"Kate stoked, Anthony 'meh' " Daily Tele 27/11/06

[dededom]

A new chapter for Irish Idol

November 27, 2006 12:00

Article from: origin.www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20826516-5006002,00.html

DAMIEN Leith's stunning victory in Australian Idol was given a seal of approval from former stars of the show Kate De Araugo and Anthony Callea in their exclusive blog for The Daily Telegraph Online.

[http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sydneyconfidential/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/diva_and_the_dude_live_and_exclusive/]

Expat Irishman Leith won the fourth series of Australian Idol in one of the closest contests in the Network Ten program's history.

He sang two songs, including his new single Night Of My Life, written by Adam Reily, to defeat Northern Territory singer Jessica Mauboy in the final concert at the Sydney Opera House.

De Araugo, who won the series last year, said she "was stoked" by his victory.

"I'm so happy that Damien won, I love him," she said in our blog. "I wanted him to win but didn;t expect him to. I don't think he exoected to either - his reaction was great."

Callea, who has just released latest album A New Chapter, agreed that both finalists "did really well".

Read the duo's comments on Idol, their own booming careers and more at our blog by clicking here.

Leith, a 30-year-old pharmacist, who lives with his wife Eileen and baby son Jarvis in the inner Sydney suburb of Newtown, was soaking up his success today.

Leith, originally from County Kildare in Ireland, quit his job at a pharmaceutical company only this week to focus on his musical career, joining fellow Australian winners Guy Sebastian, Casey Donovan and Kate DeAraugo.

Over the course of the competition, Leith has wooed judges Marcia Hines, Mark Holden and Kyle Sandilands with his operatic/rock edge vocal tones.

His unique style won him a record four touchdowns from Holden and tonight the ultimate prize, a recording contract with Sony BMG.

His first single is available for digital download here and will be released commercially on November 28.

In a departure from previous years, Leith recorded the song using his own arrangements and gave creative input into song production.

This change is one of many to the program's 2006 format, including allowing contestants to showcase original songs during a special live performance program and use instruments.

Leith's debut album will be released in the coming weeks.

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 Townsville.

The hopefuls were then whittled down to the top 12 – Ricky Muscat, Chris Murphy, Bobby Flynn, Dean Geyer, Lisa Mitchell, Guy Mutton, Joseph Gatehau, Reigan Derry, Lavina Williams, Klancie Keough, Mauboy and Leith.

Looking dazed but happy, Leith hugged Mauboy as fans screamed and cheered at the announcement he had won.

He was initially lost for words and apologised for not having thought about what he was going to say.

"Oh my God, this is unbelievable, I've said it all night," Leith said.

"All I can say is this has been the greatest time of my life being in this show and everything that's come my way through this show...

"I'm speechless. I should have thought of something to say.

"All I can say is first of all to Jessica, she is the most beautiful, the most fabulous singer I've ever come across.

"I've been saying it all week, if I wasn't in the contest I would have been voting for her. I think she's absolutely amazing, and I really do mean that."

Mauboy had a huge smile on her face as she congratulated her rival, saying: "Good on you, Damien, good on you."

Leith also thanked his wife and baby for their support, as well the rest of his family, the fans and the Australian Idol crew

[dededom]

*methinks Anthony sees competition in Damien, Kate sees competition in Jessica - you do the math*

[dededom]

Oh the title to the thread is mine, not the Telegraph's!

[superstar]

Anthony said he wanted Jess to win - yeah, it's obvious he feels threatened by Damien. ;D
Kate - what a sweetheart! I like her, even though she was a dud as Idol last year.

[-- Janny --]

Anthony said he wanted Jess to win - yeah, it's obvious he feels threatened by Damien.

Oh come on, I'm pretty sure that they have quite different fanbase (though I fit nicely in both )

It's actually quite opposite - he actually said that Damien should win! I think he said something like "Musically and mentally, he is ready to take it to the next level"

[dededom]

I think they should raise the age. Kate was 19 (although she seemed older). But 16/17 is too young. They should finish school first.

