Just as I Am (Guy Sebastian album)
Encyclopedia
Just as I Am is the debut album by the first Australian Idol
winner Guy Sebastian
.
Given the relative popularity of Australian Idol
in late 2003, BMG Australia
subsequently contracted Sebastian for a record before Christmas
2003. He wanted to record a mixture of pop
and R&B material. Guy Sebastian co-wrote three of the songs on the album "All I Need Is You", "I 4 U" and "Something Don't Feel Right". He says on his web page: "I think the credibility in having your own stuff makes you as an artist. Credibility is what I've always strived for and I couldn't imagine my first record not having one of my songs on it." The album also features cover versions of "What a Wonderful World
" by Louis Armstrong
, "Can You Stand The Rain
" by New Edition
and "When Doves Cry
" by Prince.
", debuted at number one having set a record for first week single sales for a debut for an Australian artist and was the highest selling single in Australia in 2003. "Angels Brought Me Here" went on to earn four platinum accreditations and win the 2004 Aria for Highest Selling Single The song also reached #1 in four Asian countries and New Zealand. In January 2010 it was announced as the highest selling song of the previous decade by ARIA
, finishing ahead of Anthony Callea
's cover version of "The Prayer".
Just As I Am was released in December 2003 and debuted at number one on the Australian album charts selling 163,711 copies in its first week. This remains the second highest ever one week sales for any album in Aria chart history. Just As I Am became the 5th highest selling album in Australia in 2003 within three weeks of release. It reached 6x platinum, and eventually sold in excess of 480,000 units. It received a nomination for highest selling album at the 2004 ARIA Awards. Just As I Am places #28 on ARIA's list of highest selling albums of the last decade, the 9th highest entry for an Australian artist, and the highest for an Australian Idol contestant. The second single "All I Need Is You" also debuted at number one in the Australian charts and was accredited platinum. Just as I am was also released in New Zealand, where it peaked at #3 and achieved double platinum accreditation.
ARIA End Of Year Chart 2003
ARIA End Of Decade Chart (2000/2009)
Australian Idol
Australian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
winner Guy Sebastian
Guy Sebastian
Guy Theodore Sebastian is an Australian pop, R&B, and soul singer-songwriter who was the first winner of Australian Idol in 2003. He is currently a judge on the Australian version of The X Factor. Sebastian has released six top ten platinum/multi platinum albums, including a number-one and...
.
Given the relative popularity of Australian Idol
Australian Idol
Australian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
in late 2003, BMG Australia
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
subsequently contracted Sebastian for a record before Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
2003. He wanted to record a mixture of pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and R&B material. Guy Sebastian co-wrote three of the songs on the album "All I Need Is You", "I 4 U" and "Something Don't Feel Right". He says on his web page: "I think the credibility in having your own stuff makes you as an artist. Credibility is what I've always strived for and I couldn't imagine my first record not having one of my songs on it." The album also features cover versions of "What a Wonderful World
What a Wonderful World
"What a Wonderful World" is a song written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss. It was first recorded by Louis Armstrong and released as a single in 1968. Thiele and Weiss were both prominent in the music world . Armstrong's recording was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999...
" by Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
, "Can You Stand The Rain
Can You Stand the Rain
"Can You Stand the Rain" is a ballad by R&B/Pop group New Edition. Released in 1988, it is the third single from their fifth studio album, Heart Break.-Overview:...
" by New Edition
New Edition
New Edition is an R&B group formed in Boston in 1978. The group reached its height of popularity during the 1980s. They were the progenitors of the boy band movement of the 1980s and 1990s and led the way for groups like New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync...
and "When Doves Cry
When Doves Cry
A hit cover version by R&B singer Ginuwine was produced by Timbaland in 1996 for Ginuwine's The Bachelor album, Ginuwine's cover uses actual dove sound effects as texture for its jungle music-inspired instrumental track.-Charts:-Other cover versions:...
" by Prince.
Chart success
The first single from the album, "Angels Brought Me HereAngels Brought Me Here
"Angels Brought Me Here" is a pop song written by Jörgen Elofsson and John Reid for 2003 Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian, for his first album Just as I Am . Recorded versions were made for both grand finalists, Sebastian and Shannon Noll, with only Sebastian's version officially released by BMG...
", debuted at number one having set a record for first week single sales for a debut for an Australian artist and was the highest selling single in Australia in 2003. "Angels Brought Me Here" went on to earn four platinum accreditations and win the 2004 Aria for Highest Selling Single The song also reached #1 in four Asian countries and New Zealand. In January 2010 it was announced as the highest selling song of the previous decade by ARIA
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
, finishing ahead of Anthony Callea
Anthony Callea
Anthony Cosmo Callea is an Australian singer-songwriter who rose to prominence in the 2004 season of Australian Idol when he became runner up. He was signed to Sony Music Australia until 2009 and is now an independent artist...
