Dami Im has been crowned the X Factor Australia 2013 winner, and the 50 Shades of Grey film has been delayed.
By Che-Marie Trigg
Dami Im Takes Out X Factor 2013
Brisbane-based, Korean-born Dami Im last night claimed victory on Australia’s X-Factor— and her winner’s single Alive has already hit number one on the iTunes charts!
Runner-up was Taylor Henderson, and in third place was Jai Waetford— who is just 14, both of whom were mentored by Ronan Keating. Dami Im was mentored by Danni Minogue, and her win has seen her receive a lucrative Sony music recording contract.
Dami Im is a surprise win; she was originally sent home during Boot Camp after forgetting the lyrics to a song she was performing, but returned after the unexpected exit of another contestant.
Throughout the contest, Dami Im’s style has evolved, and the past few shows she has been strutting her stuff in outfits that would make Lady Gaga proud.
Dami Im is the only contestant in the history of the show to receive five standing ovations from the judges, and six in total— one night with the entire judging panel standing on the table so rapturous was their praise!
When her victory was announced, the singer sunk to her knees, before telling host Luke Jacobz that she wanted to use the win “to help daggy losers like me.”
Judge Redfoo said Im was “too good,” and fellow judge Natalie Bassingthwaite told her “no matter what you do it’s flawless.” Dami Im arrived in Australia from South Korea when she was nine, and taught herself to sing by copying her pop idols— despite being bullied due to her accent as a child.
Dami Im has been captivating audiences from the start; her version of Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water reduced Danni Minogue to tears, and also became her first iTunes number one.
Runner-up Taylor forgot the words during his version of Damian Rice’s Blower’s Daughter due to nerves, and Jai had a guitar miscue during the semi-finals. But Dami Im already had in the bag, with a spot-on rendition of Mariah Carey’s Hero, and her ‘winner’s song’ Alive. But it was her polished performance of And I Am Telling You from the Dreamgirls soundtrack that had the crowd in a flurry.
It was celebrities galore for the live television event. American pop superstar Katy Perry performed two of her hits, including latest single Roar. Winner of the first season of Australian Idol, Guy Sebastian also performed for the crowd, playing his new song, Like a Drum. The final twelve contestants performed Ke$ha’s Blow to kick off the night, and then the top 3 sang with Fall Out Boy.
Rather than partying hard to celebrate, the top 5 contestants will be put through their paces at rehearsals for a national tour taking place next month.
Watch Dami Im’s immaculate performance of her winner’s single Alive:
Fifty Shades of Grey Filming Delayed
Following the announcement of Jamie Dornan as the new Christian Grey, filming of the erotic film has been delayed.
Previously expected to begin filming in early November, production has been pushed back to December 2nd.
Sources say this is due to the need to replace Charlie Hunman after he left the film, citing family issues.
There is no word yet on whether the film will still be released on July 31st, 2014 as originally planned, or if this will also be delayed.
In the meantime, we will keep ourselves busy with photos of the hunky new Christian Grey, played by the Irish Jamie Dornan.
Dornan is a former model, and is best known for his role as The Hunstman in Once Upon Time, with his only other major role playing Axel von Fersen is Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette.
We think he has the perfect smouldering good looks to do Christian justice!
