Voice singers strike a chord

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SYDNEYSIDER James Sieff stole Delta Goodrem’s heart with his rendition of You’ve Got a Friend In Me on Channel Nine’s The Voice on Monday night.

Towards the end of his audition Goodrem hit her button and turned her chair.

Goodrem was then on stage and hugging Sieff, who admits to being nervous and shy, by the time he had finished his audition.

Goodrem and the Madden brothers from Good Charlotte, who turned their chairs during the final moments of his song, then fought for Sieff’s attention.

“James, let’s not forget our moment,” Delta screamed out referring to the hug.

In the end, it all came down to Sieff’s decision.

“I’m pretty afraid of girls,” he said as the crowd laughed, “but as soon as Delta turned around I felt a connection there, so Team Delta.”

Meanwhile Melburnian Fem Belling wowed the judges with her version of the jazz classic, Bye Bye Blackbird.

“It has always been one of my favourite songs,” Belling told The AJN. “It’s one of those good old fashioned jazz standards and I was worried that I was taking a risk singing it on The Voice.”

However, the 36-year-old need not have worried when she performed it on the show’s Blind Auditions on Tuesday last week.

All the judges – Jessie J, Ricky Martin, Goodrem and Joel and Benji Madden – gave her the seal of approval.

“I was really thrilled with their responses,” she said. “I have no illusions where jazz sits in the commercial world. I believe it has a place in the music industry and I’m thrilled to be flying the flag for jazz.

“People have contacted me on social media saying that they loved the song, but didn’t even know they liked jazz!”

Belling chose to join Jessie J’s team and will now compete in the Battle Rounds. She hopes to make it through to the live finals, where the winner receives $100,000, a recording contract with Universal Music Australia and a new car.

The Voice is currently screening on the Nine Network.

DANNY GOCS