The final night of Transformation Week left the judges floored as the last four contestants scored their coveted spot in the Australian Idol Top 12.
Over three epic nights, the contestants stunned with mind-blowing make overs and serious vocal power, delivering outstanding performances to prove why they belong in the Top 12.
Judges Kyle Sandilands, Marcia Hines and Amy Shark were allocated one fast pass each to advance someone directly to the Top 12, despite what their fellow judges thought.
Imogen Spendlove, 23 from Victoria, knocked it out of the park and secured Marcia’s fast pass with her performance of From This Moment On by Shania Twain.
Supermarket worker Isaac McCallum, 23 from Ulladulla, NSW, was left in tears after Amy awarded the “underdog” her fast pass for his performance of Say You Won’t Let Go by James Arthur.
Emotional, Amy said:
“To see you shine tonight is so incredible. We need to protect people like you. You are such a superstar.”
After Kyle’s harsh words following the trolley pushers’ recent stumbles, he told Issac:
“That was excellent. I love your voice. You’ve got a gift… My wife said to me when we were watching the show back ‘oh nice empathy’ when I had a go at you for forgetting the words.”
“You and I have something in common, the homelessness. I forget sometimes how invisible we want to feel when we’re there. You want to shrink into the smallest thing. You don’t want to be noticed, you don’t want to speak, you just want to live.”
Kyle continued:
“You do have something special we want to hear what you have to say. Don’t be quiet don’t be nervous just be you, you did a great job.”
Grateful, Issac said:
“Thank you for allowing me to come this far in the competition, I love you guys. Thank you for all the support.”
Kyle used his fast pass to ensure 21-year-old Sunshine Coast surfer Tyler Hammill progressed in the competition, after his performance of Waves by Dean Lewis fell short of his best.
Seventeen-year-old Kiani Smith, from Bribie Island, Queensland, stepped out of her comfort zone performing without her guitar.
“I want to show the judges age doesn’t stop me,” Kiani declared, before her rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s Rhiannon – her mum Michelle’s favourite song – received a standing ovation.
Wowed, Marcia said:
“That was spellbinding.”
Hip-hop star TJ Zimba’s mesmerising take on Justin Bieber’s Peaches had the crowd chanting his name as the 24-year-old from Karratha, WA, revealed: “Being different is not a set back at all, it’s a superpower.”
While the judges agreed TJ still has work to do on his vocals, Kyle called him a “genius.” Amy said “you blew my mind … I could watch you all night.”
After making the Top 12, a shocked TJ fell to his knees: “I don’t cry, this is crazy… I really wanted to show people like me can do what I do and show that you need to stop ignoring WA because no one comes to us, no one gives us opportunities and today that changes!”
Twenty-four-year-old Amy Reeves from Broome, WA, delivered a breathtaking rendition of Aretha Franklin’s Think, leaving the judges impressed. Especially taken was Marcia, who noted “the show must go on,” after Amy revealed she was unwell in the lead up to her performance.
Kyle said:
“If I wasn’t on this show, I would sign you to a 10-million-dollar deal immediately.”
Australian Idol’s Top 12 have collaborated to release a soulful rendition of George Michael’s iconic Freedom! ’90, available to stream or download here from Friday, 23 February.
Don’t miss their epic live group performance in Tuesday’s live results show.
Next week on Australian Idol: Live TV is back! The Top 12 compete live-to-air to fight for their place in the competition.
Watch performance highlights:
Kiani Smith – Rhiannon, Fleetwood Mac
Tyler Hammill – Waves, Dean Lewis
Amy Reeves – Think, Aretha Franklin
The Australian Idol Top 12:
• Amy Reeves, 24, Broome, WA
• Denvah Baker-Moller, 23, Rockhampton, QLD
• Drea Onamade , 25, Perth, WA
• Dylan Wright, 30, Bangalow, NSW
• Imogen Spendlove, 23, Melbourne, VIC
• Isaac Mccallum, 23, Ulladulla, NSW
• Ivana Ilic, 20, Mill Park, VIC
• Kiani Smith, 17, Bribie Island, QLD
• Ripley Alexander, 19, Brisbane, QLD
• TJ Zimba, 24, Karratha, WA
• Trent Richardson, 22, Emu Park, QLD
• Tyler Hammill, 21, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Thanks for that Kyle! Is Idol being sent out live for real this year or “as live” pre-recorded with a live results show like last year?
Also i really believe we, the public, should go back to voting our own top 12 like years past letting the judges determine a top 12 just doesn’t quite work because half the people we loved got the boot. If the public decides and people miss out then it’s our own fault. Remember the good old does of seeing them sing with a small audience in the funky set and we voted on groups of 8 with a wildcard round/vote which was how Anthony Callea eventually got through. Anyway just my 2c worth anyway haha I just feel the constant judges picking becomes too much like the voice.