X Factor hopeful still riding high in Australia
by JULIE ANN SPENCE
LISBURN'S latest singing sensation Andrew Lawson is still hitting the
right note with Australian viewers after making it to the final six of the
Aussie X Factor.
The 18-year-old singer, who attended Ballymacash Primary School before emigrating with his family to New Zealand when he was six and then to Australia five years ago, is now the only under-25 male left in the competition.
In this week's live show, which was aired on Australian television on Sunday evening, Andrew calmed things down after his rocking performance of Elton John's Crocodile Rock last week, delighting the audience with his soulful rendition of Wet Wet Wet's number one hit song 'Love is All Around'.
At the end of his performance he got a rapturous round of applause from the audience and all of the judges agreed that it was his best performance to date.
Judge Ronan Keating, who was critical of last week's song choice, said this week's choice was "great."
He continued: "You have had much better vocal performances over the last few weeks but this is the first time I have seen you properly comfortable in your own skin. It was a great song choice and I loved it."
Co-judge Natalie Imbruglia agreed that this was Andrew's best performance. "You seemed so comfortable," she said. "You won me over with that performance.
Andrew's aunt Jenny Dunlop said the whole family were thrilled with his success. "Its great isn't it," she said. "The top six is just brilliant, but to us he is already a winner.
"The group song that opened the results show this week was a rap, Andrew had a solo in the middle of it and apparently Twitter went crazy at that point with everyone commenting on how good he was.
"It's just fabulous for us to see Andrew doing so well," she continued. "I can't imagine what it must feel like to be there in the crowd, emotions must be running high. I think I might have to start looking at flights again."
Andrew Lawson, who has made it to the final six in the Australian X Factor. US4310
julieann.spence@ulsterstar.co.uk
Ulster Star
29/10/2010
