Guy Sebastian - From 'Crap' to A Roaring Success (TTT)

After last week's busyness, we took a few days off and stayed home until Tuesday. Just like any lazy day, we were not completely idle. There was binge-watching, napping, Hiving (for me), and yes, music too!

The song "Who's That Girl" came on air, and while it was familiar, we didn't know who the artist was. Our curiosity led me to check it out and I was fascinated by what I learned, re:

• The artist won the first Australian Idol in 2003 with an Australian record audience (for a non-sporting event) of 3.65 million;
• He's the only Australian male artist in Australian chart history to achieve six number-one singles and places third overall for all Australian acts.
• He was the highest-selling song in Australia in the decade 2000 to 2009
• With 69 platinum and seven gold certifications and combined album and single sales of over five million in Australia, he has the highest certifications and sales of any Australian Idol contestant.
• He served as a judge in Australia's X Factor in 2010-12 and 2015-16; The Voice coach since 2019 and became the Senior coach when Delta Goodrem left.
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So he journeyed from being seen as crap to a very successful artist, making waves in the music industry for over 20 years. Who is it?

Guy Theodore Sebastian.

The guy who had been rejected just because of his looks. Even during his audition for Australian Idol, one of the judges said his voice was great but he looked like crap. So harsh! But maybe, that's just how they do things in the industry and only the toughest ones survive.

Anyway, let's hear him already!

An R&B and pop ballad also known as Faith Brought Me Here composed for the Idol finalists. The song became Guy's debut single for his album, Just As I Am" released in November 2003 by Sony BMG.

Accordingly, it was the highest-selling song in Australia from 2000 to 2009.

This was what he had to say about the song:

I reckon it really sums up just what I felt as far as the competition goes. It's a very overwhelming process to go through and you really do feel that there's something else that got you there. Especially with how I didn't feel confident before and then something just clicked and I could look people in the eyes and really try and deliver a song.¹

Guy collaborated with American artists including Brian McKnight, Robin Thicke, Steve Cropper, John Mayer, Jordin Sparks, and yep, rapper Lupe Fiasco. The song was composed by Guy, Fiasco and David Ryan Harris.

The track was released as the fourth single in August 2012, and certified 14x platinum, the third highest-selling single in Australia in the same year, the highest-selling single by an Australian act.

Here's what he says about the song:

"It's about your own personal battle scars and for every individual those are different; some might be words or labels... it might be relationship scars.²

The song was released in 2020 as part of his studio album (T.R.U.T.H). He co-wrote the lyrics with Jamie Hartman and according to the artist, it was inspired by his family member who was going through mental health issues. It won the ARIA Awards for Best Video in 2020.

During his interview with 60 Minutes, he also shared he lost one of his friends to a mental health battle and mentioned the song "Choir" was for him.

Sebastian's rise to fame and success is one inspiring story. He has performed for Pope Benedict XVI, Oprah Winfrey, and Queen Elizabeth II. He is strongly committed to charity, establishing The Sebastian Foundation with his wife Jules.³

So there goes my recommendation for Three Tune Tuesday by Ablaze. This was supposed to be for yesterday but another publication was ready. Better late than never, lol!