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| One of Australian’s most loved artists and nominated by revered music legends as one of the great voices of Australia, Guy Sebastian was born in Malaysia to a multicultural Sri Lankan family, which moved to Australia where all sons became involved in music through their Para |
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One of Australian’s most loved artists and nominated by revered music legends as one of the great voices of Australia, Guy Sebastian was born in Malaysia to a multicultural Sri Lankan family, which moved to Australia where all sons became involved in music through their Paradise church in Adelaide. Guy’s elder brother Oliver Sebastian has written many recorded gospel songs, while Chris, a younger brother has also commenced his musical career.
At 4, Guy taped and sang along to his favourite songs. Eventually, despite several setbacks in his teens, he became a drummer in a band and only after a couple of years when he found the band another drummer was he permitted to sing. Finally the urge to make his own music became so strong that despite his own familys disapproval he gave up university and commenced classes as a vocal coach, while he also studied music and music technology. During this time he was also part of the great Australian band, The Planetshakers, with whom he travelled Australia and overseas and also recorded. There is also a track or two available with SA Youth Alive albums. Early in 2003 Guy Sebastian submitted the song “NO MORE” for an Australia wide competition held by PilotPen and was awarded the winner’s prize.
In 2003 he was talked into attempting to try out for the inaugural Australian Idol contest, which format was completely new to Australia. During the competition, when he re-arranged songs into his own unique format which also displayed his almost 4 octave range, musicians and critics of reality shows – and the judges – were vocal in their appreciation of his superb musical talent and it was no real surprise when he won, despite the very great talents displayed by the other competitors. Some comments included “I think your voice is the most beautiful instrument I have ever heard” (Marcia Hines, celebrated US/Australian artist), “I simply never tire of hearing you sing, a true joy and privilege - you are a sublime talent” (Mark Holden, musician/singer and writer of numerous No. 1 hits), “You’re the best unsigned talent I’ve ever heard – you’re destined for enormous success” (Ian Dickson former marketing director of BMG record company).
Guy Sebastian was given “Angels Brought Me Here” as his debut limited edition single, which almost broke all speed barriers in sales, and his DEBUT ALBUM “JUST AS I AM” , which features three of his own original songs, reached almost 7 platinum, due to the frenzy of obtaining something of his voice. It sold over 2 ½ platinum in the first week. (However, there are many other tracks available from pre-competition, including two solos and of course “No More” for those lucky enough to obtain that). He not only had no.1s in Australia but also in New Zealand and several Asian countries, where other singles reached the top 3.
It appears that no-one was quite prepared for the incredible whirl of fame that continued in 2004. Guy toured with the group to huge sell-out crowds in entertainment centres and theatres, he appeared in Asia and New Zealand to continuous accolades, took part in his church’s recording of GOSPEL ALBUM “PARADISE LIVE – ADORE” cd/dvd album (in which he sings the major part in three tracks, on of which he wrote with his Pastor). He even flew back from Malaysia to take part in an Easter Gospel Festival at Toowoomba, before flying back again to Malaysia the same day. He was then sent overseas to write for the 2nd album, writing with such well knowns as Robin Thicke, Beau Dozier, David Ryan Harris, Brian McKnight etc. Unfortunately, the timing for the 2ND ALBUM BEAUTIFUL LIFE (October 2004) coincided with the amalgamation of Sony/BMG record labels and while the launch was tremendous, and overseas interest was immense (see www.alexa.com), that very successful tour was rushed and lost momentum (only 4 weeks from the announcement of the tour and its start, and the album), with New Zealand and Asia ignored, they felt snubbed.
Guy continued to tour and write for his 3rd album, and meanwhile he was in huge demand for private corporate gigs and TV appearances, barely able to field everything that was offered. Guy again took part in the recording of the 2nd Paradise GOSPEL ALBUM – PARADISE – SET ME FREE (cd/DVD) and toured Asia with that group.
He also became a World Vision Ambassador as well as being a McDonalds ambassador, and was nominated for Young Australian of the Year.
In 2006 Guy Sebastian’s star was continuing to rise even higher and he was asked to appear in the series “It Takes Two”, where he showed Australia once again why he is considered such an innate artist. A well known journalist penned an article, the gist of which was while Guy brought his extraordinary talents to the show which was greatly enhanced by his presence on it, he was simply too ‘big’ and ‘too popular’ to take part in such competitions. The TV media however continued to ask him to appear whenever they could.
