Anthony Callea

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Anthony Callea
Anthony Callea performing at Highpoint
Anthony Callea performing at Highpoint
Background information
Birth name Anthony Cosmo Callea
Born December 13, 1982 (age 24)
Origin Melbourne,
Victoria,
Australia Flag of Australia
Genre(s) Pop
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Years active 2004–present
Label(s) Sony BMG (2004–present)
Website Official Website

Anthony Cosmo Callea (born December 13, 1982 in Melbourne to Italian parents) is an ARIA Award winning Australian singer and was the runner-up in the 2004 season of Australian Idol. Callea currently holds the record for the highest-selling single and fastest-selling single in Australia for his debut single "The Prayer".

Contents

Australian Idol

Anthony Callea began entering talent contests as a child and trained with the Johnny Young Talent School. He auditioned and was selected for the final 30 in the television series Australian Idol in 2004. Based on viewer votes, he did not make it through the first round of competition but was invited back as a "Judge's Choice Wildcard", where his performance earned him a place in the final 12.

Over the weeks of the competition his popularity with the Australian public grew. During his run on the show, he gave several performances that earned him high praise from the judges, including Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge over Troubled Water", Foreigner's "I Want to Know What Love Is" and Andrea Bocelli and Céline Dion's duet "The Prayer." Judge Ian 'Dicko' Dickson said Anthony's performance of the latter was the finest he had seen during his two years with the show. The competition concluded in November 2004 with Anthony as runner-up to Casey Donovan.

Post-Idol

Anthony Callea 2004
Anthony Callea 2004

He was immediately signed to Sony/BMG Records, and his first single,"The Prayer" was released in December 2004. It debuted on the ARIA Singles Chart at number one, and remained there for five consecutive weeks. Within seven weeks, it had become the highest-selling Australian single of all time, as it was certified four times platinum, selling in excess of 280,000 copies.[1] His next single, the double A-side "Rain / Bridge over Troubled Water" spent two weeks at number one. His self-titled album, Anthony Callea, debuted at number one, on the week of 4 April 2005, and remained at the top of the chart for three weeks. His third single "Hurts So Bad" debuted at number ten on the ARIA Charts, while the album's final single, "Per Sempre (For Always)" debuted at number five.

Anthony's DVD Live at the Palais was released on 7 November 2005. It debuted at #3 in the ARIA DVD Chart and awarded Gold status.

Anthony Callea released the single "Live for Love" on November 4, 2006, the first from his second album A New Chapter and the only song he didn't co-write. Both the single and the album, which was released on November 25, 2006 debuted at number 9. The album lasts just over an hour and contains his characteristic mix of genres - powerful ballads as well as more up-tempo songs, all of them co-written by Callea. The second single "Addicted to You" contained two extra songs - "Try" and "Meant For Love" and debuted at No 19.

In April Anthony performed as Special Guest for Westlife and he is scheduled to perform in Rome before returning to Australia to tour with the Tattoo Spectacular in early May.

Two additional tracks were also made available on iTunes - "Meant for Love" to coincide with the release of "Live for Love" and "Whatever It Takes" for the album's release.

Anthony also contributed his version of a Brian McKnight song, "Home", to the compilation album Home: Songs of Hope & Journey by various Australian artists to raise funds and bring attention to beyondblue, an Australian initiative against depression.

Personal life

On March 27, 2007, Callea revealed that he is gay. After being accidentally 'outed' on Sydney radio, he issued a statement confirming his sexuality and thanking his fans and his boyfriend, Paul.

"Yes, I am gay," Callea said. "I have no issue with my sexuality now, but it's taken time to become confident with who I am and happy with who I am. I'm comfortable enough to come clean now. It's a weight off my shoulders".[2]

Callea's confirmation of his sexuality came after an on-air conversation on Sydney radio station Edge 96.1, in March 2007, a breakfast traffic reporter claimed obliquely that Callea is gay. This was reported as an 'accidental outing'. Callea had previously denied being gay and refused to discuss his private life, claiming he needs to keep it separate from his work.[3]

On March 30, 2007, Australian High Court judge Justice Michael Kirby described Anthony as an "admirable Australian" for coming out. Justice Kirby added, "In terms of influencing popular culture and understanding of the reality of human sexual diversity, I would trade 10 judges for one popular singer."[4]

