Here I Am (Natalie Gauci song)

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“Here I Am”
“Here I Am” cover
Single by Natalie Gauci
from the album The Winner's Journey
Released November 26, 2007 (Digital)
November 28, 2007 (CD)
Format CD, digital download
Recorded Kings Cross Studio, Sydney, 2007
Genre Pop
Length 3:50
Label Sony BMG
Writer(s) Lindy Robbins
Tom Leonard
Certification Gold (ARIA)

"Here I Am" is the debut single for 2007 Australian Idol winner Natalie Gauci, written by Lindy Robbins and Tom Leonard.[1] This single was performed by the final two contestants - Gauci and Matt Corby - during the penultimate episode of Australian Idol 2007.

After Gauci won the competition on November 25, 2007, the song was available online through BigPond Music, a major sponsor of Australian Idol. The single was released as a CD single on November 28, 2007.

Contents

[edit] Background

Natalie Gauci was at first confused when she heard the demo, as it only contained male vocals. She realised that the writers of the song also wrote songs for The Backstreet Boys, and decided to make an overhaul of the song to record her own version. "Now the song sounds like I wrote it, I reckon," she says. "I feel very proud."[2]

[edit] Reception

Before the Australian Idol grand final, it was reported that both Gauci and Idol runner up Matt Corby had originally panned the winner's single and were unimpressed after hearing the demo of the song.[2]

Matt Corby was most uncomfortable with the song, who says that the pop song is "cheesy". "This competition has made me look like I'm into pop, but I'm not," he says.[1] He stated that the song was not the direction he was going to take, and wants to take a creative control for his music, as blues and roots was his most passionate music style.[3] "It's so far away from what I would release or write, but I have to cop it on the chin - it's part of the competition," he states.[4]

Top 3 finalist Carl Riseley had also performed a version of "Here I Am" with a swing style. He commented that his version sounded "bloody horrible".[5]

"Here I Am" was the first Australian Idol winner's single to not debut in the #1 position on the Australian Singles Chart. "Here I Am" sold only 7,463 copies in its first week, lower than all previous Australian Idol winners' singles.[6] The single was certified Gold for shipments of 35,000 in its second week on the chart.

[edit] Track listing

CD single
  1. "Here I Am" (Lindy Robbins, Tom Leonard) – 3:50
  2. "All in My Mind" (Natalie Gauci, James Kempster) – 3:46

[edit] Charts

Chart (2007) Peak
position
ARIA Singles Chart[7] 2

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Preceded by
"Apologise" by OneRepublic
ARIA Physical Singles Chart number one single
December 2, 2007 - December 9, 2007
Succeeded by
"Apologise" by OneRepublic