Australian Idol

Hayley Jensen (born 7 January 1983), is the 4th finalist for the 2nd season of Australian Idol. These are the quotations from her performances.

First Round

Judges Comments for Angel:

• Mark: Lucky last. We haven't given you an easy time, have we? We haven't actually affirmed you... I know Marcia has. Marcia's really been your supporter, hasn't she. I know Dicko and I have really given you a kinda tough time. But you're still here. You're definitely growing on me. I'm still a bit concerned about the sort of cabaret aspects of the way you present yourself, but gee, the way you're singing is really, really, really, really fine.
• Marcia: It's lovely to see you stand so still and so metered, and sing so beautifully. I do believe in you very much Hayley, but I mean, I believe in everyone who has performed tonight. I fought for you, and I will always fight for you no matter what, because I think you're a very beautiful singer.
• Dicko: Yeah, you're a fantastic lesson in persistence, actually. You came and were rejected, and then came again and have got this far. That was an absolutely fantastic song for you and I think we're beginning to see which songs are your comfort zone. I guess the question is, how are you gonna do with more up-tempo stuff? I don't recall hearing you sing too many up-tempo songs so far and if you get to the next round, that's something which you will be tested on. But that was, I thought, one of the performances of the night. I think you're doing exactly what a contestant should do in this competition and that's to rise to the occasion, rise to the challenge and grow. And that's what you're doing. You're growing on me too. I thought that was tremendous, I really do. Well done.

The following night on the Verdict Show it was announced out of the ten contestants in her Semi Final Group, Hayley received the second highest amount of votes gaining her a position through to the Final 12 along with Courtney Murphy and Chanel Cole.

Final 12

Killing Heidi - Weir

• Marcia: Lovely. Yeah, go the rock chick. Yeah, um, you've been so great through this competition. Um, we've said no, you've come back blah blah blah blah. (sic). You know, um, its great to see you grow Hayley. Uh huh, and step out of that place that's comfortable because that's what being a performer is. Congratulations and a great choice of song.
• Dicko: Yeah, I agree. Exactly what this competition is about. Um, growing, moving out of your comfort zone. That was absolutely terrific. Mark, in the last audition said that you dressed too old, a little cruise ship. I think you've listen to what he's said and come back and you look fantastic tonight. Every inch the rock star. And, um, I think I've heard that really good fireworks come out of Canberra so you're going to go off like a rocket.
• Mark: Yeah, I mean, I concur. The change in the hair, you really light up the screen Hayley, you just, it's beautiful what you're doing. Um, the choice of song. I would never in a million of years have thought of that song for you and you almost got away with it but the bravery and the choice. Congratulations Hayley. Good on you.

The following night on the Verdict Show, Hayley was declared safe with enough votes to go through to the Final 11.

Final 11

Anastacia - Left Outside Alone

• Marcia: Hayley well done, yeah? Well done. Um, you mightn't have been able to dance but you knew where one was and you knew where to start the song. That's all that really matters, yeah? And, ah, great choice of song as well.
• Dicko: It was good to see you step outside the AC role that you entered the competition as. Um, I would take those movement coaching sessions a little more seriously. Simply put, um, performing a song is about communicating emotions and whether we like it or not 80% of communication is non-verbal. You communicate with your body, you communicate in emotion, sensuality and a sense of power and that's something that Anastacia does pretty well. I think it's something that you really need to work on because actually seeing that piece before you performed highlighted the fact that that's a bit of a failing of yours. I think your voice is great. It's really holding up well and actually preferred it to the version of Anastacia or Miriam as I sometimes call him. Her.
• Mark: Um. I don't know Hayley. I don't know. Because I admire the fact that you keep challenging yourself. You know, last week was an enormous challenge for you and you keep doing that and I don't want to discourage that because it's a fantastic thing about you. But honestly, I just really don't think that you totally connected with that at the level that Anastacia actually bought the meaning of that song and what it meant to her. I didn't feel it from you. It didn't connect for me like some of the others that you've done have.
• Marcia: Having said that, you're not Anastacia. Ok. You're trying.

