Just as I Am is the debut album by Australian singer
Guy Sebastian.
Given the relative popularity of Australian Idol in late 2003,
BMG Australia subsequently contracted Sebastian for a record before
Christmas 2003. He wanted to record a mixture of
pop and
R&B material. Guy Sebastian co-wrote three of the songs on the album "All I Need Is You", "I 4 U" and "Something Don't Feel Right". He says on his web page: "I think the credibility in having your own stuff makes you as an artist. Credibility is what I've always strived for and I couldn't imagine my first record not having one of my songs on it." The album also features cover versions of "
What a Wonderful World" by
Louis Armstrong, "
Can You Stand the Rain" by
New Edition and "
When Doves Cry" by
Prince.
Commercial performance
The first single from the album, "
Angels Brought Me Here", debuted at number one having set a record for first week single sales for a debut for an Australian artist and was the highest selling single in Australia in 2003.[2][3] "Angels Brought Me Here" went on to earn five platinum accreditations and win the 2004 ARIA for Highest Selling Single.[4][5] The song also reached #1 in four Asian countries and New Zealand.[6] In January 2010 it was announced as the highest selling song of the previous decade by
ARIA, finishing ahead of
Anthony Callea's cover version of "
The Prayer".[7]
Just as I Am was released in December 2003 and debuted at number one on the Australian album charts selling 163,711 copies in its first week.[8][9] This remains the second highest ever one week sales for any album in ARIA chart history.[10]Just as I Am became the 5th highest selling album in Australia in 2003 within three weeks of release.[11] It reached 6× platinum, and eventually sold in excess of 480,000 units.[2][12][13] It received a nomination for highest selling album at the 2004 ARIA Awards.[4]Just as I Am places #28 on ARIA's list of highest selling albums of the last decade, the 9th highest entry for an Australian artist, and the highest for an Australian Idol contestant.[7] The second single "All I Need Is You" also debuted at number one in the Australian charts and was accredited platinum.[14][15]Just as I Am was also released in New Zealand, where it peaked at #3 and achieved double platinum accreditation.[16][17]