HIT THE LIGHTS.
FIRE UP THE CAMERAS.
CUE THE BOMBASTIC THEME MUSIC.
It's time to find Popjustice's very own Australian Idol - a Popstar with both The Voice AND The X Factor. Who combines everything we love about pop music, reality television and sangin' ladies in truly exemplary ways.
Good evening distinguished panel of judges. And welcome to...
I'm your host, livefrommelbs. Coming to you live... from Melbs.
Anyway. Like most countries around the world, a significant portion of Australia's recent pop music acts have been borne off the back of reality singing shows. And while those shows have found plenty of male vocalists who've gone on to do great things, this rate is here to celebrate the girls who really brought it to the studio (both the television and recording variety). Who exuded star power week after week on the small screen, then went on to big (or not-so-big) things in music afterwards. Who wore controversial gold dresses, got second chances at a music career (nodules be damned!), and almost won Eurovision.
You're not just the rating body here. You're the judging panel. And in the spirit of the competitions from which these songbirds first flew to new heights, we'll be holding the penultimate cross-platform, all-female, all-Australian reality TV competition.
THE RATE.
75 songs are in contention for the title of PopJustice's favourite Australian reality TV girl track. As we work through the eliminations, we'll pit each of our songs through the following reality TV 'rounds' as well.
FIRE UP THE CAMERAS.
CUE THE BOMBASTIC THEME MUSIC.
It's time to find Popjustice's very own Australian Idol - a Popstar with both The Voice AND The X Factor. Who combines everything we love about pop music, reality television and sangin' ladies in truly exemplary ways.
Good evening distinguished panel of judges. And welcome to...
I'm your host, livefrommelbs. Coming to you live... from Melbs.
Anyway. Like most countries around the world, a significant portion of Australia's recent pop music acts have been borne off the back of reality singing shows. And while those shows have found plenty of male vocalists who've gone on to do great things, this rate is here to celebrate the girls who really brought it to the studio (both the television and recording variety). Who exuded star power week after week on the small screen, then went on to big (or not-so-big) things in music afterwards. Who wore controversial gold dresses, got second chances at a music career (nodules be damned!), and almost won Eurovision.
You're not just the rating body here. You're the judging panel. And in the spirit of the competitions from which these songbirds first flew to new heights, we'll be holding the penultimate cross-platform, all-female, all-Australian reality TV competition.
THE RATE.
75 songs are in contention for the title of PopJustice's favourite Australian reality TV girl track. As we work through the eliminations, we'll pit each of our songs through the following reality TV 'rounds' as well.
- Auditions (75-61)
- Boot camp (60-46)
- Judges' houses (45-31)
- Live shows (31-11)
- Semi finals (10-4)
- Grand finale (The Top 3)
Since we're eliminating songs, not artists, an act who loses a track during the audition stage could still end up competing in the grand finale. Unless they've only got one song. Then your vote REALLY counts!
THE CONTESTANTS
Our contestants come from a variety of reality TV singing shows - and an equally broad spectrum of eras and genres. We've got girl groups and solo stars. Mid-00s pop-rock and R'n'B bops. Alt-pop icons and and dance-pop divas. There are bops and there's balladry, winner's singles and one-hit wonders.
So without further ado, your contestants...
The OG singing competition brought us one of Australia's best ever girl groups - and a few other gals that deserve a second shot at the crown. We'll be rating acts from both the original, serialised format, and the short-lived Popstars Live.
Arguably the most influential of all the reality competitions, Australian Idol was nothing short of a cultural juggernaut for most of its 7-season run - and brought us a bevy of world-class pop girls. Many of whom who are still making music today.
P.s. Australian Idol's undisputed queen Jessica Mauboy won't be taking part, on account of her enduring success and her own standalone rate, which yours truly hosted last year.
If Australian Idol changed the game for reality competitions in Australia, X Factor redefined just how chart-ready a contestant could be - giving us some genuinely brilliant pop acts right from the jump.
One of the biggest ratings smashes in Australian reality TV history, The Voice might not have yielded many chart smashas - but has certainly uncovered some of the most brilliant unknown voices of the past eight years.
P.s. We'll also be rating a track from season 5 winner Ellie Drennan. I just didn't want to mess up my visuals.
THE SONGS
Here are the 75 tracks up for the crown:
THE RULES
THE CONTESTANTS
Our contestants come from a variety of reality TV singing shows - and an equally broad spectrum of eras and genres. We've got girl groups and solo stars. Mid-00s pop-rock and R'n'B bops. Alt-pop icons and and dance-pop divas. There are bops and there's balladry, winner's singles and one-hit wonders.
So without further ado, your contestants...
