Australian Idol down to final two contestantsArticle from: Font size: Decrease Increase Email article: Email Print article: Print Submit comment: Submit comment November 14, 2007 12:00am

AUSTRALIAN Idol is down to the final two and the singer booted off on Monday night is picking Melbourne girl Natalie Gauci to win.

 

Carl Riseley had high praise for both finalists.

 

However he said Natalie was ready to be a fully fledged recording artist and would benefit more from getting a deal with Sony BMG.

 

"She's an awesome arranger of music and I hope she wins, she's ready for it," Riseley said.

 

He said the other finalist, Matt Corby, was a "true artist, one of the most talented I have seen".

 

Riseley was diplomatic about outspoken finalist Tarisai Vushe, who didn't have kind words for the last three, including an extraordinary attack on Gauci after she was voted off the show.

 

"I just think the whole thing was a bit immature," he said.

 

"She's just a little naive and had a bit of a temper."

 

He is half glad he didn't make the final as his version of the winner's song would have sounded terrible because of his swing style. The song called Here I Am is believed to have been written by Delta Goodrem.

 

The former navy trumpeter said he was feeling good and a little relieved to have left the show.

 

"I don't know if Australia was ready to hear my swing version of the new Australian Idol hit," he laughed. "We did it, and it sounded bloody horrible.

 

"It didn't quite work, but it was fun mucking around with it."

 

The swing king hasn't had any offers from record companies yet, but is determined to pursue a career in music no matter what it takes. One thing Riseley does know for sure is that he won't be going back to the navy.

 

"No, they'd make me cut my hair -- I'm too attached to my new haircut," he said.

 

 

 

this would be wicked for delta. idols always have highest selling singles of the year. i wonder it it is the hear i am that is a Delta bside or a whole new song

 

 

Oh it must be the 'Here I am' that we know from the b-side. That song is just right for a winner of idol! Be interesting to here it!

Ooo, would be interesting to see what they do with it!

 

Thanks for posting! :)

Would be a very bizarre song choice for an Idol winner, it's not even got that dramatic a key change and don't they all have to be about how they never imagined they'd reach this point and it's been their dream, blah blah, blah.

its not the one by delta. thank god. i now think it would sound aweful

Did she write the song though?

it is unknown. but from the preformance the other night, it isnt deltas recorded version. she could have wrote it tho.. dont know yet. i heard the demo was male vocal...still could have been delta as a writer. i wouldnt count her out just yet. but i doubt she wrote it

Do you think it is the same 'Here I Am' that is on Leona's album?