Australian Idol Performances

Discography

Albums

Album cover Album information
Anthony Callea
  • Released: March 25, 2005 (Australia)
  • Chart Positions: #1 (Australia)
  • Certifications: 2x Platinum (Australia)
A New Chapter
  • Released: November 25, 2006 (Australia)
  • Chart Positions: #9 (Australia)
  • Certifications: Gold (Australia)

Singles

Year Song Australia Certification Album
2004 "The Prayer" 1 4x Platinum (ARIA) Anthony Callea
2005 "Rain / Bridge over Troubled Water" 1 2x Platinum (ARIA) Anthony Callea
2005 "Hurts So Bad" 10 - Anthony Callea
2005 "Per Sempre (for Always)" 5 - Anthony Callea
2006 "Live for Love" 9 - A New Chapter
2007 "Addicted to You" 19 - A New Chapter

Other

  • "I Wanna Know What Love Is" (studio recording Track 3 of Australian Idol: The Final 12 2004)
  • "Listen with Your Heart" (released as bonus CD to a limited number of debut albums)
  • "Wanna Be The One" (b-side to Rain/Bridge Over Troubled Water CDS)
  • "Don't Tell Me" (b-side to Rain/Bridge Over Troubled Water CDS)
  • "The Healing of a Heart" (Bambi 2 Soundtrack)
  • "Meant for Love" (b-side to Addicted To You)
  • "Try" (b-side to Addicted To You)
  • "Whatever It Takes" (iTunes exclusive)
  • "Home" (on Home: Songs of Hope & Journey compilation)
  • "The Christmas Song" (on The Spirit of Christmas 2005 compilation)

Videography

Music videos

  • The Prayer
  • Rain
  • Bridge over Troubled Water
  • Hurts So Bad
  • Per Sempre (for Always)
  • Live for Love
  • Addicted to You

DVD

  • Anthony Callea: Per Sempre (For Always) (DVD single)
  • Anthony Callea: Live In Concert (recorded at The Palais, Melbourne)[debuted at #3 in ARIA DVD Chart]

Awards

Award Category About Result
2007
Australian Gospel Music Awards Outstanding Achievement Award The Prayer Won
2006
MTV Australia Video Music Awards 2006 Coca-Cola Viewer's Choice Award 2006 Himself Won
Dolly Teen Choice Awards 2006 Hottest Album Of 2006 'Anthony Callea' Won
2005
Pop Republic Awards 2005 Artist Of The Year Himself Won
Variety Young Awards 2005 Entertainer of the Year Himself Won
MO Award 2005 Australian Performer Of The Year Himself Nominated
MO Award 2005 Contemporary Rock Performer Himself Won
Channel V's OZ Artist Of The Year Award 2005 Oz Artist Of The Year Himself Won
ARIA Awards 2005 Highest Selling Single The Prayer Won
ARIA No.1 Chart Awards 2005 ARIA No.1 Single Rain / Bridge Over Troubled Water Won
ARIA No.1 Chart Awards 2005 ARIA No.1 Single The Prayer Won
ARIA No.1 Chart Awards 2005 ARIA No.1 Album 'Anthony Callea' Won

Career Highlights

References

  1. ^ ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2004 Singles. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved on November 14, 2006.
  2. ^ Anthony Callea's Official Site. Retrieved on 2007-03-27.
  3. ^ Benns, Matthew (2004-11-07). Anthony dismisses Idol gossip. The Age. Retrieved on 2007-03-17.
  4. ^ Ross, Norrie (31-03-07). Gay Idol receives high praise. Sunday Herald Sun. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.

External links

Australian Idol
Hosts and Judges
Andrew G | James Mathison
Mark Holden | Marcia Hines | Ian "Dicko" Dickson | Kyle Sandilands
Winners
Guy Sebastian | Casey Donovan | Kate DeAraugo | Damien Leith
Runners-Up
Shannon Noll | Anthony Callea | Emily Williams | Jessica Mauboy
Seasons
Idol 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006
Other
List of semi finalists | Young Divas | Australian Made: The Hits | List of commercial releases
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../a/n/t/Anthony_Callea_5daf.html"
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