Australian Idol (season 7)Finalists Stan Walker Winner Hayley Warner Runner-up James Johnston15 November Nathan Brake8 November Toby Moulton1 November Kate Cook25 October Kim Cooper18 October Scott Newnham11 October Tim Johnston4 October Sabrina Batshon27 September Casey Barnes20 September Ashleigh Toole13 September The seventh season of Australian Idol began on 9 August 2009, to determine who would succeed season 6 winner, Wes Carr. Beginning amid controversy, judge Kyle Sandilands was replaced by Sony Music record executive, Jay Dee Springbett. It was the only season where the top four contestants were eighteen years old or younger. Stan Walker was declared the winner on 22 November 2009.
Overview
Format changes Ian Dickson, and Marcia Hines returned as judges; however, long-term judge Kyle Sandilands was sacked after causing controversy on his radio show prior to the premiere, although he was still present for the auditions as they had been pre-recorded some weeks earlier. On 23 August 2009, it was announced on the Idol show that the new judge taking over Kyle Sandilands' spot would be Jay Dee Springbett. Andrew G returned as host, with assistance from Ricki-Lee Coulter due to the departure of James Mathison. The first auditions saw guest judge Brian McFadden join the panel, and his then fiancée Delta Goodrem acted as a guest judge for the Sydney auditions.
A further change was also decided for the Top 12 round eliminations. The Monday-night elimination show was axed in favour of a two-hour 'super Sunday' elimination/ performance show, in which a contestant was eliminated according to votes tallied the previous week, followed by performances.
Auditions The auditions were held at the following locations:
Town/City State Arena/Area DateDarwinNorthern TerritoryCrowne Plaza22 MarchCairns QueenslandShangri-La Hotel24 MarchMackayCQ University, Conservatorium of Music26 MarchTamworth New South WalesTamworth Regional Entertainment Centre29 MarchBathurstBathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre1 AprilNewcastleNewcastle Jockey Club5 AprilPerthWestern AustraliaPerth Convention & Exhibition Centre19 AprilHobartTasmaniaHotel Grand Chancellor21 AprilAdelaideSouth AustraliaAdelaide Convention Centre26 AprilAlburyNew South WalesAlbury Convention Centre28 AprilMelbourneVictoriaFlemington Racecourse Event Centre1, 2 & 3 MayBrisbaneQueenslandSouth Bank Piazza9 & 10 MaySydneyNew South WalesAustralian Technology Park16, 17 & 18 May
Semi-finals These aired on the week of 24 to 27 August, allowing viewers to vote. The "Wildcard" Performance Show followed on Sunday, 30 August, with live results revealed the following week, on 6 September.
FemalesMalesNicole BanksCasey BarnesSabrina BatshonDarcy LeeKate CookNathan BrakeKim CooperSeth DruryJamila IoaneAdam EckersleyLucie JohnsonJames JohnstonAliqua MaoTim JohnstonTenielle MuslinToby MoultonLauren StreetScott NewnhamAshleigh TooleDaniel RasoMarijana TopalovicStan WalkerHayley WarnerEd Zaidan
Group 1
Hayley Warner – "Cryin' Shame" (Diesel) Seth Drury – "You Found Me" (The Fray) Jamila Ioane – "For Once in My Life" (Stevie Wonder)
Toby Moulton – "Yellow" (Coldplay) Kate Cook – "Your Mama Don't Dance" (Loggins and Messina) Stan Walker – "If I Ain't Got You" (Alicia Keys)
Advancing to the Top 12: Stan Walker & Kate Cook Wild Card Contenders: Hayley Warner & Toby Moulton
Group 2
Ashleigh Toole – "Hurt" (Christina Aguilera) Adam Eckersley – "All Fired Up" (Pat Benatar) Marijana Topalovic – "It Must Have Been Love" (Roxette)
Lauren Street – "You Oughta Know" (Alanis Morissette) Casey Barnes – "Her Diamonds" (Rob Thomas) Nathan Brake – "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (Elton John)
Advancing to the Top 12: Ashleigh Toole & Nathan Brake Wild Card Contenders: Lauren Street & Casey Barnes
Group 3
Daniel Raso – "You to Me Are Everything" (The Real Thing) Aliqua Mao – "I Will Always Love You" (Whitney Houston) Nicole Banks – "Viva la Vida" (Coldplay)
