Australian Idol Semi Final 3 - Top 24 (Live)

Through to Finals: Ashleigh Toole and Nathan Brake

Sony/BMG must be crapping themselves at the moment, sure, both Ashleigh Toole and Nathan Brake are nice underdog contestants, but no Casey and no Lauren would be putting fear in the minds of those people who are in power.  channel ten may have to do some quick thinking if they actually want a show this year…

Daniel Raso

You To Me Are Everything

Daniel is up first singing the song “You to Me are Everything”

This is such an odd song selection for a contestant to pull out  in the Semi finals, but I shouldn’t be surprised by now, the contestants that are chosen regularly chose weird songs…

Daniel’s voice is clean and crisp, he does miss a note here and there though and he looks like he’s comfortable and happy on stage, the tune is catchy but it’s not a standout yet..

Judge’s Comments:

Daniel, it is nice to have a shiny happy contestant, but I have to think about where we would place you, but it’s more a warm up act for the Wiggles than anything.  I’m not getting it, at the moment you present to me like a children’s television presenter with musical inspirations.

Marcia: What you have to do is ALWAYS STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF. my only criticism is watch your pitch.

Jay-Dee: Have you thought about what we talked about before? I agree with Marcia and Dicko, go back and think.

Aliqua Mao
I will Always Love You

Whitney Housten is one of the worst performers to choose for an Idol show, it’s been shown over and over and over again in the US show and the Australian show that if you do this song you’ll die.

This performance is weak at best, pitchy, uncomfortable, nervous, sure she’s cute but yeck…

What was going on in her mind when she chose this damn song to sing?  thousands of songs out there that are cool, fun, nice and easier to sing and she chooses a song that is way out of her league and oh so old…

And was it just me, or did she look like she was in pain for the entire performance?

Judge’s Comments:

Marcia: We always have discussions about songs, and we think that a song like that might be a bit too much, I don’t anymore, you did a great job.

Jay-Dee: I think you did a good job, but I’m still thinking that you may be a couple years from where you need to be, I wish you all the best.

Dicko: I’ve one word, why? You’re a great girl, with all those hip songs to choose from but you sang an older song which made you look so much out of your depth. It’s like we flip a coin and we either get crazy and great Aliqua or something else… You look like you’re wearing your mothers clothes and have been flicking through their cd collection.

Nicole Banks
Viva La Vida

Nicole Banks has been there and done this before and failed badly and now, singing Coldplay is the first contestant to choose a great song to perform.

That being said, her voice doesn’t seem to carry this song too well, it doesn’t show off a great vocal range, nor does it allow her to use the stage well.

This ended up being a messy performance, vocally patchy and rather uncomfortable to listen to…
this is her second time round, which Lauren just found out doesn’t guarantee a place in the finals, who knows how Australia will vote?

Judge’s Comments:

Jay-Dee: Nicole, I was really scared when I heard you were going to sing that song, but I think you did a good job, well done.

Dicko: Very tough to place you as an artist, not the best vocal, but I like that you’re staying true to the theatrical side, and doing some interesting things with some alternative songs, well done.

Marcia: Quirky is raelly good, you have some interesting timber in yourself, and you’re STAYING TRUE TO YOURSELF. Well done Nicole

Jason Bartlett
Tears in Heaven

Father of two Jason came on stage to sing a song that really shouldn’t be sung at this point of time in the competition. It looked like the performance was a strain on the guy, but more of a strain on the audience.

I’m seriously wondering if any of these contestants have paid attention to previous shows and taken notes of song death picks.

Sure, he sung it well, but I fell asleep.

It won’t see him on the finals, and if it does then we’ll see some stressed out judges in a few weeks…

*edit* note how hard it was for the Judges to say, “well done, you’ve had your go, now go home and be happy”?

Judge’s Comments:

Dicko: It’s great to see you singing here on stage, because we love you. You’ve really really improved and got better and better. that’s your best performance but the trick is if it’s good enough to get into the top 24.  Well done.

Marcia: I just have to say that once you got over your nerves it was just sweet, that’s what you’re going to have to fight, you’ll have to fight those nerves. Well done.

Jay-Dee: I just love your heart, these guys have said it all. Just go for it with whatever you do.

Scott Newnham
Run It

This is the fairytale of the competition, good ol Brikkie turned Idol hopeful.
I’ll be honest, I haven’t typed much because I was too busy laughing and crying, even now I can’t see my screen clearly…
Just
So
Funny
And oh so obviously helped by the band, cameras and backing vocals, I couldn’t tell the difference between him and the backing vocals.

Judge’s Comments:

Marcia: Oh Man. This is why I love Australian Idol. I am so very happy for you, I am really happy for you. You did great.

Jay-Dee: To the band, that was outstanding. Now, young man I’m excited, and when I’m excited I cant keep it in. You could find yourself with a niche in this country, keep yourself focussed and youll get yourself there.

 

Dicko: What is it with ladies and tradies? The guys have said it all, you are doing something that noone is doing in this competition, you’re not running with the crowd and thats great. And Marcia said pitch perfect.

Sabrina Batshon
Hush Hush

Ok, possibly the most entertaining performance of the night, with a song choice that was fraught with danger, not only did she survive, but she did well and was fun to listen to.

vocally she was spot on and she seemed to be very comfortable and happy to be on the stage, this was not forced.

Judge’s Comments:

Jay-Dee: How did that feel? You knocked it out of the park, I think you have real potential as a recording artist. I know you can sing anything, I just need you to give me a little sign.

Dicko: I reckon that while you were banging out of that tune I think the Mardi Gras organisers were thinking “we have a headliner”. It’s so nice and refreshing to see you doing a pop song, well done.

Marcia: What makes me happy is to see you up there being so happy, well done.