Newfoundlanders holding their breath



By Dannette Dooley
Special to the Georgian

The final showdown between Upper Island Cove’s Craig Sharpe and Quebec’s Eva Avila for the title of Canadian Idol takes place on Monday evening, September 11.

One final opportunity to speak to the top two finalists was provided to media on Sept. 7 during a pre-arranged conference call and Q and A session.

Below are just some of the questions put to Craig from media representatives in Newfoundland and Labrador as well as other provinces.

Sass Jordan keeps saying that you’re only 16. Talk about how much you’ve grown up through this whole idol experience and how you might be changed by it.

I think that I’ve grown a nice bit since I’ve been in the competition, not only performance wise but maturing. And I’m after learning so much about the business and performing on stage… it’s a really good experience for when I leave the competition, for my career ahead of me, hopefully.

You’re very close with every member of your family… you’ve got your Kindergarten teacher heading up a committee to get people to vote for you. I’m wondering if you’ve actually thought about what’s going to happen with you, if you win Canadian Idol. Because, if that happens, I’m guessing you’re not going to be home as much anymore.

Singing is something I’ve loved doing since I was old enough to talk but, you know, family comes before anything. And I don’t think, I would not just come home and leave my family behind… I would try to get as much of my family to come with me as possible… family comes before anything (else).

The last time we spoke I remember saying to you… that voice of yours reminds me of a 12-year-old Michael Jackson and that was probably the best his voice ever was or ever will be. What are you doing right now in the next couple of days to prepare for probably the biggest moment in your life?

Thanks for the compliment (laughs). I think I’m just going to work really hard these last couple of days because this is my last shot… I’m going to get my songs down pat and practice, very, very much.

Right now, you’ve accomplished the same amount as Rex Goudie accomplished this time last year. I know that you mentioned that he’s one of your idols. Can you talk about Rex, your relationship with him and what advice he might have given you up until now?

The advice he’s been giving me for a long time now is just be yourself… to come this far now and Rex came this far… he knows exactly what I’m going through and he’s really supportive… he’s a really nice guy and nothing has changed with Rex, I don’t think.

How does it feel to work with some of the big name artists you’ve worked with this season?

It’s awesome just to get to work with Tony Bennett and all of the rest of them. It’s just a blessing for me… all the advice that they’ve given me is going to help me through the years. It’s priceless. It really is.

I gather you’ve become close to Eva. I’m just wondering if you can compare your singing style to hers. What are her strong points, what are your strong points and how do you see it shaping up for the finale?

Eva’s amazing… We’re both different. Eva can do things that I can’t do and there are things that I can do that Eva can’t because we have such a different style of music. She’s more of an R and B kind of feel and I’m just pop.

What prompted you to audition in the first place?

I’ve had my application filled out since Ryan Malcolm (the first Canadian Idol) won… This year was the first year I was old enough to try out… I tried out this year but I didn’t think I’d get as far as I did… things just went super great since then and I’m so happy. I can’t believe I’m in the finale. I don’t think it’s hit me yet that I’m here.

When we spoke before you spoke about how your musical ambitions and your life in general have been inspired by your music teacher Heather McDonald. Heather passed away suddenly earlier this year. She was only 28. What do you think Heather would say to you right now if she were still with us?

I think she’d be dancing. She’d be so proud of me right now. I know she’s really proud and I think that’s what’s getting me through each week, knowing that she’s really happy with what I’m after achieving.

During his Q and A with the media, Craig took the opportunity to ask those covering his Idol experience to do him a favor.

“I would like to ask you all to give out a really big thank you to all my fans out there… thank you very much for getting me here… I’m so grateful.”

On the Sept. 11 show, Craig and Eva will sing three songs each: a new selection of their own choosing, their favourite song that they have previously sung this season and the new Canadian Idol winner's single Meant to Fly. The song is described by the show’s promoters as a soaring ballad written by Chantal Kreviazuk, Raine Maida and Gaby Moreno.

The show gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on CTV with voting opening immediately after the broadcast. The crowning of the next Canadian Idol will take place during the show’s grand finale on Sept. 17.