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First audition - Ribbon in the sky (Stevie Wonder)
Dicko said he was "head and shoulders the best voice we've heard today". (He also said Guy looked crap. -_-.)
He does have a good voice. The initial auditions didn't allow much room for performing - it was just singing unaccompanied - but all the better for letting his voice shine. He did use maybe a little too many 'vocal gymnastics' in this song but seemed to be really good otherwise. ^_^. I think Marcia was Guy singing this song has grown on me heaps and now I *looove* it.
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Mini audition - Back at One
Was this for the top 100 narrowing-down stage? For this, he just briefly sings the chorus of a song. Not much to say about it; it's nothing outstanding but it was enough to keep him in the contest, so that's all that matters. ^_^.
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Second audition - Somewhere over the rainbow (Wizard of Oz)
More vocal gymnastics. ^_^. He started by holding a really long note and showing off his mellifluous voice; then he kind of funked it up and got everyone clapping and bopping along. ^_^. This was cool and very unique. Like all these first auditions, this one has no background music, but he keeps the rhythm going very nicely and consistently.
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Top 40 - What a wonderful world (Louis Armstrong)
This became his single on the 'top 12' album, with chirpy background music to put you in a good mood. ^_^. I've only seen snippets of it in flashbacks, but I have heard it several times. It's cool - a kind of funked-up, more up-beat version of the song. Again, some vocal gymnastics (I like Guy's songs with or without the fancy runs, but like Dicko, I prefer it when he sticks to the melody more - he sounds so good when he does ^_^.). He got into the top 12 from this song. ^_^.
I like this much better than the original by Armstrong, actually. It's more fun and happy and suits the lyrics.
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70s - The love you save (Jackson 5)
This is the first episode I saw. I was told to look out for Guy so I did. I thought he was quite Michael Jackson-y - something about the way he moved, sang, and the song itself. I actually really enjoyed it; thoughe he moved well and sang well and it was more interesting than most of the night's performances.
The judges thought this was a poor song choice but that Guy still deserved to get through to the next round (too right!).
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No. 1 - Look into my eyes (Everything I do, I do it for you) (Bryan Adams)
I really loved this. It was the most beautiful song of the episode; the kind you could just close your eyes to and *savour* the sound of. Dicko thought it was a bit vocal-gymnastic-y but I didn't really notice that about this particular song. The other judges liked it a lot; Marcia said his voice was the most beautiful instrument she'd ever heard. This song was the last time Guy got any negative feedback from the judges.
Guy's version of this song is so much cooler than the original. His voice is really nice to listen to. This is one of my favourite songs that he did.
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Australian Made - You're the voice (John Farnham)
This song was very cool; Guy came out and funked around the stage. He gave the song a good beat and really pumped it out, with great singing, also engaging the audience and looking like he was having a lot of fun.
He also had the advantage of being the last performance of the night. Since this is considered a very 'Aussie' kind of song, it made a triumphant close to the night. ^_^. Dicko finally succumbed to Guy's coolness and expressed his approval; he also said Guy looked good up there. All the judges liked it.
Guy later got to meet John Farnham at the Arias, which he thought was pretty cool; John had seen his performance of this song and seemed to think it was pretty good.
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80s - When doves cry (Prince)
This was the performance that started getting people to sit up and take notice, I think. I remember in the interviews with the public afterwards, people were saying how they'd never been much into Guy but after this performance they were changing their minds.
(I think You're the Voice was also a 'sit up and take notice' song but that was on the same night as Cosima's 'When the war is over' and Paulini's 'Chains', so it stood out less in comparison.)
It was very cool, and again the last performance of the night, which meant his was a kind of 'dramatic finale' performance. He sang it really well and made it so cool and funky, with the lighting and the arrangement, not to mention his expressions, movements, clothes... this is definitely one of his very best performances. I think he thought so too because I know when he had to perform a song for his Adelaide appearance he chose this one, along with 'Hello'.
Dicko said this was a good, edgy performance and the performance of the night; Mark said Guy was the supreme interpreter; Marcia said he was a dark horse with a great depth to him; all three agreed Guy was the best of the night.
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Own choice - When I get you alone (Thicke)
He did this for the 'up close and personal' special when they had the strings orchestra accompanying them. It was a clever song choice; Guy's the only one, I think, who deliberately chose a song that would go well with the strings. This song was a lot of fun; it's one of my top two or three Guy songs.
It was such a good, engaging performance that he might as well have been performing for votes; the crowd loved it and Andrew made a joke about "if you want to vote for Guy, just SMS...".
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R&B - Hidden Agenda (Craig David)
Guy came out very casually clad and sang this r&b tune. I didn't think it was very interesting when I first heard it (I'm not a big r&b fan - I like the slow, melodic songs or the fun, funky songs best) but it's really grown on me. I enjoy it now. It's just not quite like his previous, more meaningful, full-on performances. Of course he performs it as brilliantly as always. The judges all really liked it, especially Dicko (despite his loathing for Craig David).
Marcia told Guy to dress up for the girls, and the guys told him that he shouldn't cover up his trademark fro.
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R&B - Hello (Lionel Ritchie)
I haven't heard Lionel's version of this but apparently it's quite different because there were several comments about Guy having arranged this performance himself (which he always does anyway, right?). I'm sure this is better than the original anyway. Most of his renditions are. ^_^.
