news articles 15 december

[Inside Australian Idol]

Guy has world at his feet
December 15, 2003


AUSTRALIA'S World Idol hopeful Guy Sebastian arrived in London at the weekend all revved up to represent the nation in the global sing-off.


Guy Sebastian and Australian Idol judge Ian Dickson.

With just 24 hours to go until he takes centre stage, the pop star said he couldn't care less about winning.

But the 22-year-old is looking forward to the experience and touring London with Australian Idol judge Ian Dickson, who will be on the international jury.

He goes up against Idol winners from 10 countries, including the US, Germany, South Africa, and Lebanon, for the title.

"To me, it's just an awesome opportunity to meet people who went through the same things I went through, to share that with them, and see how they've grown," Sebastian said.

Auditions for Australian Idol II will be held around the country in April 2004. Already underway are plans to expand audition locations to take in Canberra, Hobart and Darwin for the first time. Auditions will also be held in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

The Daily Telegraph

entertainment.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4459,8167581%255E10431%255E%255Enbv,00.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Guy's King of Kmart
December 15, 2003 - 12:28PM

Reality TV show winner Guy Sebastian debuted at number one today on the ARIA chart with double platinum figures with sales coming mainly from the big department stores.

Sebastian's Just As I Am walked out of department stores like Kmart by the truckload along with new pairs of undies, socks and cheap clock radios. Just over 55% of all sales of the album came from department stores. Fewer than 14,000 units sold at independent music stores.

As of today, Just As I Am has sold two times platinum.

All in all it was a good week for music sales in Australia with the Top 10 accounting for around 380,000 album sales.

Delta Goodrem increased sales yet again selling a further 51,615 units in her 38th week on the chart. She is truly the Australian idol.

Red Hot Chili Peppers Greatest Hits sold 31,691 units, John Farnham's One Voice added in a further 25,375 sales and Powderfinger's Vulture Street clocked up a further 22,900 sales.

Christmas must be coming.

Australian singles chart

1(1) Angels Brought Me Here - Guy Sebastian (BMG)
2(2) Predictable - Delta Goodrem (EPI/SONY)
(3) Shut Up - Black Eyed Peas (UMA)
4 (6) Hey Ya - Outkast (ARI/BMG)
5(4) Me Against The Music - Britney Spears feat. Madonna (JIVE/BMG)
6(10) Behind Blue Eyes - Limp Bizkit (INR/UMA)
7(5) Baby Boy - Beyonce feat. Sean Paul (COL/SONY)
8(9) P.I.M.P. - 50 Cent (INR/UMA)
9(14) It's My Life - No Doubt (INR/UMA)
10(7) Into You - Fabolous (WARNER)

Australian albums chart

1(-) Just As I Am - Guy Sebastian (BMG)
2(1) Innocent Eyes - Delta Goodrem (EPI/SONY)
3(2) Greatest Hits - Red Hot Chili Peppers (WARNER)
4(3) One Voice: The Greatest Hits - John Farnham (GOTH/BMG)
5(5) Vulture Street - Powderfinger (UMA)
6(4) Life For Rent - Dido (CHE/BMG)
7(11) Live Summer - 2003 Robbie Williams (CAP/EMI)
8(6) No1's - Michael Jackson (EPI/SONY)
9(7) In Time: The Best Of R.E.M. 1988-2003 - R.E.M. (WARNER)
10(10) Elephunk - Black Eyed Peas (A&M/UMA)

www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/15/1071336865075.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Global Idol fancy arrives

15dec03

AUSTRALIA'S World Idol hopeful Guy Sebastian arrived in London at the weekend all revved up to represent the nation in the global sing-off.


Cold comfort: Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian rugs up for winter on his trip to London, where he will contest the World Idol final.

With just 24 hours to go until he takes centre stage, Sebastian said he couldn't care less about winning.
But the 22-year-old is looking forward to the experience and touring London with Australian Idol judge Ian Dickson, who will be on the international jury.

Sebastian goes up against Idol winners from 10 countries, including the US, Germany, South Africa and Lebanon, for the title.


www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,8164455%255E2902,00.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Just another Guy in London
Ben English, London
15dec03

GUY Sebastian yesterday capitalised on his obscurity outside Australia to play tourist for a day.

The afro-topped Australian Idol took in most of the British capital's attractions, including the giant London Eye ferris wheel, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace.
Sebastian said he was relishing the chance to traipse the city's streets without being recognised.

"The celebrity thing is great but it's also cool to walk around just like everybody else," he said.

"I'm ecstatic to be here - I've always wanted to come to London. There's so much history.

"Coming here, it's just sinking in what has happened to me. It's happened so fast I'm still getting used to it."

Sebastian said he was looking forward to tomorrow night's World Idol showdown, when he takes on Idols from around the globe at a recording studio in Wembley.

Sebastian this weekend smashed the Australian sales record with his debut album, Just as I Am. The album has received 426,000 orders.

www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,8166329%255E2902,00.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Top spot for Guy
December 15, 2003

Heavenly creatures continue to be kind to Australian Idol King Guy Sebastian again this week, with his hit Angels Brought Me Here remaining on top of the singles chart.

Sebastian's debut album, Just As I Am, has also gone straight to number one in the albums chart.

His success is being closely contested by pop princess Delta Goodrem, who maintains the second spot in both charts, with her new single Predictable and her album Innocent Eyes.

Australian singles chart

1(1) Angels Brought Me Here - Guy Sebastian (BMG)
2(2) Predictable - Delta Goodrem (EPI/SONY)
3(3) Shut Up - Black Eyed Peas (UMA)
4(6) Hey Ya - Outkast (ARI/BMG)
5(4) Me Against The Music - Britney Spears feat. Madonna (JIVE/BMG)
6(10) Behind Blue Eyes - Limp Bizkit (INR/UMA)
7(5) Baby Boy - Beyonce feat. Sean Paul (COL/SONY)
8(9) P.I.M.P. - 50 Cent (INR/UMA)
9(14) It's My Life - No Doubt (INR/UMA)
10(7) Into You - Fabolous (WARNER)

Australian albums chart

1(-) Just As I Am - Guy Sebastian (BMG)
2(1) Innocent Eyes - Delta Goodrem (EPI/SONY)
3(2) Greatest Hits - Red Hot Chili Peppers (WARNER)
4(3) One Voice: The Greatest Hits - John Farnham (GOTH/BMG)
5(5) Vulture Street - Powderfinger (UMA)
6(4) Life For Rent - Dido (CHE/BMG)
7(11) Live Summer - 2003 Robbie Williams (CAP/EMI)
8(6) No1's - Michael Jackson (EPI/SONY)
9(7) In Time: The Best Of R.E.M. 1988-2003 - R.E.M. (WARNER)
10(10) Elephunk - Black Eyed Peas (A&M/UMA)

- AAP

www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/15/1071336858838.html