At the finale of that show Guy sang an inspirational song penned by him, Gary Pinto and Phil Turcio, “Taller Stronger Better” which received such huge acclamation that it was decided to make it the first single off the 3RD ALBUM (CLOSER TO THE SUN). However, while it may have been cool to play similar songs by ‘gritty bands’, radio was loath to play it as Guy is a committed Christian and has a major ‘nice guy’ image which they apparently felt was not cool enough. And yet during this same period those same stations might play “My Sweet Lord” by the late George Harrison. However, even despite the lack of airplay the single went gold and is generally considered around the world as one of the true anthems of recent years. It is available on the World Youth Day Album 2008
So much is he in demand that quite often around the busier parts of the year he will be doing two gigs per night, especially at Christmas time.
Guy Sebastian’s stunning shows early in 2007 set a new height for artistic and musical integrity, pulling in even more fans. The Australian Philharmonic Orchestra approached him and he had two shows at the Sydney Opera House and one in Melbourne, which again showed his continued evolution as a musician / singer. UK conductor Gavin Sutherland accorded him the highest label of ‘a musician’s musician’ as an artist, and gave him the accolade of ‘streets ahead of the rest!’ During these shows different groups and individuals in the audience would simply be overcome and gave standing ovations, with finales reaching a peak of seven standing ovations by the entire audience at the end of the shows in Sydney. Unfortunately due to new prior commitments Guy was unable to do more of these shows, as after a world wide search by the WYD organisation, his song written with Gary Pinto had been applauded as the theme song for the World Youth Day 2008, with all the recording, filming and appearances that was thereby entailed. The song “Receive the Power” is available from the WYD08 site and Itunes, and the song and video are open to the public on many sites. The WYD 2008 ALBUM, “RECEIVE THE POWER” is available from Sanity.
Guy travelled to the US, and was accorded the absolute honour of recording with (Booker T and) the MGs house band at Ardent Studios, where they recorded with 14 tracks out of the 15 as first takes, including his own “I’d Like to Get to Know You”; jammed with Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn at BB Kings Restaurant, following Sheryl Crow and her father; sang in New York to an explosion of applause as people rushed the stage and tours with his legendary band the MGs. Steve Cropper describes Guy (see youtube) as “mind boggling”. John Fry of Ardent Studios is so impressed with his 4TH ALBUM “THE MEMPHIS ALBUM” and Guy that he is already suggesting that it be placed in the Stax Museum in the Here and Now. The Memphis Album has already gone 2P in 10 weeks.
Spoken fondly of as “the coolest guy”, “the nicest guy on the planet”, the “most beautiful person I’ve ever met”, and “my favourite person in the whole world” by the cool media, Guy Sebastian has only just started to soar! We look forward to his own 5TH ALBUM (expected around mid 2008) and he has been writing with David Ryan Harris.
THE MEMPHIS ALBUM has been reviewed as astonishing and authentic, oozing freshness and excitement, technically amazing, fresh, electrifying, an awesome jam session and superb, while Guy’s supreme talent and gravelly voice shows joyous individuality. Even the Memphis Flyer bowed down!
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Discussion Topic
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Creator
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Receive the Power, written by
Guy Sebastian and Gary Pinto -
why the song
Posted by our own forum WYD aide (who
therefore can keep us right up to date with
things)
Receive the Power (written by Guy Sebastian
and Gary Pinto)
[quote]
A theological reflection on Guy Sebastian and
Gary Pinto’s
“Receive the Power”
The song chosen as the theme song for the
23rd World Youth Day, to be celebrated in
July 2008
in Sydney Australia, is entitled “Receive the
Power”. It is built around the theme chosen
by
Pope Benedict XVI: “You will receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and
you
will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). This theme
is in two parts: on the one hand, Christ
renews
his promise to send the Holy Spirit (Acts
1:8a; cf. Lk 24:44-53; Jn 7:37-39; 14:25;
16:13-14;
20:22) – a bequest fulfilled when the Holy
Spirit descends upon the apostles at
Pentecost and
beyond (Acts ch 2; cf. 3:31; 4:8,31;
8:14-17,39; 9:17; 10:44-48; 11:12-18; 13:52;
15:8; 19:1-7). On
the other hand, Christ spells out the
response that this gift elicits, the life
that this power
enables: the disciples are to be his
“witnesses to the ends of the earth” (Acts
1:8b; 5:32; 10:34-
43; cf. Lk 24:44-53; Mt 28:19; Jn 15:27).
Dialogue in the Spirit between Christ and the
young disciple
The song very effectively captures the two
aspects of the theme. In the chorus the Risen
Christ
addresses the young people of the world:
“Alleluia, alleluia! Receive the power of the
Holy
Spirit. Alleluia, Alleluia! Receive the power
to be a light unto the world.” In the verses
the
young people respond: “we will follow to the
ends of the earth”; “we will answer and do
Your
will”; “we’ll forever testify of Your mercy
and unfailing love”; “we worship You”. This
dialogue
in the Spirit between Christ and the young
disciple is at the heart of evangelization,
catechesis, the act of faith and worship. It
is at the heart of World Youth Day.
