Early life
Leith was raised in Milltown, County Kerry, Ireland. His father travelled as part of his work as an engineer, and their family lived in countries including Libya and Botswana.
As a child he formed a family band, Leaf, with his sister Aine and brothers Paul and Darren. Leaf recorded in New York and then again later under the new name Releaf, which made an appearance in the Irish Top 100.
Since moving to Sydney, he has played in a number of high profile venues across Sydney, as the front man for the band Revelate. His first Australian performance was at The Basement in Sydney's Circular Quay.
He worked as a chemist prior to auditioning for Australian Idol.
Australian Idol
Leith was selected by the judges as one of the final 24 contestants, and was the first person voted into the competition's top twelve as the result of a viewer vote. He was praised by the show's judges for his falsetto technique, which he used regularly in performances.
Despite comments from judges Mark Holden and Kyle Sandilands in relation to Leith's unconventional appearance, and a performance of Kool and the Gang's "Celebration" which drew ridicule from Holden, the judges assessments of Leith's performances were usually positive. His renditions of Roy Orbison's "Crying", Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game", Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" and Puccini's "Nessun Dorma" each earned Leith a "touchdown" from Mark Holden, a gesture which has come to be regarded as Holden's ultimate accolade for an excellent performance. Sandilands also stated that the family of Roy Orbison had contacted the Australian Idol producers requesting a copy of Leith's performance of "Crying".
Leith was the last contestant in the 2006 season to be in the bottom three, until the top five verdict on October 30. On Sunday, November 26, during a live broadcast from the Sydney Opera House, Leith was announced the winner, over runner-up Jessica Mauboy. His debut single, "Night of My Life", was released as a paid digital download from Bigpondmusic soon after the conclusion of the grand final, with an official CD release on November 28. It has been stated that his debut album will be released in early 2007.
Australian Idol Performances
* Sydney Auditions - "The Blower's Daughter" by Damien Rice
* Theatre Round (Day Three) - "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen
* Top 24: Group 1 - "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker
* Top 12: Contestant's Choice - "With or Without You" by U2
* Top 11: Rock - "Creep" by Radiohead
* Top 10: No. 1 Hits - "If Tomorrow Never Comes" by Garth Brooks
* Top 9: Contestant's Year of Birth - "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" by Elton John
* Top 8: Disco - "Celebration" by Kool & the Gang
* Top 7: Contestant's Choice: Acoustic - "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak
* Up Close And Personal Night - "Sky" (original) by Damien Leith
* Top 6: Rock Swings: "High & Dry" by Radiohead
* Top 5: ARIA Hall of Fame: "Message to My Girl" by Split Enz
* Top 4: Viewer's Choice: "Crying" by Roy Orbison
* Top 4: Viewer's Choice: "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen
* Top 3: Judge's Choice: "Nessun Dorma" by Giacomo Puccini
* Top 3: Judge's Choice: "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers
* Top 2: Contestant's Choice: "Never Meant to Fail" by Alex Lloyd
* Top 2: Contestant's Choice: "Waiting On an Angel" by Ben Harper
* Top 2: Grand Final Performance: "Nessun Dorma" by Giacomo Puccini
* Top 2: Winner's Single: "Night of My Life"
Not Just For The Weekend
Damien Leith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Primitive love, no more in love, it's all a hustle
What's done is done, now it's my turn to have some fun
You're much too sly, don't give me alibis
I don't wanna know, I don't want to know
Primitive love
I want what it used to be, I want it
I want what it used to be
I want what it used to be
Primitive love I want, I need, primitive love
Don't have to arrange, I don't want your money
I don't have to think, right now you've got me at the brink
This is goodbye for all the times I cried
Don't want no more, don't want no more
Primitive love
I want what it used to be, I want it
Primitive love, primitive love
I want what it used to be
I want what it used to be
Primitive love I want, I need, primitive love
Is it right or is it wrong
Primitive drums call me backward into stone
Pack up and leave, I'm not yours to deceive
Don't want you no more, don't want you no more
Primitive love
I want what it used to be, I want it
Primitive love, primitive love
I want what it used to be
I want what it used to be
Primitive love I want, I need, primitive love
Primitive love, primitive love, primitive love
The lyrics of Damien Leith's song "Not Just For The Weekend" convey the singer's desire for a kind of love that is unadulterated by modern complexities and a longing for a time when love was more instinctive and raw. He yearns for the simplicity of "primitive love," which he believes has been obscured by the artifice of contemporary romance. The singer is frustrated with his lover's lack of commitment, and he demands that they return to the "primitive" roots of their relationship.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is tired of the contemporary dating scene, which he perceives as a "hustle." He accuses his lover of being "much too sly" and not being genuine in their affection. He does not want to be lied to or manipulated, and he makes it clear that he wants to return to the kind of love that is more basic and intuitive. The singer's frustration reaches a boiling point when he declares "This is goodbye for all the times I cried," indicating that he is ready to move on from the artificiality of his current relationship.
In conclusion, the lyrics of "Not Just For The Weekend" reveal a desire for a more authentic form of love that is free from the constraints of contemporary dating culture. The singer wants to return to a time when love was instinctive, genuine, and raw.
Line by Line Meaning
Primitive love
Longing for love in its most basic, pure form
I want what it used to be, I want it
Desiring a love that was once present, but has since been lost
Primitive love, primitive love
Continuing to search for this basic, uncomplicated love
I want what it used to be
Still yearning for a love that was once there
I want what it used to be
Hopeful that this type of love still exists
Primitive love I want, I need, primitive love
Expressing the urgency and necessity of finding this type of love
Don't have to arrange, I don't want your money
Uninterested in material possessions or lavish gestures
I don't have to think, right now you've got me at the brink
Succumbing to the emotions of the moment and not overthinking things
This is goodbye for all the times I cried
Saying goodbye to past pain and hurt
Don't want no more, don't want no more
Refusing to tolerate any more hurt or disappointment
Is it right or is it wrong
Questioning whether this primitive type of love is socially acceptable or frowned upon
Primitive drums call me backward into stone
Feeling drawn back to a time where love was simple and uncomplicated
Pack up and leave, I'm not yours to deceive
Refusing to be misled or deceived by anyone
Don't want you no more, don't want you no more
Rejecting someone who doesn't represent the type of love that is desired
Primitive love
Still searching for that pure and basic form of love
I want what it used to be, I want it
Continuing to long for a love that may be difficult to find
Primitive love, primitive love
Never losing hope that this type of love exists and can be found
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAMIEN LEO LEITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind