Born To Try

Background:

“Well, I’m not born to win and I’m not born to lose, but I am here to give it a good shot.” Delta Goodrem

Singer Delta Goodrem is a household name in Australia thanks to her seven No.1 singles: “Born To Try” (2002), “Lost Without You” (2003), “Not Me, Not I” (2003), “Predictable” (2003), “Innocent Eyes” (2003), “Out of the Blue” (2004) and “Almost Here” (2004). Embarking on her career in some commercials, Goodrem later also tried acting in the movie Hating Alison Ashley (2005) and the American drama series “North Shore” (2005, guest starred as Taylor Ward).

Goodrem is a member of RADD (Recording Artists, Actors And Athletes Against Drink Driving) and a well-known ambassador for Research Australia’s Thank You Day, which celebrates the country’s health and medical researchers. In November 2005, she received a Thank You Day Celebrity Advocacy Award. In addition, Goodrem established the Delta Goodrem Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Trust Fund and helped launch a UK web site aimed at young teenagers affected by cancer.

Goodrem is famous for her romantic relationship with former Westlife member Brian McFadden. Allegedly, the bond existed before McFadden separated with his wife, Kerry Katona, from the girl band Atomic Kitten. Subsequent to many depressing comments over the relationship, Goodrem’s mother reportedly advised her to end the relationship. Before dating the Irish singer, Goodrem was involved with Australian tennis star Mark Philippoussis, in 2004.


Hodgkin’s Disease

Childhood and Family:

Born on November 9, 1984, in Sydney, Australia, Delta Goodrem is the second child of Denis and Lea Goodrem (now also the manager of Delta). Showing a strong interest in music and performing, Delta learned piano and appeared in commercials as a child. Apart from music, the student of The Hills Grammar School also displayed a talent for various sports, such as netball, running and swimming. At age 13, she recorded a demo CD with five self-penned songs.

On July 11, 2003, it was announced that Goodrem was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, a treatable form of cancer. Some people criticized her saying she used the disease to boost her album sales. About the negative opinions, the singer stated, “I was sitting there trying to get my head around the fact I could die and I was being told that I could somehow use this to my advantage.”


Almost Here

Career:

When she was 7, Delta Goodrem appeared in an American commercial for Galoob Toys. Not long after, she was the face of “Nesquik” for four years. Attempting the screen world, she made guest appearances in the successful Australian shows “Hey Dad” (1993) and “Police Rescue” (1995).

Several years later, Goodrem sent her five-song demo CD to managers across Australia and eventually gained the attention of Glenn Wheatley, who then signed her to Sony Records Australia in 2001. However, her bubblegum pop debut single “I Don’t Care” (2001) only peaked at No.64 on the ARIA singles chart.

Goodrem’s chance opened up after she landed a role as singer Nina Tucker in the Australian soap opera “Neighbours” (2002), which brought her a Logie award for Most Popular New Female Talent. In an episode of the show, the teen performer showcased her next single “Born To Try,” which was released in November 2002.

With a different sound from her debut single, Goodrem’s “Born To Try” soon became a favorite in Australia and later nabbed 3 ARIA awards, an APRA award, an MTV Video Music award and a Video Hits award. After the chart-topping hit, Goodrem released a second single “Lost Without You” (2003), which also became an Australian number one song and gave her another APRA award. To complete the dramatic success, Goodrem launched the debut album Innocent Eyes in March 2003. Debuting at No.1, Innocent Eyes later became a highest selling album in Australia and collected 5 ARIA awards and an APRA award. The debut album also featured the No.1 hit songs “Not Me, Not I” and “Predictable.”

Goodrem, who harvested numerous Best Artist awards, took a break for 12 months of cancer treatment before returning with the album Mistaken Identity, released in November 2004. Its first single, the ballad “Out of the Blue” (released in October 2004), became another platinum song for Goodrem. Still, the sensation of her album was the No.1 single “Almost Here,” in which she sang a duet with boyfriend Brian McFadden. Mistaken Identity also spawned a title track and the song “A Little Too Late.”

Goodrem, who in September 2005 issued the digital-only inspirational song “Be Strong” (written for the late cancer sufferer Belinda Emmett), made her big screen debut with the title turn in the teen movie Hating Alison Ashley (2005). The same year, she joined the cast of the American drama series “North Shore” and appeared as Taylor Ward in two of its episodes.

On March 15, 2006, Goodrem performed the song “Together We Are One” for the opening ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Written by Goodrem, Brian McFadden and Guy Chambers for the ceremony, the track was eventually released as a single in April 2006 and peaked at No.2 on the Australian charts.

Doing collaborations, Goodrem sang a duet with Tony Bennett in “Steppin’ Out With My Baby” for the Australian version of Bennett’s album Duets: An American Classic (2006). She was recently also featured in Westlife’s album The Love Album (2006), singing the cover of “All Out of Love.”


Awards:

- World Music: Highest Selling Australian Artist, 2005
- MTV Australia Video Music: Pepsi Viewers Choice Award, 2005
- MTV Australia Video Music: Best Female Artist, 2005
- ARIA No.1: No. 1 position on the ARIA singles charts, “Almost Here,” 2005
- ARIA No.1: No. 1 position on the ARIA singles charts, “Out Of The Blue,” 2005
- ARIA No.1: No. 1 position on the ARIA album charts, Mistaken Identity, 2005
- ARIA: Highest Selling Album, Innocent Eyes, 2004
- ARIA No.1: No. 1 position on the ARIA album charts, Innocent Eyes, 2004
- ARIA No.1: No. 1 position on the ARIA singles charts, “Not Me, Not I,” 2004
- ARIA No.1: No. 1 position on the ARIA singles charts, “Predictable,” 2004
- World Music: Highest Selling Australian Artist, 2004
- APRA: Breakthrough Award, 2004
- Mo: Australian Performer of the Year, 2004
- Nickelodeon Australian Kids’ Choice: Fave Music Act, 2004
- ARIA: Best Female Artist, 2003
- Channel [V]: Oz Artist of the Year, 2003
- MTV Video Music: International Viewers’ Choice Award, “Born To Try,” 2003
- Video Hits: Video of the Year, “Born To Try,” 2003
- ARIA: Best Single, “Born To Try,” 2003
- ARIA: Best Breakthrough Artist (Single), “Born To Try,” 2003
- ARIA: Highest Selling Single, “Born To Try,” 2003
- ARIA: Highest Selling Album, Innocent Eyes, 2003
- ARIA: Best Breakthrough Artist (Album), Innocent Eyes, 2003
- ARIA: Best Pop Release, Innocent Eyes, 2003
- APRA: No. 1 position on the ARIA album charts, Innocent Eyes, 2003
- APRA: No. 1 position on the ARIA single charts, “Born To Try,” 2003
- APRA: No. 1 position on the ARIA single charts, “Lost Without You,” 2003
- Logie: Most Popular New Female Talent, “Neighbours,” 2003