'Why Guy’s Our Idol'
Adelaidean (News From The University Of Adelaide) - David Ellis and Ben Osborne
- December 2003
Australian Idol Guy Sebastian gave the University of Adelaide a taste of his
undoubted musical talents earlier this year - as a student.
While most students wait until they've finished their studies before making a
name for themselves, Guy has gone from studying at the university's prestigious
Elder School of Music to becoming a national star —and all within a matter of
months!
Along the way he's earned the praise of former classmates and staff at the Elder
School.
Australian Idol, watched weekly by millions of television viewers nationwide,
has provided Guy with a lucrative recording contract, a high profile and a
ready-made fan base eager for more of his vocal talents.
The 22-year-old music teacher and recording engineer had been studying as part
of the Vocational Education and Training (VET) program at the Elder School of
Music. VET offers hands-on, pre-degree courses as a thorough grounding for
further music studies.
Specifically, Guy was enrolled in the Certificate IV program in Music
Technology. But events overtook his studies, and he took time off to pursue his
Australian Idol dream.
According to Elder School of Music lecturer Dr Mark Carroll, those in Guy's
class were unexpectedly treated to a marvellous showcase of his ability earlier
this year.
“Guy was fairly low key around the place—the quiet guy with the beanie and the
’fro,” Dr Carroll said.
“The event that brought his talent to the attention of myself and the other
students in our theory class was when, towards the end of the first semester, I
asked the students to give a short presentation on a piece of music of their
choice, and to talk about the way the tune ‘worked’—a reasonably ambitious, but
intentionally thought-provoking ask.
“Guy volunteered to go first, sat at the grand piano, and proceeded to sing a
tune by NSync to his own piano playing. We were all amazed—I didn't even know he
could sing, let alone that well.
“It wasn't simply the beauty of his voice that touched us all (and it really
did) but the perceptive way that he then explained what was going on in the
music—the light and shade, tension and release, the lyric curve and the form. It
was immediately apparent that Guy had an innate understanding of pop music, that
special something that allows truly great performers to bring a song to life.
“Every time I watched him on Idol I saw and heard that understanding,” Dr
Carroll said.
“I gave him 100% for his presentation—not something I do lightly, but it was
simply so far over and above what you would expect in that sort of situation
that I had no choice, I'm happy to say.
“Not long after that the Idol roller coaster started and we lost touch (although
he asked one of the other students to thank me for the mark). But we, the whole
class, still remember that day.”
The Dean of the Elder School of Music, Professor Charles Bodman Rae, said he and
many others at the university were proud of Guy's achievement.
“Staff and students of the Elder School of Music have been following Guy
Sebastian's remarkable progress through all the different stages of the
Australian Idol competition—and barracking for him,” Professor Bodman Rae said.
“It is heartening to see that his outstanding talent has been recognised, and
with such huge media exposure. Guy Sebastian is not only an outstanding
performer, he is a very intelligent musician. In fact, his performances
demonstrated this,” he said.
Professor Bodman Rae said the Certificate IV program in Music Technology was an
interesting choice for a student who would go on to win the hearts of millions
of Australians.
“This is a program with strong vocational relevance for budding
singer-songwriters—because these days popular songs tend to be composed (and
often performed) with the aid of computers and sound-synthesis equipment,” he
said.
“We hope that Guy will continue to build on the inclinations he has already
shown and perhaps write his own material. He has all the talents to do so and
make his success a long-lasting one.”
There’s little question that Guy thoroughly deserved to win the Australian Idol
competition, with his combination of personality, unique looks (go the ’fro!)
and great talent.
“Guy’s undoubted charm shone through all the stages of the competition, even
under the harsh spotlight of ever-present TV cameras,” Professor Bodman Rae
said.
“It is great that his talent has been identified and that it will be developed.
But his achievement is really the tip of an iceberg.
“There are many very talented musicians around Australia—in both the classical
and popular fields—and we are fortunate to have a lot of them here, in Adelaide.
The lesson, I suppose, is that talents need careful nurturing and channelling.
“Guy will undoubtedly be an inspiration to a new generation of talented young
people who will realise that ‘nice guys’ really can win!”
While it is uncertain whether Guy will continue with his studies at the Elder
School of Music now that he has shot to national stardom, there’s little doubt
that he will always be fondly remembered at the university.
And who knows, returning to study someday is always an option further down the
track for Guy.
After all, Australian Idol judge and former pop star Mark Holden began his
studies in Law at the University of Adelaide in the 1970s, and later graduated
in 2001!