His music overcomes all obstacles

By SHIRLEY BROUN

HARRISON Craig is living proof music can overcome all obstacles after winning the star-studded 2013 Grand Final of Australia’s prestigious The Voice, effectively becoming the Voice of Australia.

Winner of The Voice 2013 Harrison Craig

When audiences first saw 18-year-old Harrison, he punctuated his opening address to judges with a stutter, something he says he has done ever since he could talk.

Not that such an affliction has ever stopped him from his number one passion … to sing!

With all the judges – Seal, Joel Madden, Delta Goodrem and Ricky Martin - turning around to vie for his talents, it was Seal who got the nod from the talented teenager.

“I don’t care if you have a stutter,” said Seal. “As long as you keep singing like that I will fight like hell to give you what you want.”

And so began Harrison’s extraordinary journey with Seal on The Voice which saw him score three No.1 hits on iTunes and record his Winners Single `Unconditional’.

“In reality I am just a young guy from Melbourne who came here with a dream …,” said an elated Harrison whose heart was touched by the tears of his mother and brother Connor who were with him every step of his journey.

He also had only praise for his mentor: “Seal is a beacon of strength to me. He really cared about me and I’m blessed to have him in my life.”

A duet of `He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’ with his mentor Seal was a true highlight for fans and audiences across the nation.

The beautiful voice of runner-up Luke Kennedy, 30 – a member of the acclaimed Ten Tenors – accentuated the high level of performance by finalists competing for the top award.

The Voice 2013 Runner-up Luke Kennedy

Luke paid tribute to his mentor Ricky Martin. “Ricky pushed and helped me to showcase a versatility I didn’t realise I had. He let me explore my emotions through music and led me into an upward projectory that is not going to stop now. This is just the beginning,” said Luke.

The night was full of highlights which fans and viewers lapped up with enthusiasm. Duets featuring finalists and their mentors were a big hit.

Danny Ross and Joel Madden kicked off the duets with the hit song `Pompeii’ by Bastille, followed by Ricky Martin and Luke Kennedy with the tale of El Tango De Roxanne from the movie Moulin Rouge.

Celia Pavey teamed up with her mentor Delta Goodrem to sing the Lisse version of Fleetwood Mac’s classic song `Go Your Own Way’.

The entertainment just kept coming including Ricky Martin’s world exclusive performance debut of his new single ‘Come With Me’ and Ryan Tedder and his band One Republic also debuted their new single “Counting Stars’.

And, international superstar Robin Thicke performed ‘Blurred Lines’ with his band.

The 2013 finale of The Voice was certainly a night to remember!

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