The OG singing competition brought us one of Australia's best ever girl groups - and a few other gals that deserve a second shot at the crown. We'll be rating acts from both the original, serialised format, and the short-lived Popstars Live.
Arguably the most influential of all the reality competitions, Australian Idol was nothing short of a cultural juggernaut for most of its 7-season run - and brought us a bevy of world-class pop girls. Many of whom who are still making music today.
P.s. Australian Idol's undisputed queen Jessica Mauboy won't be taking part, on account of her enduring success and her own standalone rate, which yours truly hosted last year.
If Australian Idol changed the game for reality competitions in Australia, X Factor redefined just how chart-ready a contestant could be - giving us some genuinely brilliant pop acts right from the jump.
One of the biggest ratings smashes in Australian reality TV history, The Voice might not have yielded many chart smashas - but has certainly uncovered some of the most brilliant unknown voices of the past eight years.
P.s. We'll also be rating a track from season 5 winner Ellie Drennan. I just didn't want to mess up my visuals.
THE SONGS
Here are the 75 tracks up for the crown:
POPSTARS
Bardot - Poison
Bardot - These Days
Bardot - I Should've Never Let You Go
Bardot - I Need Somebody
Bardot - ASAP
Sophie Monk - Inside Outside
Katie Underwood - Danger
Tiffani Wood - Devil In Your Soul
Danielle Stearman - Tell Me If You Like It
Miranda Murphy - That Girl
AUSTRALIAN IDOL
Cosima Devito - Now That You Can't Have Me
Cosima Devito - Keep It Natural
Paulini - We Can Try
Paulini - Rough Day
Paulini - Fireman
Paulini - Air It All Out (7th Heaven Radio Edit)
Courtney Act - Rub Me Wrong
Casey Donovan - Listen With Your Heart
Casey Donovan - What's Going On
Casey Donovan - Flow
Casey Donovan - Last Regret
Casey Donovan - Proud
Ricki-Lee - Hell No!
Ricki-Lee - Breathe
Ricki-Lee - Can't Touch It
Ricki-Lee - Raining Diamonds
Ricki-Lee - Do It Like That
Ricki-Lee - Come And Get In Trouble With Me
Ngairre - Once
Ngaiire - Shiver
Kate DeAraugo - Maybe Tonight
Kate DeAraugo - Faded
Roxane - Sexy
Lisa Mitchell - Coin Laundry
LisaMitchell - Neopolitan Dreams
Lisa Mitchell - Oh! Hark!
Lisa Mitchell - Spiritus
Natalie Gauci - Here I Am
Owl Eyes - Love Run Dry
Owl Eyes - Closure
Owl Eyes - You And I
Hayley Warner - Good Day
THE X FACTOR
Christina Parie - 16 & Unstoppable
KYA aka Christina Parie - What I Live For (with LDN NOISE)
Samantha Jade - What You've Done To Me
Samantha Jade - Firestarter
Samantha Jade - Soldier
Samantha Jade - Sweet Talk
Samantha Jade - Always
Samantha Jade - Bounce
Dami Im - Alive
Dami Im - Super Love
Dami Im - Gladiator
Dami Im - Sound Of Silence
Dami Im - Fighting For Love
Dami Im - Crying Underwater
Bella Ferraro - Set Me On Fire
Marlisa - Stand By You
Marlisa - Forever Young
Reigan - All Of The Pieces
Reigan - Feels Like Heaven
Nat Conway - Summer To Stay
Nat Conway - So Loud
THE VOICE
Karise Eden - You Won't Let Me
Karise Eden - Threads Of Silence
Karise Eden - Dynamite
Sarah De Bono - No Shame
Sarah De Bono - Oasis
Vera Blue - Regular Touch
Vera Blue - Lady Powers
Vera Blue - Like I Remember You
Anja Nissen - I'm So Excited (feat.Will.I.Am)
Anja Nissen - Triumph
Anja Nissen - Never Alone
Ellie Drennan - Ghost
In the spirit of celebrating original music (and keeping the songlist from getting out of hand), cover versions haven't been included in the rate. Which is bad news for the 6 or 7 fans of Paulini's 'Angel Eyes', and for the entire Young Divas discography. We've also left features on other DJs and producers off the list.
Bardot - Poison
Bardot - These Days
Bardot - I Should've Never Let You Go
Bardot - I Need Somebody
Bardot - ASAP
Sophie Monk - Inside Outside
Katie Underwood - Danger
Tiffani Wood - Devil In Your Soul
Danielle Stearman - Tell Me If You Like It
Miranda Murphy - That Girl
AUSTRALIAN IDOL
Cosima Devito - Now That You Can't Have Me
Cosima Devito - Keep It Natural
Paulini - We Can Try
Paulini - Rough Day
Paulini - Fireman
Paulini - Air It All Out (7th Heaven Radio Edit)
Courtney Act - Rub Me Wrong
Casey Donovan - Listen With Your Heart
Casey Donovan - What's Going On
Casey Donovan - Flow
Casey Donovan - Last Regret
Casey Donovan - Proud
Ricki-Lee - Hell No!
