Laura Gissara
Encyclopedia
Laura Gissara was a contestant on the 2005 season of Australian Idol
. She was eliminated from the show on 26 September 2005.
During her Australian Idol journey Gissara progressed from the top 100 into the top 75 and then to the top 55 and the top 30.
In her semifinal performance Gisarra sang "Don't Let Go" by En Vogue
. The judges were all disappointed with the performance, saying that her vocal was pitchy. The next night she was told that she was in the top four for the night. Kate DeAraugo
and Milly Edwards were sent through, leaving Gissara and Roxane LeBrasse
. "Our final contestant going through to the top 12", announced James Mathison, "is Laura Gissara." Gissara made the finals and was then asked to sing the song that brought her through.
On the Australian Made theme night, Top 13, Gissara had to prove that the voting public made the correct decision in voting her through. She sang "You're My World" by Daryl Braithwaite
. All three judges said it was the best they have ever heard her sing. On the Live Verdict the next day she was told she was safe for another week.
A week later, on '60s night, Gissara sang "Don't Play That Song" by Aretha Franklin
. The judges said it was pretty good but she did not put enough feeling into the song. The next night she was told she was part of the bottom three along with James Kannis
and Natalie Zahra. Kannis was sent back to the couch before Zahra was told she was leaving the competition. Gissara was safe for another week but would have to lift her game the next week if she wanted to remain in the competition.
On the Supergroups theme, a week later, Gissara performed The Greatest View
by Silverchair. She was told that her performance was lame. All judges were disappointed with her performance and said that she could be going home the next night.
Gissara waited for the verdict only to find she was part of the bottom three once again along with James Kannis
and Daniel Spillane. Spillane was told he was safe for at least another week before Gissara was told she had the least number of votes and was going home. She was then asked to sing for the final time in the competition. She struggled through opening bars of "The Greatest View" but showing her courage once again, she soldiered on, rallying to finish the song.
During Gissara's time in the Top 13, allegations were levelled against her that her father, a Telstra employee, had tampered with the telephone voting results. An investigation ensued, finding these claims to be false.
Laura is now currently recording new material for her next single and album working with producers from overseas.
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...
. She was eliminated from the show on 26 September 2005.
Australian Idol
Gissara was 21 years old when she auditioned for Australian Idol in the third season in 2005. She was known as the 'Italian Beauty'. Two of the three judges voted to put her into the 100 contestants. Mark Holden gave her a 'no' while Marcia Hines and Kyle Sandilands gave her a 'yes'.During her Australian Idol journey Gissara progressed from the top 100 into the top 75 and then to the top 55 and the top 30.
In her semifinal performance Gisarra sang "Don't Let Go" by En Vogue
En Vogue
En Vogue is an American female R&B vocal group from Oakland, California assembled by music producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy.The group has won more MTV Video Music Awards than any other female group in MTV history, a total of seven, along with four Soul Train Awards, six American Music...
. The judges were all disappointed with the performance, saying that her vocal was pitchy. The next night she was told that she was in the top four for the night. Kate DeAraugo
Kate DeAraugo
Katherine Jenna "Kate" DeAraugo, pronounced de roosh , is an Australian singer-songwriter who was the third winner of Australian Idol in 2005. After idol, DeAraugo signed to Sony BMG and released her debut single, "Maybe Tonight", in November 2005. The single debuted and peaked at Number 1 on the...
and Milly Edwards were sent through, leaving Gissara and Roxane LeBrasse
Roxane LeBrasse
Roxane LeBrasse was an Australian singer who reached #91 on the ARIA Singles Chart with "Sexy"....
. "Our final contestant going through to the top 12", announced James Mathison, "is Laura Gissara." Gissara made the finals and was then asked to sing the song that brought her through.
On the Australian Made theme night, Top 13, Gissara had to prove that the voting public made the correct decision in voting her through. She sang "You're My World" by Daryl Braithwaite
Daryl Braithwaite
Daryl Braithwaite is an Australian pop singer. Best known as the lead vocalist of Sherbet, Braithwaite has also sustained a successful solo career, placing 15 singles in the Australian top 40, including the No...
