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Emma Chalmers
ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER
GUY Sebastian completed his transformation from choir boy to pop sensation
last night when he was crowned Australia's first Idol at the Sydney Opera House.
The Adelaide 21-year-old won the reality TV competition, leaving good friend and NSW
farmer Shannon Noll as runner-up.
In front of more than 2000 VIPs and guests, his family, a fan gathering of more than 5000
and a huge TV audience, Malaysian-born Sebastian sang Angels Brought Me Here, a
song he will release on Monday, before the results of thousands of telephone votes.
The win means a BMG recording contract, believed to tie him to a five-year deal, a spot in
the World Idol competition in London next month and top billing in the Australian Idol
national concert tour, which comes to Brisbane on January 29.
Sebastian, who has vowed to remain chaste until marriage, worked as a high school singing
teacher and sound engineer before auditioning with 10,000 other hopefuls.
In the semi-finals weeks ago his tearful performance of Julie Andrew's Climb Every
Mountain earned a standing ovation from the crowd.
He firmed as favourite last week with a confident version of the Jackson Five's I'll Be
There and a disco-imbued rendition of Beyonce Knowles's hit Crazy In Love.
Runner-up Shannon Noll, 27, from Outback Condobolin, wowed the fans with Creed's With Arms
Wide Open and later thanked them for their support. "It's just been
over-whelming," he said. "I hope if in the future I get a career I can make you
all proud."
After he stepped offstage Sebastian briefly shocked the massed media when a reporter asked
if he would keep his much-imitated afro.
"No, I'm shaving my head in about three days," he teased.
Sebastian said his album would have three of his songs and would be a "little bit
of soul and R&B and I love pop, so sort of a mixture."
Brisbanites stayed home in droves last night, leaving pubs hoping for a busy weekend.
One manager said it was just like the first eviction night of the first Big Brother
series.
Australia's Idol,Page4
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