Review of Carols in the Domain

[purplegraciegirl]

www.smh.com.au/news/national/christmas-is--a-loving-tribute-to-belinda/2006/12/16/1166162374011.html

Christmas is... a loving ... Tribute to Belinda

Amanda Carlin
December 17, 2006

CAROLS In The Domain favourite Belinda Emmett, who died last month from cancer, was there in spirit last night as her brother Shane, 30, performed a duet with a recording of Belinda singing Christmas Is from 1997.

Entertainer Rachael Beck said it was amazing how well Shane kept his composure before tens of thousands of fans, some of whom had camped at the venue on Friday.

"He looked to the sky a lot, drawing strength from her. It was the biggest performance of the night," she said.

Australian Idol winner Damien Leith took to the stage last night for his first Carols and his last Australian performance of the year.

"What a great way to end off the year," he said. And it was all but confirmed that Leith's debut CD, The Winner's Journey, will today hit No. 1 and is likely to break sales records.

Last year, Leith was in the audience with his wife, Eileen, and son, Jarvis, now 16 months, and never expected he would be up on stage 12 months later.

Before getting on the stage he was nervous, he said, but his performance of Hallelujah was flawless.

Also on stage last night were Guy Sebastian, Human Nature, Deni Hines, the Young Divas and the Wiggles with new yellow Wiggle Sam Moran.

At the close the crowd stood, candles in hand, and sang along to a medley of favourite carols and watched a spectacular fireworks display.
Source: The Sun-Herald

[dleitful]

What a fantastic article, very glowing !! (I went all weepy when Shane sang, you'd have to have a heart of stone to not have surely).
Breaking record sales?? All but confirmed?? Where do they get their info?! I demand transparent news reporting Ms Carlin!!! Oooh all very exciting!

[christyl]

Of course it was wonderful to get yet another glimpse of our Idol, but I was soooo disapointed that there was ...what...three? four? songs from Human Nature (now on my most disliked list for their comments about our Damo...and I couldn't help noticing that, individually, their voices were VERY ordinary), three? from the Young Divas (who should have Emily or Paulini singing centre stage, not Kate), at least three from the Wiggles...and only one from our honey....

Can you imagine him singing something like "Oh Holy Night" * siiighhhh*

And then - but I guess I'm prejudiced! - at the end when they were all singing, they hardly panned his end of the row at all....focused on the pretteh girls instead....I was there going "nooooooooo.....show us DAMIEN!!"

Its kind of funny, the few glimpses I saw, he definitely didn't look as comfortable as he was singing with the Idol group...looked a bit overwhelmed, actually...lol

I loved it that in the article it said that he, Eileen and Jarvis were in the crowd last year watching....how sweet!!

[winterlong]

purplegraciegirl said:

Australian Idol winner Damien Leith took to the stage last night for his first Carols and his last Australian performance of the year.

"What a great way to end off the year," he said. And it was all but confirmed that Leith's debut CD, The Winner's Journey, will today hit No. 1 and is likely to break sales records.

Last year, Leith was in the audience with his wife, Eileen, and son, Jarvis, now 16 months, and never expected he would be up on stage 12 months later.

Before getting on the stage he was nervous, he said, but his performance of Hallelujah was flawless.

I take it from this little gem that:

• he will be doing a performance of some sort (promotional?) in Ireland..yes, I'm reading between some narrow lines here!
  
• whilst breaking sales records is not the be all and end all of musical success......SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
  
• it must be a very surreal experience to be in the crowd one year and a featured star the next.... and I hope quite a lovely experience too, for his whole family!
  
• this journo is also under ze spell.... ;D
  

Thanks for the post purps

[dededom]

I wonder (I'll have to check) if Amanda Carlin was the reporter who wrote a report months ago about how she was at a hens night at the Balmain Bowling Club a year ago, and Damien came on to sing in the corner, and none of them could draaaag themselves away for a few hours.

[purplegraciegirl]

winterlong said:

Thanks for the post purps

You are most welcome, my dear!

[dededom]

This is the article I was thinking of - it's by Christine Sams (but maybe cos she refers to "colleague" there is a den of Damienites working at Fairfax??? tteeeee heeeee)

www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/not-pretty-enough/2006/08/27/1156617207947.html

Heres an article dated 27th August

Not Pretty Enough?

CAN a man with crooked teeth be the next Australian Idol? Judge Kyle Sandilands didn't seem to think so during the first audition by Damien Leith, below, when he labelled the singer too "ugly". But despite Sandilands's comments, Leith scraped through to the top 100 and, because of his angelic singing voice, finds himself a contestant in the top 24.

Completely coincidentally, during a colleague's hens' party at the Balmain Bowling Club in Sydney about a year ago, I was among a group of women (aged from their early 20s to early 30s) who chanced upon a Sunday afternoon performance by Leith. The hens' party had been just about to depart the venue when the Irishman set up in the corner to play a few tunes. We stayed for hours.

Not only did Leith play and sing beautifully, he encouraged a sing-song among punters and had the whole room mesmerised. Sandilands might not believe it, but women of all ages were swooning.

Leith's potential for widespread popularity has been backed up by the Australian Idol forums, where Leith has earned a fervent following, with one fan dubbing him as "the next Kurt Nilsen" (the gap-toothed Norwegian who won World Idol).

Who knows whether Leith, 30, can actually win Idol, but it's heartening to know he's got a chance. Go Damien!

Source: The Sun-Herald

[purplegraciegirl]

dededom said:

This is the article I was thinking of - it's by Christine Sams
Source: The Sun-Herald

Yes, I loved this article too, Dededom.

[flynn]

Noice!! I reckon damien's over-whelmed look and miss-cue with the medley is just a product of him relaxing and getting caught up in the excitement of the moment. The Carols night - particularly the medley - is a chance to really just have fun and marvel in his shoot to fame - all the celebs mess up during it and most of them start dancing around like their at home in their own lounge room hahaha. I think the one's who try to look all serious and perfect just arent getting into the spirit of the thing (*cough* Denni Hines*cough*).

The medley's really about that gorgeous choir keeping the songs together LOL

I thought Damien was sweet

[auntybesure]

It's great that the journo focussed on Damo (as well as Belinda Emmett's brother) out of all the other great performers that were there at the Carols...Good on you D. I think he's bashing down all the preconceived idol stigma. It's fentarstic. People just can't help but like him. Aw.