[dleitful]

I see your "Prayer" and I raise you a "Nessun Dorma".
I really liked Kate and was the one I was hoping would win last year. Very likeable dork (another one!), and I really liked her voice (although I never recognise it when her songs are on the radio now )

[Mi chiamano Kami]

Yes, Kate is lovely. People can say what they like but I think she deserved to win and will do well in the future if given a chance. I agree the age should be raised - it drives me mad seeing all the young ones getting in over the older contestants when maybe one in a thousand kids that age would be ready for such a competition. I'm old enough to remember being that age and I know I wouldn't have been ready to do it.

Anthony was actually quite happy for Damien to win, I think. He did seem to lean towards Jess more, but I think he liked them both. If he does feel threatened he shouldn't - he and Damien are two completely different types of performers. There's room for both of them and I hope we have both of them for years to come!

[Trilly]

dleitful said:

I see your "Prayer" and I raise you a "Nessun Dorma".
I really liked Kate and was the one I was hoping would win last year. Very likeable dork (another one!), and I really liked her voice (although I never recognise it when her songs are on the radio now )

Bwahaha..fabulous! ;D..I ldislke AC.intently .*uuurgh*..great voice, but sooo plastic..

[-- Janny --]

I think they should raise the age. Kate was 19 (although she seemed older). But 16/17 is too young. They should finish school first.

Indeed. It's kind of disheartening to see some contestants drop high school because of Idol. I think raising the age to people who have completed high school is a good idea. At least you know that the contestants are mature enough and know exactly what they want to do in the future. No some teenagers who want to join Idol purely for getting famous

Bwahaha..fabulous! ;D..I ldislke AC.intently .*uuurgh*..great voice, but sooo plastic.

The last time I saw him and shook his hand, I'm pretty sure that he isn't made of plastic . But plastic is good, in other definition, means that he can stretch his genre and be versatile (and plastic lasts forever, it's not bio-degradable!!!). I just feel one vein popping up in my forehead whenever someone calls him, plastic - stop using Mark's phrase. Anyone's but Mark's.... or Kyle's -__-. Okay I'll shut up now...

[Mi chiamano Kami]

janny said:

But plastic is good, in other definition, means that he can stretch his genre and be versatile (and plastic lasts forever, it's not bio-degradable!!!).

That comment has just made my night. ;D

In all seriousness, I don't understand the 'plastic' tag at all. So he kind of overdid the fake tan at his first audition... heck, we all make mistakes. He can't help the fact that he looks pretty good and he's said he had a lot of singing and performing training which has made him appear very polished. Which is a stylistic thing. His shininess is as good a thing in its own way as Damien's random flailing about during performances. I enjoy watching both of them.

[dleitful]

ALways liked AC's singing but his mannerisms drove me batty. Thought he must've been a bit of a turd in real life. Then found out he went to the school my mother teaches at and asked her about him. Teachers and students liked him, and definitely not the prima donna that one might suspect, so I warmed to him more after that.

[irishrokit]

I like Anthony and yes he was backing Damo which makes me like him a bit more ;D

I think people read to much into everything celebs do when they are probably quite nice people. Anthony seems nice to me.

Speaking of mannerisms I couldn't stand those faces Ricky pulled when he sang, that was very annoying. And Bobby shaking his arm and body like he was drunk I really couldn't watch a whole concert of them. *prepares to be told off*

[Bahamagirl]

Sorry Janny, not a AC fan. Loved "The Prayer", but that's the only performance of his that I can remember. Much preferred the first Mr. Murphy and Chanel that year. Nessun Dorma was so much more impressive because Damien only had a week to prepare, whereas Anthony used to perform "The Prayer" all the time, didn't he? The Opera House performances were interesting because we could compare Damien directly with past Idol performers at the same venue. I thought that he blew everyone's doors off. ;D ;D

[flynn]

Kate knows a fantastic voice when she hears one! I have never been a fan of Anthony's either - Damien's the first bloke I've liked on the show! But I dont think that article really tells us much about what Anthony thought of damien.