Marlisa Punzalan Premieres 'Stand By You' (LISTEN)

It was the closest finale vote in the history of The X Factor Australia, as the percentage separating the winner and runner-up was just 0.01%. But, when it was all said and done, the show FINALLY crowned its very first winner from the Girls category. Yes, Marlisa Punzalan was declared the winner of The X Factor Australia 2014, defeating runner-up Dean Ray and second runners-up Brothers 3 in the Grand Final. It was an absolutely wonderful winning moment for Marlisa, who seemed completely shocked and in total disbelief. The only thing better, actually, was hearing Marlisa perform her winner's single, "Stand By You," an upbeat pop/dance track that is among the better winner's singles I've heard on a show like this.

And now the studio version is out via Marlisa's brand new VEVO page. But how does the studio version of "Stand By You" stack up against the live version? Well, you can decide for yourself by listening to the track below:

I love this. I actually thought it was the strongest of the three winner's singles, although I admittedly really liked all three (yes, even Brothers 3's). This, in my opinion, proved to be a great way to cap off a solid season of The X Factor Australia. It's hard to argue that Marlisa isn't a deserving winner, as she proved to be not only one of the best singers in the entire competition, but also one of the most consistent performers. Her growth really was a joy to watch throughout the competition, and I'm excited to see what's ahead for her. As for now, I think "Stand By You" is a great first single, and I'm looking forward to the release of her debut, Marlisa, on November 7th.

But what do you think of the single? Sound off in the comments!