Ricki-Lee - Breathe
Ricki-Lee - Can't Touch It
Ricki-Lee - Raining Diamonds
Ricki-Lee - Do It Like That
Ricki-Lee - Come And Get In Trouble With Me
Ngairre - Once
Ngaiire - Shiver
Kate DeAraugo - Maybe Tonight
Kate DeAraugo - Faded
Roxane - Sexy
Lisa Mitchell - Coin Laundry
LisaMitchell - Neopolitan Dreams
Lisa Mitchell - Oh! Hark!
Lisa Mitchell - Spiritus
Natalie Gauci - Here I Am
Owl Eyes - Love Run Dry
Owl Eyes - Closure
Owl Eyes - You And I
Hayley Warner - Good Day
THE X FACTOR
Christina Parie - 16 & Unstoppable
KYA aka Christina Parie - What I Live For (with LDN NOISE)
Samantha Jade - What You've Done To Me
Samantha Jade - Firestarter
Samantha Jade - Soldier
Samantha Jade - Sweet Talk
Samantha Jade - Always
Samantha Jade - Bounce
Dami Im - Alive
Dami Im - Super Love
Dami Im - Gladiator
Dami Im - Sound Of Silence
Dami Im - Fighting For Love
Dami Im - Crying Underwater
Bella Ferraro - Set Me On Fire
Marlisa - Stand By You
Marlisa - Forever Young
Reigan - All Of The Pieces
Reigan - Feels Like Heaven
Nat Conway - Summer To Stay
Nat Conway - So Loud
THE VOICE
Karise Eden - You Won't Let Me
Karise Eden - Threads Of Silence
Karise Eden - Dynamite
Sarah De Bono - No Shame
Sarah De Bono - Oasis
Vera Blue - Regular Touch
Vera Blue - Lady Powers
Vera Blue - Like I Remember You
Anja Nissen - I'm So Excited (feat.Will.I.Am)
Anja Nissen - Triumph
Anja Nissen - Never Alone
Ellie Drennan - Ghost
In the spirit of celebrating original music (and keeping the songlist from getting out of hand), cover versions haven't been included in the rate. Which is bad news for the 6 or 7 fans of Paulini's 'Angel Eyes', and for the entire Young Divas discography. We've also left features on other DJs and producers off the list.
THE RULES
- Use the PM list in the post below this one to fill out your scores and send them over to me, thanks!
- As per usual, score each song out of 10 - and give an 11 to the one track you think stands out as worthy of the Sony BMG recording contract. Or a car. Whatever they started giving the winners in the later years.
- I'll accept scores with a decimal points as long as they're not crazy!
- Please hit me up with some commentary! You can say as little or as much as you want, as long as you say something.
- Troll votes won't be counted towards the final tally. I see you there, flip phone at the ready, getting ready to text 'Tarisai' to the Idol SMS line 987 times.
Spotify playlist
Not included on the playlist:
Katie Underwood - Danger
Tiffani Wood - Devil In Your Soul
Danielle Stearman - Tell Me If You Like It
Cosima Devito - Now That You Can't Have Me
Cosima Devito - Keep It Natural
Paulini - Fireman
Casey Donovan - Last Regret
WILDCARD ROUND ENTRIES
Bella Hunter (X Factor) - Deja Vu
Bonnie Anderson (Australia's Got Talent) - The Ones I Love
Casey Donovan (Australian Idol) - The Villain
Dami Im (X Factor) - Living Dangerously
Dami Im (X Factor) - Without You
Danielle (Big Brother) - Underneath The Radar
Girlband (Girlband) - Electric
Jessica Mauboy (Australian Idol) - Who We're Meant To Be
Jessica Mauboy (Australian Idol) - Butterfly
Lisa Mitchell (Australian Idol) - The Boys
Ngaiire (Australian Idol) - Fall Into My Arms
Owl Eyes (Australian Idol) - Tokyo
Ricki-Lee (Australian Idol) - Hear No, See No, Speak No
Ricki-Lee (Australian Idol) - World Disappears
Samantha Jade (X Factor) - Roller Skates
Samantha Jade (X Factor) - UP!
Scarlett Belle (Australian Idol & Popstars) - Closure
Spook (feat. Chanel Cole of Australian Idol) - Running Away
Young Divas (Australian Idol) - Dear Santa
Young Divas (Australian Idol) - Happenin' All Over Again
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