Jason Bartlett – "Tears in Heaven" (Eric Clapton) Scott Newnham – "Run It!" (Chris Brown) Sabrina Batshon – "Hush Hush" (Pussycat Dolls)
Advancing to the Top 12: Sabrina Batshon & Scott Newnham Wild Card Contender: Aliqua Mao
Group 4
Kim Cooper – "Waking Up in Vegas" (Katy Perry) Ed Zaidan – "Foreign Land" (Eskimo Joe) Lucie Johnson – "Sweet Dreams" (Beyoncé Knowles)
Tim Johnston – "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" (Stevie Wonder) Tenielle Muslin – "Love Story" (Taylor Swift) James Johnston – "Crazy" (Gnarls Barkley)
Advancing to the Top 12: James Johnston & Kim Cooper Wild Card Contenders: Ed Zaidan, Lucie Johnson, Tim Johnston & Tenielle Muslin
Wildcard
Lucie Johnson – "Boogie Wonderland" (Earth, Wind and Fire) Casey Barnes – "Never Say Never (Don't Let Me Go)" (The Fray) Aliqua Mao – "The Power of Love" (Celine Dion) Lauren Street – "Low" (Kelly Clarkson) Tim Johnston – "Yesterday" (The Beatles)
Ed Zaidan – "White Noise" (The Living End) Tenielle Muslin – "Kiss Me" (Sixpence None the Richer) Toby Moulton – "With or Without You" (U2) Hayley Warner – "I Do Not Hook Up" (Kelly Clarkson)
Advancing to the Top 12 through the Public vote: Toby Moulton and Hayley Warner Advancing to the Top 12 through the Judges picks: Casey Barnes and Tim Johnston
Weekly Song Themes Date Week Theme Mentor/Guest Judge 6 September Top 12 Contestant's Choice none 13 September Top 11 Rock Night Suzi Quatro 20 September Top 10 Top 10 HitsBrian McFadden 27 September Top 9 1980s Ross Wilson 4 October Top 8 P!nk Song Hits none 11 October Top 7 Big Band James Morrison / Harry Connick, Jr. 18 October Top 6 Movie / Theatre Night Liza Minnelli 25 October Top 5 Contestant's Choice none 1 November Top 4 Noughties Week Joel and Benji Madden 8 November Top 3 Power Anthems Pete Wentz (Guest Judge) 15 November Top 2 Contestant's Choice and Winner's Single Michael Bublé
Group/Guest Performances Week Performer(s) Title Top 12 none N/A Top 11 Suzi Quatro Devil Gate Drive Top 10 Top 11 Don't Stop Believin' Top 9 Top 10 Girls on Film Top 8 Top 9 Get the Party Started Top 7 Top 8 (If I Could) Whisper Your Name Top 7 Harry Connick, Jr. The Way You Look Tonight Top 6 Liza Minnelli Cabaret Top 5 Top 6 Before the Worst Top 4 Joel and Benji Madden Dance Floor Anthem (I Don't Want to Be in Love) Top 3 Top 4 We Built This City Top 2 Top 3 Medley – Purple Rain, Crazy & Somebody Told Me
The Top 12 Finalists
Stan Walker
Stan Walker was born in October 1990. Although residing in Australia for the past three and a half years, Stan grew up in Hamilton and Tauranga, New Zealand. He works in retail. He has the Māori word ataahua (meaning "beautiful") tattooed on his neck.
Audition: "Ordinary People" (John Legend) Theatre Week (Round 1): "Jesus Loves Me" Theatre Week (Round 2): "Use Somebody" (Kings of Leon) Theatre Week (Round 3): "Let's Stay Together" (Al Green) Top 24: "If I Ain't Got You" (Alicia Keys) Top 12: "Umbrella" (Rihanna) Top 11: "Nothing Else Matters" (Metallica) Top 10: "Straight Lines" (Silverchair) Top 9: "Purple Rain" (Prince and The Revolution) Top 8: "Dear Mr. President" (P!nk) Top 7: "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (Beyoncé) Top 6: "Circle of Life" (Elton John) Top 6: "We Will Rock You" (Queen) Top 5: "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen) Top 5: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) Top 4: "The Climb" (Miley Cyrus) Top 4: "Let Me Love You" (Mario) Top 3: "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" (Chris Tomlin) Top 3: "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" (James Brown) Top 3: "Eye of the Tiger" (Survivor) Top 2: "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" (Bee Gees) Top 2: "Superstar" (Luther Vandross) Top 2: "Sweet Dreams" (Beyoncé) Top 2: "Black Box" (Winner's Single) – Winner
Hayley Warner
Hayley Warner was born on 23 January 1992 in Sydney. She was the lead singer of her band, Bleached Academy and worked in retail at a surf shop. She was also related to a young and upcoming New South Wales cricket player David Warner.
Audition: "Daughters" (John Mayer) Theatre Week (Round 1): N/A Theatre Week (Round 2): "Human" (The Killers) Theatre Week (Round 3): "Sober" (P!nk) Top 24: "Cryin' Shame" (Diesel) Wildcard: "I Do Not Hook Up" (Kelly Clarkson) Top 12: "Light Surrounding You" (Evermore) Top 11: "Misery Business" (Paramore) Top 10: "Leave (Get Out)" (JoJo) Top 9: "Dancing in the Dark" (Bruce Springsteen) Top 8: "Funhouse" (Pink) Top 7: "Tainted Love" (Gloria Jones) Top 6: "These Days" (Powderfinger) Top 6: "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" (Frankie Valli) Top 5: "Somebody Told Me" (The Killers) Top 5: "Stone Cold Sober" (Paloma Faith) Top 4: "I Don't Care" (Fall Out Boy) Top 4: "Heavy Cross" (Gossip) Top 3: "Bitter Sweet Symphony" (The Verve) Top 3: "New Sensation" (INXS) Top 3: "One" (U2) Top 2: "For Once in My Life" (Stevie Wonder) Top 2: "UFO" (Sneaky Sound System) Top 2: "Don't Stop the Music" (Rihanna) Top 2: "Good Day" (Winner's Single) – Runner up
James Johnston
James Johnston was born on 26 November 1990 in Wingham, New South Wales. He was a part of Starstruck in 2005, performing in front of thousands. He prefers the acoustic/rock style of music.
Audition: "Your Body Is a Wonderland" by John Mayer Theatre Week (Round 1): "You'll Never Walk Alone" from the show Carousel Theatre Week (Round 2): N/A Theatre Week (Round 3): "No Such Thing" John Mayer Top 24: "Crazy" Gnarls Barkley Top 12: "How to Save a Life" The Fray Top 11: "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" Fall Out Boy Top 10: "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" Train Top 9: "The Power of Love" Huey Lewis and the News Top 8: "Who Knew" P!nk Top 7: "Fever" Peggy Lee Top 6: "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" Queen Top 6: "You'll Never Walk Alone" (from the show Carousel) Top 5: "Mercy" (Duffy) Top 5: "Use Somebody" (Kings of Leon) Top 4: "Daughters" By John Mayer Top 4: "This Is How a Heart Breaks" (Rob Thomas) Top 3: "More Than Words" (Extreme) Top 3: "Hold the Line" (Toto) Top 3: "Learn to Fly" (Foo Fighters) – Eliminated on 15 November
Nathan Brake Nathan Brake was born on 27 July 1991 in Guildford, Sydney. He was a student at the Australian International Performing Arts High School. He is the lead singer of his band, Ackolade. Nathan has since performed at a number of events including the 2009 Melbourne Christmas carols with Ricki Lee Coulter.
Nathan Brake has an unofficial fan site Nathan Nation where upcoming events are mentioned and contains a forum for fans.
Audition: "Bohemian Rhapsody" (Queen) Theatre Week (Round 1): "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (The Temptations) Theatre Week (Round 2): "To the Moon and Back"(Savage Garden) Theatre Week (Round 3): "We Are the Champions" (Queen) Top 24: "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (Elton John) Top 12: "Stop and Stare" (OneRepublic) Top 11: "Second Chance" (Shinedown) Top 10: "Since U Been Gone" (Kelly Clarkson) Top 9: "Livin' on a Prayer" (Bon Jovi) Top 8: "Just Like a Pill" (P!nk) Top 7: "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" (Duke Ellington) Top 6: "Thriller" (Michael Jackson) Top 6: "The Music of the Night" (from the show The Phantom of the Opera) Top 5: "Makes Me Wonder" (Maroon 5) Top 5: "Mad World" (Michael Andrews and Gary Jules) Top 4: "Red" (Daniel Merriweather) Top 4: "Closer" (Ne-Yo) – Eliminated on 8 November
Toby Moulton Toby Moulton was born in 1979 and worked as a primary school teacher, born in Melrose, South Australia. He teaches at St Joseph’s School Tranmere, South Australia.
Audition: "Exit Music" by Radiohead Theatre Week (Round 1): N/A Theatre Week (Round 2): N/A Theatre Week (Round 3): "Open Your Eyes" by Snow Patrol Top 24: "Yellow" by Coldplay Wildcard: "With or Without You" by U2 Top 12: "Creep" by Radiohead Top 11: "Starlight" by Muse Top 10: "Take On Me" by a-ha Top 9: "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner Top 8: "Please Don't Leave Me" by P!nk Top 7: "My Way" by Frank Sinatra Top 6: "Exit Music" by Radiohead Top 6: "Somebody to Love" by Queen Top 5: "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis Top 5: "Politik" by Coldplay – Withdrew on November, 1