Australian Idol continued tonight with judges Harry Connick Jr, Meghan Trainor, Kyle Sandilands and Amy Shark searching for the nation’s next global superstar.
All four judges were mesmerised by Perth student Angelina Curtis’ voice and piano-playing skills as she performed Split Enz’s Message To My Girl. A flabbergasted Harry said: “You’re fif-fricken-teen years old. You’re supposed to do this.”
With First Nations Australian Idol alumna Jessica Mauboy as his inspiration, music student Royston Sagigi-Baira, 23, travelled from Far North Queensland to audition for the judges. Singing I’m Not The Only One by Sam Smith, Meghan was entranced, declaring “I only have one word for you, and that word is SLAYYYY”, before celebrating with the latest golden ticket recipient.
Gold Coast-based brothers Angus and Bobby Holmes’ auditioned separately, but after learning the pair are related, the judges asked them to perform together. Singing Anyway You Want It by Journey with synchronised dancing, the brothers left the judges thinking they would be better suited to a band. Kyle said: “You were both great, but I think you’re better if I could fit a rubber band round both of you.” Giving them a chance, both are granted a golden ticket.
Harry travelled to Newcastle to surprise Piper Butcher, 18, at her home and asked her to audition on the spot. Her impromptu performance of Radioactive by Imagine Dragons left Harry wanting more.
“I would buy that tomorrow. Your voice is amazing, and your time is dead on. There are four of us judging, and I can assure you the other three would say exactly what I am saying and that is… welcome to the top 50.”
Maya Weis, a 28-year-old yoga instructor from Victoria, left a lasting impression on Amy with her version of Little Mix’s Wings. “I’m obsessed with your mouth,” Amy said. “You’ve got that Alanis Morrisette, Steven Tyler mouth that really opens up and I was just couldn’t stop looking at you. I was captivated. It’s so nice and refreshing when you’ve got it all happening at once.” With all judges tapping along and vibing with her performance, Maya secured a place in the next stage of the competition.
Some singers weren’t as successful with their auditions, with Brisbane author Ali Morris failing to arouse the judges with her sexual take on The Veronica’s Untouched. Despite her performer look, Chenai Boucher also failed to impress all four experts as she sang My Immortal by Evanescence.
Aspiring crooner Charlie Check caused a stir, as he refused to take on Harry’s feedback, while charismatic singing teacher Kaitlyn Thomas wowed the judges with her female empowering version of Redneck Woman by Gretchen Wilson and received a golden ticket.
Finally, it was Perth-based rugby player Taigh Wade, who turned to music after shattering his ankle. Despite Kyle saying he was “a bit rough round the edges”, the judges saw his raw talent when he performed Dancing On My Own by Calum Scott and gave him the chance to improve in the next stage of the competition.
Golden ticket winners
- Angelina Curtis – Message To My Girl by Split Enz
- Royston Sagigi-Baira – I’m Not The Only One by Sam Smith
- Angus Holmes – April Sun In Cuba by Dragon
- Bobby Holmes – Love Really Hurts Without You by Billy Ocean
- Holmes brothers – Anyway You Want It by Journey
- Piper Butcher – Radioactive by Imagine Dragons
- Maya Weis – Wings by Little Mix
- Charlie Chech – Come Fly With Me by Frank Sinatra
- Kaitlyn Thomas – Redneck Woman by Gretchen Wilson
- Taigh Wade – Dancing On My Own by Callum Scott
Tomorrow night on Australian Idol: As the top 50 takes shape, the stakes haven’t been higher and everyone wants a golden ticket.
Hey Kyle, re: your very short analysis of the “aspiring crooner” you described. His name is Charlie Chech, if you could pls correct this in your article. Secondly, he didn’t cause the stir, Harry Connick caused the stir. This nerve-wrecked 18 year old kid was fronting his all-time musical idol who clearly was going to play the “mean judge” role. He fronted a national audience, represented a genre that is atypical for these types of TV shows, and nailed it. His vocals and tone were out of this world. As for Harry, he could take a few lessons in humility. Google when Harry sang for Frank Sinatra, that time he “blanked out” apparently. Stop schooling and reprimanding Harry, not a good look.