It's Charlie. From the moment Idol finalist Charlie Daigneault and her guitar took the stage at Sailor Dan's Restaurant Tuesday night, June 30, there was no doubt why she was in the top three of the Coast's first Youth Idol competition.
"Brace yourselves," she told the crowd and ripped through three songs including a kind of rap/original number and a cover of the classic, Summertime. The judges, Idol co-organizer Verna Chan and musicians Paul Steenhuis and Ray Fulber, praised her versatility and her pitch control.
But then, they said nice things about the other two finalists, Sydney Johnson and Isabell Boese, too. The finale that wrapped up a six-week contest among the Coast's singing teens was not a foregone conclusion.
Host Chelsea Crawford warmed up the full house with an emotional God Bless the Child Who's Got Her Own, dedicated to the three young women who have inspired her. Last season's Coast Idol runner-up, rocker Bob Shaw, delivered a quieter, more mellow tune to the wildly enthusiastic audience. And, in an Idol first, Fulber played bass and sang in a pleasant voice just as you'd expect from the man who has recorded at least half the Coast's musicians in his Strait Sound Studio.
Chan dropped some mellow jazz in that big voice of hers along with bassist Steenhuis and a hot, young keyboard player, JJ Wagler, who is new to the Coast.
Three of the previous weeks' contestants were brought back to perform one song each, just so the audience could see why the judges' job had been so difficult.
Finally it was time for the three stars. After Charlie entertained, Sydney was up next with her knockout looks and some country songs that showcased the interesting quality in her voice. The judges told her that she had a "real country soul" and praised her great range. Isabell, who sings with a Nikki Weber group of young women called Metamorphosis, also looked stunning. She started with a pop song, then stumbled through the words for Fever. Nonetheless she had great stage presence as lauded by the judges, who also commented on her characteristic vibrato.
"I can't wait to see you in a few years," Chan said, as she was so sure of Boese's future in music.
Co-organizer Peter Beauchamp told the crowd proudly that, "The Youth Idol has given the contestants an opportunity to market themselves and move on in their musical careers."
After an audience vote, Crawford announced a very close result. It was Charlie, the winner, Isabell as runner-up and Sydney as second runner-up. All three received a gift basket from the many Molly's Lane sponsors.
The winner's prize package includes a $500 education fund, gift certificates and music lessons from some of the Coast's best: drum lessons from music store owner Graham Walker, vocal coaching from Shelley Dillon, song writing help from Lowry Olafson and guitar lessons from Bonar Harris, among others.
Although this first Youth Idol had come to an end, Beauchamp is looking ahead to Sunshine Coast Idol 2, open to vocalists of all ages, starting in September.
"Look out. Idol 2 is gonna rock," he said.