The following night on the Verdict Show, Hayley was put in the Bottom 3 with Dan O'Connor and Marty Worrall. When Marty was declared safe it left Hayley and Dan as the Bottom 2. After the commercial break Hayley was declared safe and Dan was going home.

Final 10

Lulu - To Sir With Love

• Mark: I know that was a concern for you that, wasn't it? You were really nervous about this particular performance. Why? I really, really admire you for that Hayley. I admire the fact that you are actually quite green. I mean in the studio you were green and this is a whole new experience for you but the way that you approach it, the openness of mind is really, really admirable and I think the simplicity, how you handled that was really terrific. Good on you Hayley.
• Marcia: One of the hardest things to do as a singer is to stand still and deliver a song and you did it. And you did it very well and I congratulate you.
• Dicko: I thought you sung a dismal song really well. You said it was a challenge for you. It was a challenge for me to listen to it cause I just couldn't follow it. I wanted to party tonight. I thought there were some great songs and that was just a bit of a speed bump in the evening for me and it's a shame cause I think you are growing. I wanted you to tear it up tonight and I think the song weighed you down but I thought you delivered it well.

The following night on the Verdict Show, Hayley was once again put in the Bottom 3 with Amali Ward and Marty Worrall. Marty was declared safe and then Amali was told she was going home. This left Hayley a spot in the Top 9.

Final 9

Yvonne Elliman - If I Can't Have You

• Dicko: Oh my God, you can dance can't you. Hey look, fantastic song for you. You look wonderful. If you can't do bling on a disco night when can you? That was just a real eye opener for me. That was just a real, real joyous experience for me. What we've noticed, and certainly at the finals stage is there is the performance that defines someone and shows their true star potential. For me that was yours. That was terrific.
• Mark: Hayley I know that during this last week there's been a little, um, sort of non-verbal tension between us and it's never really been about you as a person. It's definitely not because you as a person, there's so much to admire. There really is. Your heart and your will is just enormous and there are so many people who have had hits without having classically great recording voices and they've done it on the strength of their spirit and the strength of their heart and you've got all of that and heaps.
• Marcia: First of all, thank you very much for listing me as a highlight. That's very, very kind. I really mean it. You know, Hayley I've believed in you since the day we saw one another in Canberra and these guys have been giving you a pretty hard time. And I've just believed that you've metamorphosized into what you've just done. I really believe in you as a singer, as a person and I know you're one of the only people that helps in the kitchen in the house. That's good too. But you did a great job Hayley. I'm so proud of you.

The following night on the Verdict Show, Hayley was declared safe with enough votes to be in the Top 8. This was the first time she hadn't been in the Bottom 3 in several weeks.

Final 8

George - Release

• Dicko: Hayley, hair looks great by the way. Curls are good for you. I've got to say, look, I don't think you're a natural at this. You have to work really hard at everything you do and it's pleasing to see the way you're moving in the right direction. I think that was a really tough song to chose. Some of those timings in there, it was a bit like a maths exam at times for me trying to keep up. But I think it's a really good style for you. That type of song. That type of artist, George as well. The only problem I have with you, I've had it for the past few weeks, is I can see you concentrating and I can hear you thinking about what you're trying to do as you're doing it and I don't know. Sometimes I just think if you could switch all of that off and just let yourself go a bit I think you'd be a lot better for it. But that was very good.
• Mark: Yeah, I'm sorry to say, I'm agreeing with Dicko again. There's a mentor of mine who used to say to me, you've got to have a body of fire, mind of ice so that you're mind is going through all of those strange timings and knowing where it's got to go but outwardly you just seem to be going and being released, being free. We see too much of the work with you on that song. We're seeing too much of it. We're seeing too much of the worry and the thinking and not enough of the release. You saw too much of it to me but you know, once again your risk taking is fantastic. I really admire you for that.
• Marcia: Hayley, I congratulate you from a singers point of view because that's a very hard song to sing. George are the bomb. You did a great job.

