd place Lee Harding did; she is expected to release her first single in early 2006. There are also rumours that Sony BMG is reluctant to sign Anne Robertson, because she is very similar to former Australian Idol contestant Paulini Curuenavuli.
Although averaging around the 1.5 million viewer mark, ratings were down on the latest season compared to the first two, which regulary drew more than 2.5 million viewers during the latter half of the competition. This is a serious situation for Ten, which airs three Australian Idol shows every week, and has forced them to give away free commercial airtime to program sponsors expecting higher ratings. Commentators have theorised over the reasons why this has occurred, ranging from the viewing public being tired of the format to Sandilands replacing the popular Dickson. Controversy also surrounded the Australian Idol: Live Verdict show running up to fifteen minutes overtime.
Bottom three statistics
Fourth Season (2006)
The Fourth Season of Australian Idol auditions started in March in Mount Isa and concluded on 4 June in Sydney. Overall auditions were held in 13 cities all over Australia, many of these places had a much smaller population and producers declared on the official site that they wanted to "unearth" rural talent in 2006. The cities that held auditions were Adelaide, Albury-Wodonga, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Broken Hill, Byron Bay, Hobart, Melbourne, Mount Isa, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney and Townsville.
According to reports the best talent from auditonees were from the rural areas. The show is expected to start in the first week of August.
Commercial success
The success of Australian Idol has been reflected on the Australian charts with three finalists albums and multiple contestant albums all enjoying considerable success so far.
So far, the albums released:
- Final 12 reached #3 on the charts and achieved double platinum status.
- Just As I Am, the debut album by winner Guy Sebastian debuted at #1 in December 2003 and has achieved 6x platinum status or sales of 500,000, and his second album Beautiful Life debuted at #2 in October 2004 and has so far achieved platinum status (behind Robbie Williams' Greatest Hits).
- That's What I'm Talking About by runner-up Shannon Noll debuted at #1 in early 2004 and has achieved 5x platinum status, selling 350,000 albums, and Noll's second album Lift also debuted at #1 in October 2005.
- Up All Night by finalist Rob Mills debuted in the Australian top 30 of the album charts in late June.
- One Determined Heart by finalist Paulini Curuenavuli was released in late July on Sony Music and debuted at #1 in the album charts after the success of the first single (see below), achieving platinum status. A Christmas album full of carols, called Songs for Christmas was also recorded and released by her in December 2004, reaching the top 100.
- Cosima by finalist Cosima De Vito debuted at #2 in the albums in October 2004 (behind Maroon 5's Songs about Jane), so far achieving gold status.
- Hinesight, a covers album by Idol judge Marcia Hines has also reached the top 20 in September 2004.
- Joel Turner and The Modern Day Poets, the self-titled album from "unforgettable" contestant and beatboxer Joel Turner with The Modern Day Poets reached the top 30 in November 2004.
- For You, Casey Donovan's debut album, debuted at #2 in December 2004, behind Robbie Williams' Greatest Hits.
- Cast Album Australian Idol Final 10, an album by the 10 finalists of the second season made the top 20 in February 2005.
- Anthony Callea, Anthony Callea's debut self-titled album, released on 28 March 2005, and debuted at #1 on the albums chart of 4 April 2005, so far achieving double platinum status.
- Ricki-Lee, Ricki-Lee Coulter's self-titled debut album, which was released on October 3 2005, reaching the top 30.
- A Place I've Never Been, Kate DeAraugo's debut album, released on 12 December 2005, reached the top 10 that month.
- What's Wrong with This Picture?, Lee Harding's debut album, released in February 2006, debuted at #3, so far achieving gold status.
In total, Australian Idol contestants have sold approximately a million albums in Australia since November 2003. BMG who signed up the two original finalists have presented Guy Sebastian with a royalty cheque for a million dollars in July 2004, with Shannon Noll also receiving a similar cheque later in the year. *
As of May 2006, Australian Idol contestants have enjoyed over forty top 40 hits in Australia since November 2003:
- "Rise Up" by the Australian Idol Final 12 reached #1 in November 2003.
- Guy Sebastian has had three #1 singles in Australia ("Angels Brought Me Here" and "All I Need is You" from his debut album; "Out with my Baby" from his second album, so far achieving platinum status), and also top 20 singles from his second album with "Kryptonite" and "Oh-Oh".
- Shannon Noll has had two #1 hits with "What About Me?", a cover of the Moving Pictures (also a #1 from 1982) and "Learn to Fly", and a top 5 hit with "Drive", as well as being part of the Dreamtime Christmas All-Stars (also featuring Cosima De Vito, Rob Mills), to record "Twelve Days of Christmas", which reached the top 30 in December 2004, and a new song "Come On Aussie, Come On" reaching #2 in the same month. He also debuted at #1 again in October 2005 with the song "Shine" and the title single from his second album Lift debuted at #13 on the 12th December 2005, and peaking at #10. "Now I Run" the 3rd single from Lift debuted at #6.
