Title fight on the Idol stage

The judges promised, and they delivered.

A few weeks ago Matt and Indira were unknowns with stars in their eyes. Thanks to NZ Idol, they're stars with an unknown future. The singers will be at each other's throats - vocally speaking - during the final on Sunday, before the winner walks away with $50,000, a car and the chance to release a single. But let's take a moment to recap ...

In the beginning ...It was hard to know what to expect from a third round of NZ Idol. Clearly, we forgot about those who weren't hit by the talent stick - like the "heavy metal Harry Potter" who made all the suffering of the early auditions worthwhile.

As for the real talent, surely we'd discovered it all in the first two series? Apparently not. Along came Victor, Ashlee, Clinton, Becks, Toni, Kali, Ben and Aroha.

It was the year of the judge, as newbies radio jock Iain Stables and former TrueBliss singer Megan Alatini joined Frankie Stevens on the panel and made us endure their irritating love/hate relationship, promising us a series with more controversy and drama than ever. They delivered.

Stables suffered a mini-stroke, publicly insulted Graham Brazier and just about everyone who graced the Idol stage; Megan refused to let Stables' opinions be heard, puked on his shoes, and wore a number of disturbing neck ornaments; and Frankie went a little crazy, driving for hours just to audition one person. As for Dominic, well he tried his hand at being a car salesman in the closing credits.

Externally, it was the year Neil Finn and Dave Dobbyn refused to be part of the show and Boh Runga went as far as to say she would "rather lick the inside of a toilet bowl".

For all the mud-slinging though, we've finally reached the top. Matt and Indira might be rivals on screen but they have known each other for years. In fact, they both admit to "spying" on each other when they performed in gigs around Auckland up to four years ago.

* NZ Idol final, TV2, Sunday, 7.30pm.


Matt Saunoa

Matt didn't even make it past his audition in the first series. Until recently he was building garages in Levin. "My boss keeps saying you've gone from singing on rooftops to singing on the national stage."

Pros: The most consistent performer, with a gutsy, gravelly vocal, Matt usually picks the right song - Gnarls Barkley's Crazy is the best example. A recent Centrebet poll put him as favourite to win. Has experience on the gig circuit, including with the Williams sisters, who have both gone far on Australian Idol. Says he plans to keep his name in lights for as long as possible after the show, and to start writing his own songs.

"A year ago I was overwhelmed with the birth of my son but my life and goals weren't going anywhere. I want to be a testament to anyone with dreams to know you can do it. And I think I've got so much more to give."

Cons: Matt has a crooner quality that occasionally saps his cool factor. The fact he has professed his love for his partner on numerous occasions might dampen his sex appeal with the all-important female voters. Admits it's been a while since he wrote any songs.

"My first bad comment from Stables was during my top three performance when he told me Barney the Dinosaur could have done a better job."


Indira Moala

Also known as the "Tongan diva", Indira is in her last year of a Bachelor of Music at the University of Auckland (majoring in composition). She also sings in a jazz band.

Pros: Judges have consistently praised her energetic performances. Her emotional rendition of Crowded House's Better Be Home Soon was particularly sincere. She's smart, ambitious and can hold a conversation. Writes her own songs.

"I want to take the career as far as I can, in terms of where the other Idol winners have left off. I really want to make something of the platform."

Cons: She has a tendency to over-sing, causing pitch problems on the big notes. Some of her comments to the judges could be construed as a little smug. "Every time I think about it I'm so embarrassed," she says of her worst performance, singing Alanis Morrissette's You Oughta Know. "It might have been a bit extreme for my persona."