In 2004, I voted for Casey Donovan. If you’d have told me then that I’d be making a trip into the city to see her Australian Idol competition Anthony Callea live, I would have laughed. It’s not that I didn’t think he was talented. His voice was always undeniable. But I didn’t quite connect to him as a performer.

I didn’t become an Anthony Callea fan until he released his album of George Michael covers in 2014. With every subsequent album release I became a little more of a fan. After arriving late to the party, it was a real thrill to see Anthony perform his ARIA Number 1 Hits in Concert show at the State Theatre in Sydney on the weekend.

While the concert celebrated Anthony’s last number one album, ARIA Number 1 Hits in Symphony, with the bulk of the show made up of those beloved covers, it was really a retrospective of his career. Original songs from recordings as early as his first EP were no doubt a real treat to the diehard fans who were there when it all began. For me, it gave me an opportunity to catch up on the music I missed.

While I appreciated the originals, Anthony’s excellent cover versions provided some of the show’s highlights. A stripped back mash-up of Whitney Houston hits “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and “How Will I Know” performed with his childhood friends was really special. An unexpected take on Keith Urban’s “Tonight I Want to Cry,” a song that didn’t appear on any of the recent cover albums, brought tears to my eyes. And if you don’t get goosebumps when Anthony performs “The Prayer” I’d check for a pulse. I was also thrilled to hear a couple of those George Michael classics that converted me into a true fan. By the time “Freedom ‘90” came around, I was regretting my decision to buy seats in the circle. Bouncing around in my chair, near the sign that reminded us all standing up and dancing was strictly prohibited, I wished I was down the front in the thick of the action.

While the songs and Anthony’s incomparable voice took centre stage, his ease as an entertainer was what really struck me. He chatted easily with the crowd, regaling us with tales of his time in the music business. That included his time on Idol. When so many people shy away from acknowledging reality TV stints, his candour and appreciation for that experience was refreshing. Anthony apologised countless times for going off on tangents, but I don’t think any of us minded his rambling. If I want to hear someone simply sing, I’ll stay home and listen to the CD. I come to concerts for a real show, and those stories are such a key part of that.

As I sat on the train heading back to the Central Coast, I spotted several people wearing Pink! T-shirts, all smiles after seeing her perform at Qudos Arena. Her show was at the other end of the spectrum, a sell-out spectacular in a large arena. There were no such theatrics about Anthony’s show, unless you count his blingy clothes. But he didn’t need them. Some might say Pink! doesn’t either, that her voice and songs could stand up if all the fanfare was stripped away and that she simply puts on the kind of big show she does because she can. But I was reminded of something that Anthony said during the night, about how he loved Australian Idol for its simplicity. Our first TV singing show didn’t need use backing dancers or elaborate staging. What Anthony does now continues that tradition. In a world that constantly tries to up the entertainment factor, bringing a show back to an incredible voice, great songs, and a winning personality is so refreshing.

Anthony Callea wraps up his ARIA Number 1 Hits in Concert tour at the Palms at Crown in Melbourne on August 24.

Image source: Stephen Katulka