- Cosima De Vito's debut single "When The War Is Over", a cover of the ballad by Cold Chisel, debuted at #1 in the charts on 16 August, achieving platinum status, as well being part of the Dreamtime Christmas All-Stars (also featuring Shannon Noll, Rob Mills), to record "Twelve Days of Christmas", which reached the top 30 in December 2004, and a second solo single, "Now That You Can't Have Me", reaching the top 50 in the same month.
- Paulini Curuenavuli's first single "Angel Eyes", a cover of the Fred Koller song made famous in 1989 by Jeff Healey, debuted at #2 in the charts on 12 July 2004then reached #1 the week after and stayed there for several weeks, achieving platinum status. Her second single "We Can Try" reached the top 30 in October 2004. In January 2006, Paulini proved that she was no one hit wonder when her single "Rough Day" debuted at #26 while also reaching #3 and spending several weeks in the top 10 singles of the Dance Chart. Her second song released in 2006 was "So Over You", so far peaking in the top 50.
- Rob Mills reached the top ten in late May 2004 with "Ms Vanity", and also reached the top 30 in August 2004 with a second single "Every Single Day"; Rob was also part of the Dreamtime Christmas All-Stars (along with Shannon Noll and Cosima De Vito), who recorded "Twelve Days of Christmas", which reached the top 30 in December 2004.
- Finalist Levi Kereama enjoyed top 20 success as a member of Lethbridge with the single "In My Room" in May 2004. He then released another single credited to him featuring Lethbridge, called "Handcuffs Off", reaching the top 40 in January 2005.
- Semi-finalist Courtney Act enjoyed a top 40 hit with "Rub Me Wrong" in March 2004.
- Joel Turner also reached #1 with The Modern Day Poets on the single "These Kids" in November 2004, so far achieving platinum status. They also had a second single called "Knock U Out!" (featuring champion boxer Anthony "The Man" Mundine), using the beats of "Eye of The Tiger", made famous by the Rocky movie. The single was released in January 2005, and debuted in the top 20 in February 2005, and a third single "Funk U Up" was also released in May 2005, also reaching top twenty status, even higher than "Knock U Out". He also released a new single entitled "Respect" in October 2005, reaching the top thirty.
- Casey Donovan debuted at #1 with her debut single, "Listen With Your Heart" in November 2004, so far achieving double platinum status, reached the top 20 with her second single "What's Going On?" in February 2005, and reached #51 with her third single "Flow" in August 2005.
- Anthony Callea debuted at #1 in December 2004 with his debut single "The Prayer", a cover of the version by Carole Bayer Sager, also made famous by Andrea Bocelli and Céline Dion, so far achieving quadruple platinum status, and debuted at #1 again in March 2005 with a double A-side of "Rain"/"Bridge Over Troubled Water". His third single "Hurts So Bad" reached the top ten in July 2005. His fourth single "Per Sempre" (For Always) reached the top five in October 2005.
- "Good Times", a song originally by The Easybeats, made famous with a cover by Jimmy Barnes and INXS, was covered by the Final 10 of the second season of Idol and it charted in the top 60 in February 2005.
- Finalist Ricki-Lee Coulter reached the top 5 with the song "Hell No!" in June 2005. She also reached the top 10 with her second single "Sunshine" in October 2005. Her third single "Breathe" performed very well also, peaking at #14 in January 2006.
- Kate DeAraugo, the winner of the third series, debuted at #1 in December 2005 with her debut single "Maybe Tonight". Her second single, "Faded", debuted at #8 in February 2006.
- Lee Harding, who came third in the third series, also debuted at #1 in December 2005 with his debut single "Wasabi". His second single, "Anything For You", debuted at #23 in March 2006.
- The Young Divas, consisting of Paulini, Ricki-Lee, Kate DeAraugo and Emily Williams released a single, "This Time I Know It's For Real" in May 2006, peaking at #2.
The strength of the success of Australian Idol contestants in the charts was shown when Shannon Noll's single "Learn to Fly" debuted at #1 just a few sales points ahead of "Angel Eyes" by Paulini Curuenavuli on the Australian singles charts of 12 July, 2004. Paulini's single even jumped up to #1 the following week. Paulini's and Guy Sebastian's singles and albums, as well as one of Ricki Lee's singles, have also featured prominently in the Urban Music charts.