Hayley found herself in the Bottom 3 with Chanel Cole and Daniel Belle the following night on the Verdict Show. Hayley was then declared safe and was the first sent back to be in the Top 7. Chanel soon followed and Daniel was evicted.

Final 7

The Beatles - Yesterday

• Dicko: There was something missing from that performance. It was the tick tick tick of your mind working. That was the first time we saw you sing without thinking about what you're doing. Now the trick is to follow along on that road. Simple melody sung beautifully - well done.
• Marcia: You look lovely. People talk to me about you and I say you're one of the kindest souls I know.'
• Mark: I constantly admire your strength but I don't know - I heard pitching problems.
• Dicko said that he thinks Mark has a problem with her and thinks she doesn't have a recordable voice. Mark agreed but said if David Hasselhoff can sell records so can Hayley.

The following night on the Verdict Show, Hayley was safe to join the Top 6. This was the third time out of six she hadn't been in the bottom 3.

Final 6

Martika - I Feel The Earth Move

• Marcia: I love you, they love you, always sing from your heart.
• Dicko: Great pitch and great vocally but you have problems with movement. There was also a breakdown point where you could have gained everyone but you didn’t. Vocally very strong.
• Mark: I have to acknowledge the fact that the Australian Public loves you, they admire your tenacity and they know that you're a great girl. I'm not going to say what I think... What I am going to say is that it's been 3 weeks since we had our producer meeting where you said that you didn't know what type of cd that you wanted to perform.... What kind of record are you going to make?
• Hayley: I know what kind of music that I like, I love to sing. Bands like George and Missy Higgins are the guys that I like and that's the kind of music that I'd like to make.

The following night on the Verdict Show, Hayley found herself in the Bottom 3 once again with Marty Worrall and Casey Donovan. Hayley was sent back to the couch first and Casey was sent back too. Marty was eliminated.

Final 5

Lauren Hill - Ain't No Mountain High Enough

• Marcia: (Laughs) Well done Hayley! Sex kitten to boot.
• Dicko: The mountain was too high, the river too deep. Cabaret.
• Mark: That was the best you could do.

Hayley was in the bottom 3 the following night on the Verdict Show for the fifth time this week. This time she was with Chanel Cole and Courtney Murphy. Hayley was sent back to the couch first and Courtney then followed. Chanel was eliminated.

Final 4

Frank Sinatra - It Had To Be You

• Marcia: You look great, you're beautiful and this song suits you. You were being yourself and you did great.
• Dicko: Can I say that you look absolutely fabulous tonight? I thought that was going to be a great song for you, but I can still hear you thinking. You're worth a lot more than you realise, you have to learn to feel more. I think that your greatest barrier is yourself...
• Mark: I felt that you were singing it to your husband, but I'd suggest that you should block everyone else out and REALLY sing it to your man.

Nat King Cole - Nature Boy

• Marcia: I appreciated the simplicity and when you just stand there and people hear your voice it's beautiful.
• Dicko: You looked beautiful and I enjoyed that. I didn’t think that you over thought that at all.
• Mark: I would say that you are the nuclear power puff girl, you are indestructible. You've asked for positive assistance in guidance and what I'd say is when you're phrasing things you don’t need to end each line the same way, it's about what you don’t do rather than what you do do... And you do look beautiful.

Hayley was in the bottom two for the sixth time the following night with Casey Donovan. This week Hayley was eliminated with the least amount of votes for the week.

Up Close & Personal Performance

Dido - Here With Me

• Jeremy: I wanted to find out what this show has taught you about music and performing

Hayley: This show has taught me so much, working with John and Erina and these wonderful musicians has taught me so much.

She goes on to say that she’s learnt how to come up with arrangements quickly and how to perform and how important it is to stay true to yourself.

• Carley: I was wondering if there are any pre performance habits that you have before you go on stage.

Hayley: I have a big glass of um, fizzy drink. I like to have a glass of coke before I sing. I also try to work out what the person who wrote the song was trying to say and focus on that.