Isn't it great to have all of those auditions out of the way and in just over a week, we've reduced the Top 100 down to 24 and tonight, the first group will perform.

In what is a world first in an industry that has changed dramatically over the last decade, Australian Idol is also providing this years winner with more than just a management and recording contract. This year, the winner will also walk away with a $200,000 artist development grant which will go a good way towards kicking off their career.

Enough with the babble though.

Chrislyn Hamilton
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Proud Mary

I know it's always hard to be first, but that really was a little dull. It was nothing more than karaoke with an overdone and terrible song choice. Why the judges talked her up is beyond me.

Mitchell Steele
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Life Is a Highway

Good song choice but this country bumpkin is well out of his depth. Perhaps it's the nerves. He's a great character for the show but he's not a complete package.

Jaden Dowd
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Finally

Great song choice. Poor delivery. London's a long way to come from to perform like that. Jaden seems to have the ability to take to the stage but vocally it was fairly average. Dicko was on the money saying that it was like an office piss up. Good call!

And look, there's a car for the winner as well.

Olly Corpe
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Wonderful World

Where's that transpose button when you need it. Olly seems to be struggling with the song as it's just a tad too low for him. Reasonable song choice but I was expecting a little more.

Nicole Banks
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Black and Gold

Now this is what I've been waiting for. Finally, someone who seems to be taking the competition seriously. An original take on a great song that declares business. Go the Ginga!

Wes Carr
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Times Like These

Awesome! Simply a superb performance. That was by far a performance worthy of the Top 12. Solid, accomplished and professional.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Wes and Nicole were by far the performers of the night. I've already forgotten the names of the other four. Barely worth the 30 minutes of television they wasted.

Dont forget to vote! Tomorrow night it will be the turn of Amanda Grafanakis, Brooke Wilkie, Luke Dickens, Natalie Colavito, Thanh Bui and Tom Williams