The song is Scriptural
One of the goals and undoubted fruits of
World Youth Day is a rediscovery by the
young
people of the richness of the Word of God,
the Holy Bible. It is therefore fitting that
not only
the central theme inspiring the song, but
almost all the words of this song are
Scriptural. As
the Acts of the Apostles makes very clear:
the grace of the Holy Spirit is given to the
disciple so
that he or she may testify to the central
proclamation of God’s word (e.g. Acts 4:33).
The song is Holy Spirit-ual
The theme of WYD08 calls us to reflect upon
the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of
young
people. The song invokes the Holy Spirit
three times in the chorus, as Christ invites
the young
people to “Receive the power of the Holy
Spirit”. The young people respond in the
verse “As
Your Spirit calls to rise we will answer and
do Your will.” The strongly pneumatological
aspect
of the song makes it particular to the World
Youth Day in Sydney.
The song is Christological
The theme of WYD08 is taken from the last
words Christ spoke to his disciples before
he
ascended to the Father. The promise of the
Holy Spirit is specifically linked by Christ
to the
call to the disciple to witness, testimony,
even martyrdom. But to whom? The Holy Spirit
empowers the young people not to give witness
to themselves, not even to give witness to
the
Spirit, but to give witness to Christ. “You
will be my witnesses,” he says. The song
articulates
the response of the faithful disciple to that
call and empowerment.
The song is Eucharistic
The Spirit is given not for our own
aggrandizement but to move us to worship and
thanksgiving. Thus at Pentecost the
Spirit-filled disciples “devoted themselves
to the apostles’
teaching and communion, to the Breaking of
the Bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). The
young people sing in the opening verse “in
Your presence we delight” and in the ‘bridge’
“Lamb
of God, we worship you. Holy one, we worship
you. Bread of Life, we worship you.
Emmanuel,
we worship you.” (Jn 1:29,36; 6:69; 6:35; Mt
1:33) This is a song of adoration which, for
Catholics at least, will evoke the
Eucharistic Lord they worship. The climax of
World Youth
Day is the Mass with the Holy Father and one
of its fruits is greater Eucharistic
devotion.
The song is Universal (‘catholic’)
The song opens with the words “Every nation,
every tribe, come together to worship You”
(Rev
7:9-10; cf. 5:9-11) This is a reference to
all the young people from every nation and
language
who will come as pilgrims and heralds of the
Gospel to Australia for WYD08. This captures
another pneumatological aspect of the song.
In the story of Pentecost the evil of Babel
is
reversed: no longer are nations pitted one
against the other; no longer do diverse
languages
divide people and leave them uncomprehending.
Instead, the Holy Spirit unites them all and
all understand each other. This is a gift of
Pentecost and a gift of World Youth Day.
The song is Eschatological
In the Book of Revelation John has a vision
“of a great multitude, too numerous to count,
from
every nation, race, people and tongue. They
stood before the throne and before the
Lamb...
[and] cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation
comes from our God... and from the
Lamb.’”(Rev 7:9-
10; cf. 15:3-4) The WYD08 song is a
premonition, a foretaste, of that day when by
the power of
the Holy Spirit all divisions between peoples
will cease and “every nation, every tribe”
will
“come together to worship You... Lamb of
God.”
Specificity and Continuity
Though the song is very specific to the theme
of WYD08 in Sydney – with its multiple
references to the call and power of the Holy
Spirit and to the witness of the young people
– it
also cleverly recalls and unites the great
catechetical themes chosen by the father of
World
Youth Day, Pope John Paul II: “Emmanuel”
(WYD2000 in Rome), “Light to the world”
(WYD02 Toronto) and “We worship you” (WYD05
Cologne). Thus the song expresses both the
specificity of WYD08 in Sydney and its
continuity with more than twenty years of
World
Youth Days – and indeed with two thousand
years of Christian proclamation ever since
the
Archangel Gabriel first named Jesus “Emmanuel
– God with us” (Mt 1:33) and John the
Baptist first identified him as the “Lamb of
God” (Jn 1:29,36).
Bishop Anthony Fisher OP
[/quote]
[url=http://wyd2008.org/index.php/en/content/
download/66788/586572/file/Theological_reflec
tion_on_Receive_the_Power.pdf]Reflection on
Receive the Power[/url]
Further back I'm sure I gave the link to
where Guy and Gary are being interviewed -
its on a WYD official site, and very cute
:wub: - they both talk about the song
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