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"
Shine Like The Sun
Damien Leith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the lights gone out
When the passion a flown
Where do we start?
What's left to say
When our tongues are tired
When the words that lied
When your defenses come down
Then I see you still shine like the sun
Brighter than anyone
Yeah you shine like the sun
You're still the only one
When will we sing?
When will we laugh?
Have we left space
For second tries
Is this the end?
Is this a close?
What's left behind
Are jaded lines
When your defenses come down
Then I see you still shine like the sun
Brighter than anyone
Yeah you shine like the sun
You're still the only one
Don't, please don't stay
That this time is time best spent being alone
When your defenses come down
Then I see you still shine like the sun
Brighter than anyone
Yeah you shine like the sun
You're still the only one
Brighter than anyone
Yeah you shine like the sun
You're still the only one
The lyrics of Damien Leith's song "Shine Like the Sun" revolve around a relationship that has lost its spark and is on the brink of collapse. The song opens with the question of where to start when everything seems to have fallen apart. The lines "When the lights gone out, When the passion a flown" suggest that the relationship has lost its vitality and romance. The second verse focuses on the exhaustion of communication - "When our tongues are tired, When the words that lied still linger on." The lyrics express a sense of hopelessness and carry with them a mournful tone.
However, the song takes a hopeful turn with the chorus. Even in this dark place, love prevails. The lines "When your defenses come down, Then I see you still shine like the sun, Brighter than anyone Yeah you shine like the sun, You're still the only one" serve as a reminder that the person you fell in love with still exists underneath the defences and lovers can always find their way back to each other. The bridge is a plea to not give up on the relationship - "Don't, please don't stay, That this time is time best spent being alone." The song ultimately ends with a message of hope, reminding listeners that even in the darkest moments, love has the power to mend and heal.
Line by Line Meaning
Where do we start
What is the first step to take when it all falls apart?
When the lights gone out
When all hope is lost
When the passion a flown
When the love has faded away
What's left to say
When there are no more words to express how one truly feels
When our tongues are tired
When we've said all we can say
When the words that lied
When the false promises still echo in our ears
Still linger on
Still causing pain and hurt
When your defenses come down
When you let your guard down
Then I see you still shine like the sun
Even in moments of vulnerability, you radiate brightness and positivity
Brighter than anyone
More radiant and optimistic than anyone else
You're still the only one
You are unique and special in your own way
When will we sing?
When will joy and happiness return?
When will we laugh?
When will we experience delight and amusement again?
Have we left space
Is there room for reconciliation?
For second tries
An opportunity to try again and fix past mistakes
Is this the end?
Is this the final goodbye?
Is this a close?
Is this the concluding chapter of our story?
What's left behind
What remains after everything has fallen apart
Are jaded lines
Are cynical and disheartened expressions
Don't, please don't stay
Don't linger in a situation that causes pain and hurt
That this time is time best spent being alone
Sometimes it's better to be alone than to be in a toxic situation
Contributed by Ryan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.