This was the night Dicko said that Guy was 'peakin' his ass off' at just the right time in this competition. Mark said we could be so proud that Guy is Australian, which I think is quite true - yay, we've got some real talent in Australia too. ^_^.
This was sweeter than Hidden Agenda but still quite r&b-y. He had the make-up/dressing team fix his hair and came out with resplendent (if slightly rumpled) afro. ^_^. Guy chose to do this song when he visited Adelaide. It's a kind of middle ground between downright funky and slow-and-sweet but very nice.
I think Guy's R&B songs were less 'full-on' than most of his performances. That is, usually he does a kind of all-out, 'running for President' kind of song which usually eclipses all other performers. Hidden Agenda and Hello were both kind of subdued in comparison - but not executed any the worse for that! Dicko said that Guy's performances were the best of the night. Guy and Paulini stuck to the R&B/soul theme better than anyone.
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Big band - Hit the Road, Jack (?)
Dicko really enjoyed this. I enjoyed watching and hearing him as usual but I don't like this song much generally. This was a good, fun, big band song and one of the songs he exclaimed "that was fun!" after, I think. ^_^.
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Big band - The way you look tonight (?)
This song was another slow one and another enchanting, melodic piece that just made you close your eyes and go "ahhh". Really, this is so beautiful; like 'Look into my eyes' but even better, and more 'clean' (Dicko commented that he really respected the melody).
The microphone was pretty big and obscured half his face (Dicko commented that all he could see was a mic with a big afro around it ^_^.) but that's more cute than bad, and this song was sooo nice. Marcia said that it'll be a lucky girl who gets to hear Guy sing that song to her. ^_^.
Guy got into the bottom 2 for the first time (he was the last one to get into the bottom) after these two songs, which was quite ridiculous, really, but at least he didn't get out.
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60s - You're just too good to be true (?)
Guy was gonna do Hey Jude but Shannon beat him to it so he chose this instead, apparently. He does the verses slower and the chorus faster, and it's a sweet, fun song which he performs flawlessly. Not one of my favourites (because I'm not partial to the song itself) but faultless and very high quality. Dicko said after this song that he thought Guy was probably the best unsigned talent around. Seems like Guy just gets better and better!
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60s - Climb every mountain (Sound of Music)
This is considered his 'peak' performance (pun not totally intended). (Hahah, Guy got a new 'peak' performance almost every week. ^_^.) It probably was his best in terms of drama and passion and hitting some good, powerful notes. He really sang his heart out in this one.
It was touching considering where he was when he was singing it; you could tell he was singing those words for himself - all about following dreams and so on. He even got slightly teary at the end (later said that he was "spewing" that he'd cried on stage, *lol*).
Guy got his first "touchdown!" from Mark Holden. Mark also thought it was a very risky song for him to do and the fact that he nailed it was impressive.
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Last night - Angels brought me here (Australian Idol)
This is my least favourite of all the Guy performances. Guy did a pretty good job of it (despite flu etc) but it wasn't really 'him'; he didn't get to arrange it or anything but just had to sing what they'd prepared for him. The lyrics, at least, are something he was probably singing with some sincerity.
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Last night - I'll be there (Jackson 5/Mariah Carey)
Apparently this is one of Guy's favourite songs. I hear he was struggling with flu a bit that night. His performance was great as usual but maybe not as good as most of his performances; he has a high standard to live up to. ^_^. I thought it was lacking a little bit in comparison, and a few notes didn't sound perfect to my critical ears, but still very good, if not the perfect way to go out.
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Last night - Crazy in love (Beyonce Knowls)
Fortunately he hit the end of his last night on a high note. This performance was very - unique - and a lot of fun. Who else but Guy could pull this kind of thing off? We couldn't help laughing - kind of with him more than at him, because he was just so obviously having a ball and grinning all over his face, bopping all over the stage. I love watching performers enjoy themselves. This was a fun song too. He was wearing this huge fluffy coat and a nose ring - hahaha! So cute! You can't help bu get up and dance in this song.
It was also kind of funny to compare this to Shannon's previous song.
First, there's Guy singing 'Crazy in Love' with his afro, his nose ring, his fluffy coat, his sunnies, his Asianfeatures, rattling it off in this cool, smooth, r&b voice, funking around the stage and grinning hugely the whole time.
Then, there's Shannon, with his simple white singlet and jeans and biceps and Aussie blokey appearance, solemn and passionate, belting out 'Working Class Man' in his slurred, throaty, Aussie rock voice.
Working Class Man and Crazy in Love were both excellent - but so totally highlighted the difference between them! Funny. ^_^.
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Grand Final - When I get you alone (Thicke)
I thought this was an interesting choice for the final. Before, he chose it 'cos it went well with the strings that were accompanying him. But I was expecting him to go with 'famous' territory and do 'When Doves Cry' or 'Climb every mountain' or 'What a wonderful world'. So this was a cool surprise - this was one of my favourite performances.
Probably a good idea too to do a 'fun' song for his last night, 'cos he was really enjoying himself here, like a celebration. If he was funking it up the first time, he went mad this time and was going all over the place, working the crowd and all. Cool song. ^_^.
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Grand Final - Angels brought me here
He did this again after winning the competition. This was his best of the three versions, made cooler by the moment on which he sang it. He really sang it with passion and it was a great moment. And the end, where he is completely blanketed with falling confetti, makes me laugh because you just expect that at any moment he's gonna get a mouthful of it.
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