Singles Released
| Year | Artist | Title | Chart positions | Album | Certification | |
| Highest position | Weeks in the Top 100 | |||||
| From first season: | ||||||
| 2003 | Australian Idol Top 12 | Rise Up | #1 | 10 | Australian Idol: The Final 12 - Cast Album | Gold |
| 2003 | Guy Sebastian | Angels Brought Me Here | #1 | 15 | Just As I Am | 4x Platinum |
| 2004 | Shannon Noll | What About Me? | #1 | 20 | That's What I'm Talking About | 4x Platinum |
| 2004 | Guy Sebastian | All I Need Is You | #1 | 20 | Just As I Am | Platinum |
| 2004 | Shannon Noll | Drive | #4 | 16 | That's What I'm Talking About | Platinum |
| 2004 | Levi & Lethbridge | In My Room | #12 | 10 | Destiny | - |
| 2004 | Courtney Act | Rub Me Wrong | #29 | 6 | - | - |
| 2004 | Rob Mills | Ms Vanity | #6 | 15 | Up All Night | Gold |
| 2004 | Paulini | Angel Eyes | #1 | 26 | One Determined Heart | Platinum |
| 2004 | Shannon Noll | Learn To Fly | #1 | 16 | That's What I'm Talking About | Gold |
| 2004 | Cosima | When The War Is Over/One Night Without You | #1 | 22 | Cosima | Platinum |
| 2004 | Rob Mills | Every Single Day | #24 | 12 | Up All Night | - |
| 2004 | Paulini | We Can Try | #30 | 15 | One Determined Heart | - |
| 2004 | Guy Sebastian | Out With My Baby | #1 | 17 | Beautiful Life | Platinum |
| 2004 | Joel Turner & The Modern Day Poets | These Kids | #1 | 31 | Joel Turner & The Modern Day Poets | Platinum |
| 2004 | Guy Sebastian | Kryptonite | #15 | 13 | Beautiful Life | - |
| 2004 | Dreamtime Christmas All-Stars (featuring Shannon Noll, Cosima De Vito and Rob Mills) | Twelve Days Of Christmas | #26 | 4 | - | - |
| 2004 | Cosima | Now That You Can't Have Me | #42 | 8 | Cosima | - |
| 2004 | Shannon Noll | C'Mon Aussie C'Mon | #2 | 14 | - | Platinum |
| 2004 | Levi & Lethbridge | Handcuffs Off | #33 | 10 | Destiny | - |
| 2005 | Joel Turner & The Modern Day Poets & Anthony 'The Man' Mundine | Knock U Out | #14 | 15 | Joel Turner & The Modern Day Poets | - |
| 2005 | Rebekah LaVauney | Chapter 1 EP | - | - | - | - |
| 2005 | Guy Sebastian | Oh Oh | #11 | 11 | Beautiful Life | - |
| 2005 | Joel Turner & The Modern Day Poets | Funk U Up | #13 | 10 | Joel Turner & The Modern Day Poets | - |
| 2005 | Shannon Noll | Shine | #1 | 27 | Lift | Platinum |
| 2005 | Joel Turner & The Modern Day Poets | Respect | #29 | 5 | Joel Turner & The Modern Day Poets | - |
| 2005 | Shannon Noll | Lift | #10 | (still in chart) | Lift | Gold |
| 2006 | Paulini | Rough Day | #26 | 9 | Superwoman | - |
| 2006 | Shannon Noll | Now I Run | #6 | (still in chart) | Lift | - |
| 2006 | Paulini | So Over You | #49 | (still in chart) | Superwoman | - |
| From second season: | ||||||
| 2004 | Casey Donovan | Listen With Your Heart | #1 | 15 | For You | 2x Platinum |
| 2004 | Anthony Callea | The Prayer | #1 | 25 | Anthony Callea | 4x Platinum |
| 2005 | Australian Idol 2: The Final 10 | Good Times | #53 | 5 | Australian Idol 2: The Final 10 - Cast Album | - |
| 2005 | Casey Donovan | What's Going On? | #18 | 11 | For You | - |
| 2005 | Marty Worrall | One Day | - | - | - | - |
| 2005 | Anthony Callea | Rain/Bridge Over Troubled Water | #1 | 21 | Anthony Callea | 2x Platinum |
| 2005 | Ricki-Lee | Hell No! | #5 | 21 | Ricki-Lee | Gold |
| 2005 | Anthony Callea | Hurts So Bad | #10 | 20 | Anthony Callea | - |
| 2005 | Casey Donovan | Flow | #51 | 3 | For You | - |
| 2005 | Ricki-Lee | Sunshine | #8 | 21 | Ricki-Lee | Gold |
| 2005 | Anthony Callea | Per Sempre (For Always) | #5 | 16 | Anthony Callea | - |
| 2005 | paulmac featuring Ngaiire | It's Not Me, It's You | Video release only | - | Panic Room | - |
| 2006 | Ricki-Lee | Breathe | #14 | 17 | Ricki-Lee | - |
| From third season: | ||||||