's cover version of "The Prayer".
Just As I Am was released in December 2003 and debuted at number one on the Australian album charts selling 163,711 copies in its first week. This remains the second highest ever one week sales for any album in Aria chart history. Just As I Am became the 5th highest selling album in Australia in 2003 within three weeks of release. It reached 6x platinum, and eventually sold in excess of 480,000 units. It received a nomination for highest selling album at the 2004 ARIA Awards. Just As I Am places #28 on ARIA's list of highest selling albums of the last decade, the 9th highest entry for an Australian artist, and the highest for an Australian Idol contestant. The second single "All I Need Is You" also debuted at number one in the Australian charts and was accredited platinum. Just as I am was also released in New Zealand, where it peaked at #3 and achieved double platinum accreditation.
Track listing
- "Angels Brought Me HereAngels Brought Me Here"Angels Brought Me Here" is a pop song written by Jörgen Elofsson and John Reid for 2003 Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian, for his first album Just as I Am . Recorded versions were made for both grand finalists, Sebastian and Shannon Noll, with only Sebastian's version officially released by BMG...
" (Jörgen ElofssonJörgen ElofssonJörgen Kjell Elofsson is a Swedish songwriter who has written or co-written hits for stars such as Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Guy Sebastian, Ana Johnsson, Marie Serneholt, Shayne Ward and Super Junior. He has also written hit singles for groups such as Il Divo and Westlife...
, John ReidJohn Reid-Politics:* John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan , Former British Home Secretary and former Chairman of Celtic F.C.* John William Reid , U.S. Representative from Missouri...
) - "So I" (Jamie Jones, Jack Kugell, Jason Pennock)
- "Can You Stand the RainCan You Stand the Rain"Can You Stand the Rain" is a ballad by R&B/Pop group New Edition. Released in 1988, it is the third single from their fifth studio album, Heart Break.-Overview:...
" (James Harris III, Terry Lewis) - "No One Can Compare (to You)" (Jones, Charles Kember, Kugell, Monty Neuble, Pennock)
- "All I Need Is YouAll I Need Is You"All I Need Is You" is a single by Australian singer Guy Sebastian. "All I Need Is You" is the second single from the album Just As I Am, following "Angels Brought Me Here". "All I Need Is You" reached number one on the ARIA Singles Chart and was accredited 1 x Platinum in Australia, and reached...
" (Guy SebastianGuy SebastianGuy Theodore Sebastian is an Australian pop, R&B, and soul singer-songwriter who was the first winner of Australian Idol in 2003. He is currently a judge on the Australian version of The X Factor. Sebastian has released six top ten platinum/multi platinum albums, including a number-one and...
, Adam Reily, Alun Firth) - "What a Wonderful WorldWhat a Wonderful World"What a Wonderful World" is a song written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss. It was first recorded by Louis Armstrong and released as a single in 1968. Thiele and Weiss were both prominent in the music world . Armstrong's recording was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999...
" (Bob ThieleBob ThieleBob Thiele was an American record producer who worked on countless classic jazz albums and record labels.-Biography:...
, George David WeissGeorge David WeissGeorge David Weiss was an American songwriter and former President of the Songwriters Guild of America.-Career:...
) - "My Beautiful Friend" (Adam Reily)
- "Something Don't Feel Right" (Guy SebastianGuy SebastianGuy Theodore Sebastian is an Australian pop, R&B, and soul singer-songwriter who was the first winner of Australian Idol in 2003. He is currently a judge on the Australian version of The X Factor. Sebastian has released six top ten platinum/multi platinum albums, including a number-one and...
, Alexander Laurie, Adam Reily) - "When Doves CryWhen Doves CryA hit cover version by R&B singer Ginuwine was produced by Timbaland in 1996 for Ginuwine's The Bachelor album, Ginuwine's cover uses actual dove sound effects as texture for its jungle music-inspired instrumental track.-Charts:-Other cover versions:...
" (PrincePrince (musician)Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
) - "Just as I Am"
- "3 Words" (Adaamick Mendoza)
- "I 4 U" (Guy SebastianGuy SebastianGuy Theodore Sebastian is an Australian pop, R&B, and soul singer-songwriter who was the first winner of Australian Idol in 2003. He is currently a judge on the Australian version of The X Factor. Sebastian has released six top ten platinum/multi platinum albums, including a number-one and...
, Gary Pinto)
Chart positions
ARIA and RIANZ Charts| Year | Chart | Position | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Australia Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... |
1 | 6x platinum |
| 2003 | New Zealand Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
3 | 2x platinum |
ARIA End Of Year Chart 2003
| Overall rank on Chart |
Australian Artist rank |
|---|---|
| 5 | 3 |
ARIA End Of Decade Chart (2000/2009)
| Overall rank on Decade Chart |
Australian Artist rank |
|---|---|
| 28 | 9 |