Damien Leith wins Idol
Nov 27, 2006 3:21:22 GMT 10
Post by dededom on Nov 27, 2006 3:21:22 GMT 10
Erin Mcwhirter
November 27, 2006 01:36am
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DAMIEN Leith may not be an Australian citizen, but the nation has adopted the Irishman as its own, crowning him this year's Australian Idol.
In one of the closest competitions in the history of the Network Ten program, the chemist and father of one beat Northern Territory schoolgirl Jessica Mauboy in tonight's finale held at the Sydney Opera House.
Scooping victory in the fourth series, an overwhelmed Leith said winning was going to take "a long time to sink in".
"Definitely the night of my life; it has been absolutely incredible," said the emotional 30-year-old at a press conference following his victory. "I am humbled to have had this to have happened to me."
Leith hails from Newtown in Sydney and is originally from Ireland's County Kildare, south-west of Dublin.
"I have found the last 10 to 15 minutes hard to take in ... very emotional."
Leith's spine-tingling version of Nessun Dorma, from the opera Turandot, was tonight met with a standing ovation from the 3000 guests inside the Sydney Opera House hall, including his parents, brother Darren and wife Eileen.
"Tonight, win or lose, that was definitely the moment for me," he said.
The victory secures Leith a recording contract with Sony BMG, with his debut album set for release in February or March. The album will include his first single, Night Of My Life, written by Adam Reily.
Of joining fellow Australian Idol winners Guy Sebastian, Casey Donovan and Kate DeAraugo, Leith said he was humbled by Australia's support.
"The Australian community has really gotten behind me and that has shone through so strong," he said. "I am so humbled by that ... this is my dream, I can't believe it."
The talented musician dedicated the win to Eileen and their 14-month-old son Jarvis.
"Eileen and Jarvis have been there all the way through this and it's hard, this journey," he admitted. "She (Eileen) is a rock of strength ... I owe all this to her."
Over the course of the competition, Leith impressed judges Marcia Hines, Mark Holden and Kyle Sandilands with his operatic/rock edge vocal tones.
With no formal singing, guitar or piano lessons, Leith has plugged away at his musical dream by teaching himself and practising his talents on punters in local clubs around Sydney.
Growing up in Ireland, Leith formed a band with his siblings, Paul, Darren and Aine, called Leaf, which was later renamed Releaf.
The band recorded in New York, with their music making an appearance in the Irish top 100.
For 17-year-old Mauboy, she said the journey wouldn't end here and said record labels had already made an approach.
"I have spoken to some people; they said we want to talk to you and it sounds really exciting," she said. "I am just going to go with the flow and see where that takes me."
More than 25,000 aspiring singers auditioned for Australian Idol this year.
For the first time, the national audition tour included Alice Springs, Broken Hill, Byron Bay, Mount Isa and Albury-Wodonga.
The hopefuls were then whittled down to the top 12, including pin-up boy Dean Geyer, who made it to the final three but was knocked out last week, leaving Mauboy and Leith to battle it out for the title.
To recover from dismal ratings of the past, Australian Idol emerged with a revamped format that included shorter semi-finals, the use of instruments and performers singing their own songs.
This helped the program rate an average of 1.6 million viewers weekly.
Last year's finale between winner DeAraugo and Emily Williams attracted a national audience of 1.9 million viewers, compared to the 3.35 million viewers who watched Donovan claim victory over Callea in 2004.
The first series finale between Sebastian and Shannon Noll attracted 3.32 million viewers.
Leith's debut single, Night Of My Life, is available for digital downloads now and is in stores on Tuesday.
November 27, 2006 01:36am
Article from: AAPFont size: + -
Send this article: Print Email
DAMIEN Leith may not be an Australian citizen, but the nation has adopted the Irishman as its own, crowning him this year's Australian Idol.
In one of the closest competitions in the history of the Network Ten program, the chemist and father of one beat Northern Territory schoolgirl Jessica Mauboy in tonight's finale held at the Sydney Opera House.
Scooping victory in the fourth series, an overwhelmed Leith said winning was going to take "a long time to sink in".
"Definitely the night of my life; it has been absolutely incredible," said the emotional 30-year-old at a press conference following his victory. "I am humbled to have had this to have happened to me."
Leith hails from Newtown in Sydney and is originally from Ireland's County Kildare, south-west of Dublin.
"I have found the last 10 to 15 minutes hard to take in ... very emotional."
Leith's spine-tingling version of Nessun Dorma, from the opera Turandot, was tonight met with a standing ovation from the 3000 guests inside the Sydney Opera House hall, including his parents, brother Darren and wife Eileen.
"Tonight, win or lose, that was definitely the moment for me," he said.
The victory secures Leith a recording contract with Sony BMG, with his debut album set for release in February or March. The album will include his first single, Night Of My Life, written by Adam Reily.
Of joining fellow Australian Idol winners Guy Sebastian, Casey Donovan and Kate DeAraugo, Leith said he was humbled by Australia's support.
"The Australian community has really gotten behind me and that has shone through so strong," he said. "I am so humbled by that ... this is my dream, I can't believe it."
The talented musician dedicated the win to Eileen and their 14-month-old son Jarvis.
"Eileen and Jarvis have been there all the way through this and it's hard, this journey," he admitted. "She (Eileen) is a rock of strength ... I owe all this to her."
Over the course of the competition, Leith impressed judges Marcia Hines, Mark Holden and Kyle Sandilands with his operatic/rock edge vocal tones.
With no formal singing, guitar or piano lessons, Leith has plugged away at his musical dream by teaching himself and practising his talents on punters in local clubs around Sydney.
Growing up in Ireland, Leith formed a band with his siblings, Paul, Darren and Aine, called Leaf, which was later renamed Releaf.
The band recorded in New York, with their music making an appearance in the Irish top 100.
For 17-year-old Mauboy, she said the journey wouldn't end here and said record labels had already made an approach.
"I have spoken to some people; they said we want to talk to you and it sounds really exciting," she said. "I am just going to go with the flow and see where that takes me."
More than 25,000 aspiring singers auditioned for Australian Idol this year.
For the first time, the national audition tour included Alice Springs, Broken Hill, Byron Bay, Mount Isa and Albury-Wodonga.
The hopefuls were then whittled down to the top 12, including pin-up boy Dean Geyer, who made it to the final three but was knocked out last week, leaving Mauboy and Leith to battle it out for the title.
To recover from dismal ratings of the past, Australian Idol emerged with a revamped format that included shorter semi-finals, the use of instruments and performers singing their own songs.
This helped the program rate an average of 1.6 million viewers weekly.
Last year's finale between winner DeAraugo and Emily Williams attracted a national audience of 1.9 million viewers, compared to the 3.35 million viewers who watched Donovan claim victory over Callea in 2004.
The first series finale between Sebastian and Shannon Noll attracted 3.32 million viewers.
Leith's debut single, Night Of My Life, is available for digital downloads now and is in stores on Tuesday.