I am surprised that I haven't seen anybody bring this up yet, but Roxane (spelling) is no newbie to the Australian music industry. I have a Rockmelons album called Rockies3 released in 2002 which has Roxane as a featured lead vocalist on 3 tracks. In fact one of them was released as a single called "I aint Playin" and was credited as Rockmelons featuring Roxanne. Interesting affiliation. Interesting also that a lot of the Idol trax - including Guy Sebastian - on those albums were recorded in the Rockmelon's studio featuring them.
Could it be that AI felt the need to include an accomplished vocalist who has already worked with some industry names to prop up the final 12? Or maybe AI3 is a vehicle to lift Roxane's profile. Not ragging on her or anything, she is a gifted singer, even if her voice is a tad nasally and shrill. She easily gave the best performace out of group 2. It just smacks of a shoe-in to me. Clearly the powers that be on AI3 knew of her before she auditioned, given their own affiliation with the Rockmelons and put her through the motions.
Yeah I hear you there spongebob. I just thought it was interesting. As soon as I heard Roxanne's voice I thought it sounded familiar. She does have a rather distinct sound. A bit like a very young Diana Ross. I guess the producers want to balance the show with professionals and the old give-someone-a-go factor. I still scratch my head and ask "What the hell were they thinking?" when they recruited Emilo Rusciano as a judges choice last year. The only theory I could come up with was that there was nobody representing Adelaide. Ratings....votes.... I cant see much of a growth curve happening with Roxanne though because she is already so accomplished. Laura certainly had plenty of room for growth! She so is not in Roxanne's ball park.
It seems they are pretty flexible on who they let in. Alot of the contestants have pretty solid musical careers, but just haven't put out an album in their own name.
Chris, for example, owns a recording studio and does backing vocals for other groups including the ever popular Wiggles. That's a career smack in the middle of the music industry.
Few of the top 30 are just bedroom singers. Most are in professional bands and things.