. All three judges said it was the best they have ever heard her sing. On the Live Verdict the next day she was told she was safe for another week.
A week later, on '60s night, Gissara sang "Don't Play That Song" by Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
. The judges said it was pretty good but she did not put enough feeling into the song. The next night she was told she was part of the bottom three along with James Kannis
James Kannis
James Jay Kannis is a singer from Australia who was well known for participating in the reality television show Australian Idol. Kannis was placed in seventh position, eliminated on 17 October 2005....
and Natalie Zahra. Kannis was sent back to the couch before Zahra was told she was leaving the competition. Gissara was safe for another week but would have to lift her game the next week if she wanted to remain in the competition.
On the Supergroups theme, a week later, Gissara performed The Greatest View
The Greatest View
"The Greatest View" is the first single by rock band Silverchair released from their fourth album, Diorama, which was released in 2002, as was "The Greatest View". The song was released as a single and a video was made in which the band plays in hotel room representing Daniel John's inner space...
by Silverchair. She was told that her performance was lame. All judges were disappointed with her performance and said that she could be going home the next night.
Gissara waited for the verdict only to find she was part of the bottom three once again along with James Kannis
James Kannis
James Jay Kannis is a singer from Australia who was well known for participating in the reality television show Australian Idol. Kannis was placed in seventh position, eliminated on 17 October 2005....
and Daniel Spillane. Spillane was told he was safe for at least another week before Gissara was told she had the least number of votes and was going home. She was then asked to sing for the final time in the competition. She struggled through opening bars of "The Greatest View" but showing her courage once again, she soldiered on, rallying to finish the song.
During Gissara's time in the Top 13, allegations were levelled against her that her father, a Telstra employee, had tampered with the telephone voting results. An investigation ensued, finding these claims to be false.
Australian Idol performances
- Top 100 Line of 10 - "All the man" (Whitney Houston)
- Top 75 Group of 3 - "Finally"
- Top 50 Solo - "Don't Play That Song", originally performed by Aretha FranklinAretha FranklinAretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
- Top 30 - "Don't Let Go", orgininally performed by En VogueEn VogueEn Vogue is an American female R&B vocal group from Oakland, California assembled by music producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy.The group has won more MTV Video Music Awards than any other female group in MTV history, a total of seven, along with four Soul Train Awards, six American Music...
- Top 13 - Australian Made - "You're My World", originally performed by Daryl BraithwaiteDaryl BraithwaiteDaryl Braithwaite is an Australian pop singer. Best known as the lead vocalist of Sherbet, Braithwaite has also sustained a successful solo career, placing 15 singles in the Australian top 40, including the No...
- Top 11 - 60's - "Don't Play That Song", originally performed by Aretha FranklinAretha FranklinAretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
- Top 10 - Supergroups - "The Greatest View", originally performed by SilverchairSilverchairSilverchair were an Australian rock band, which formed in 1992 as Innocent Criminals in Merewether, Newcastle with the line-up of Ben Gillies on drums, Chris Joannou on bass guitar and Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars. The group got their big break in mid-1994 when they won a national demo...
(final performance)
Record deal
News came through on the Laura Gissara forum on 16 April 2006 that Gissara had been signed by In Records/Shock Records and that her first single had already been recorded. It was later announced that the song was called 'Ti Amo'. The video premiered on Rage on 1 July 2006. Ti Amo was released on radio on 26 June 2006. The single was released on 31 July. Ti Amo peaked and debuted at number three on the Independent Aria charts, number 49 on the ARIA charts and at number 14 on the Australasian singles charts.Laura is now currently recording new material for her next single and album working with producers from overseas.
Singles
- "Ti Amo" (2006) - #49 Australia, #14 Australasian, JBHIFI #21, ARIA Independent Labels and Independent Distribution : Singles #3
- "Shake It Down" (2008)