Scot-free? No thanks

Ambitious young performer Niklas believes he's got what it takes to sing the Scottish team's anthem at the Rugby World Cup - and he's got a plan, reports Rowena Orejana.

Niklas is having the time of his young life. The runner-up in this year's Beach Hop at Whangamata Idol is singing Mustang Sally before a crowd of 10,000-15,000 people. His back-up singers are no less than Boh Runga and Brian McVernon of the Australian band Retro Rockets.
"The only thought that was going through my head was when I see people smile when I sing, I  knew I was doing a good job," says the 14-year-old, who uses just the name Niklas for publicity.
For a young man in the midst of adolescence, Niklas's voice is surprisingly strong and cool, not high-pitched. He has the intensity of a more mature singer. His next big gig, he hopes, will be to sing Flower of Scotland, the Scottish team anthem,  at next year's World Rugby Cup.
The idea came up when he sang the song at the Howick Lions in the Park Military Tattoo,  which celebrates Scottish history. Councillor Sharon Stewart, who organises the event, talked to his mum, Annamette Hansen, about the possibility.
Ms Hansen says Niklas will do a studio recording of the song and they will submit it to the team. "He can sing it very well," she says.
Says Niklas: "If I get to sing it, it will be an amazing experience that  I won't take for granted."
Niklas is shy and at times reveals a boyish air of uncertainty.  But this uncertainty vanishes the moment he holds his guitar and begins to sing.
Pakuranga College principal Michael Williams says Niklas is starting to make his mark at school. "He is a very talented young man," he says. "We hope to offer the opportunity that will give him the chance to grow and excel."
Ms Hansen says Niklas works hard to get to where he wants. He busks to raise money for his musical instruments and  studio recording. She tries to be as supportive as she can.
"He is just humble and shy and he does not put himself out there," she says. "But this is what he wants. This is who he is."
She explains that her son has been asked to return to Whangamata next year to perform again. "They are sort of promoting the youngest artist there."
Niklas is trying to form his own band at school, a band he hopes will perform at that event. As for the future, he says he is really considering only two options: joining a band or going solo.
Sally forth
Mustang Sally is an R&B song written and first recorded by Mack Rice in 1965, 30 years before Niklas was born.
It was went to No 15 on the US Rhythm and Blues charts that year. Wilson Pickett's version climbed to R&B's No 6 and 23 on the pop charts in 1966. Pickett's version also ranked 434th on the 2004 Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest  songs.
Niklas says he chose it because it was "a real crowd pleaser".