| 2002 | Rockmelons & Roxane LeBrasse | I Ain't Playin' | #79 | 2 | Rockies 3 | - |
| 2005 | Kate DeAraugo | Maybe Tonight | #1 | 21 | A Place I've Never Been | Platinum |
| 2005 | Lee Harding | Wasabi/Eye Of The Tiger | #1 | (still in chart) | What's Wrong With This Picture? | Platinum |
| 2006 | Kate DeAraugo | Faded | #8 | (still in chart) | A Place I've Never Been | - |
| 2006 | Lee Harding | Anything For You | #23 | (still in chart) | What's Wrong with This Picture? | - |
| 2006 | Emily Williams | I Will Always Love You | TBA | TBA | - | - |
| 2006 | Laura Gissara | Ti Amo | TBA | TBA | - | - |
| Other: | ||||||
| 2005 | The Robertson Brothers featuring Anton Aktila | Daddy's Gone | #56 | 3 | - | - |
| 2006 | The Young Divas (featuring Kate DeAraugo, Emily Williams, Paulini & Ricki-Lee) | This Time I Know It's For Real | #2 | (still in chart) | - | Gold |
| 2006 | Brielle Davis | Serial Thriller | #44 | 1 | - | - |
Albums Released
| Year | Artist | Title | Chart positions | Certification | ||
| Highest position | Weeks in the Top 100 | |||||
| From first season: | ||||||
| 2003 | Australian Idol Top 12 | The Final 12 - Cast Album | #3 | 17 | 2x Platinum | |
| 2003 | Guy Sebastian | Just As I Am | #1 | 25 | 6x Platinum | |
| 2004 | Shannon Noll | That's What I'm Talking About | #1 | 48 | 5x Platinum | |
| 2004 | Rob Mills | Up All Night | #21 | 10 | - | |
| 2004 | Paulini | One Determined Heart | #1 | 12 | Platinum | |
| 2004 | Cosima | Cosima | #2 | 7 | Gold | |
| 2004 | Guy Sebastian | Beautiful Life | #2 | 16 | Platinum | |
| 2004 | Joel Turner & The Modern Day Poets | Joel Turner & The Modern Day Poets | #28 | 16 | Platinum | |
| 2004 | Paulini | Songs for Christmas | #70 | 4 | - | |
| 2004 | Levi & Lethbridge | Destiny | - | - | - | |
| 2004 | Peter Ryan | Like Oxygen | - | - | - | |
| 2005 | Shannon Noll | Lift | #1 | (still in chart) | 2x Platinum | |
| 2006 | Paulini | Superwoman | TBA | TBA | - | |
| From second season: | ||||||
| 2004 | Casey Donovan | For You | #2 | 11 | 3x Platinum | |
| 2004 | Australian Idol 2 Top 10 | The Final 10 - Cast Album | #20 | 5 | - | |
| 2005 | Anthony Callea | Anthony Callea | #1 | 40 | 2x Platinum | |
| 2005 | Ricki-Lee | Ricki-Lee | #30 | 9 | - | |
| 2005 | Spook | The Dusk Sessions | - | - | - | |
| From third season: | ||||||
| 2005 | Australian Idol 3 Top 13 | The Final 13 - Australian Made: The Hits | #30 | 5 | - | |
| 2005 | Kate DeAraugo | A Place I've Never Been | #10 | 19 | Platinum | |
| 2006 | Lee Harding | What's Wrong With This Picture? | #3 | 12 | Gold | |
DVDs Released
| Year | Artist | Title | Chart positions | Certification | |
| Highest position | Weeks in the Top 40 | ||||
| 2003 | Australian Idol Top 12 | Australian Idol - Uncut 2003 | #2 | 11 | 2x Platinum |
| 2003 | Australian Idol Top 12 | Australian Idol - Karaoke | #18 | 10 | - |
| 2003 | Australian Idol Top 12 | Australian Idol - Greatest Hits | #4 | 12 | Gold |
| 2004 | Shannon Noll | Up Close | #3 | 13 | Platinum |
| 2004 | Australian Idol 2 Top 12 | Australian Idol 2: The Final 12 - Australian Made | #3 | 9 | Gold |
| 2004 | Australian Idol 2 Top 12 | Australian Idol 2 - Uncut 2004 | #18 | 2 | Gold |
| 2004 | Australian Idol 2 Top 12 | Greatest Moments | #17 | 6 | - |
| 2005 | Anthony Callea | Live In Concert | #3 | 8 | Platinum |
| 2005 | Joel Turner, The Modern Day Poets & The Beatbox Alliance | Beatbox | - | - | - |
| 2005 | Australian Idol 3 Top 13 | Australian Idol 3 - The Final 13 | #5 | 4 | - |
See also
External links
- Australian Idol official site
- Idolblog unofficial site
- Inside Australian Idol fan site
Australian Idol | Idol television series | Singing competitions | Australian reality television series | Network Ten shows | Australian music television
"Australian Idol"