A group of four Australian Idol women working together rather than competing against one another? Doubts ran high from the beginning. And when Ricki-Lee Coulter left the Young Divas in June of this year to pursue a solo career, her departure seemed destined to be the end of the group of Idol powerhouse songstresses. But it wasn’t, and anyone who was at this year’s Mardi Gras knows why.
In March 2007, the Young Divas performed a 3am Mardi Gras medley of their biggest hits sans Ricki-Lee who was in the U.S. recording a solo album. The Young Divas, didn’t miss a beat without Ricki-Lee, and if band member Emily Williams’ description is anything to go by, it was, in fact, Ricki-Lee who missed out.
‘OH MY GOD! I have to say this out really loud – the Mardi Gras performance for me, Kate and Paulini was the best gig we ever did. We came up from behind Ayers Rock, and all we could see were these screaming, naked men. I was standing there perving going, “You are beautiful, but we have to keep singing.â€Â… Mardi Gras was awesome, and if I could I would do it again and again and again.’
It is somewhat ironic that while Ricki-Lee was striking out on her own, the Young Divas were the life of the party and loving it. Since Ricki-Lee’s departure, the three Mardi Gras Divas have signed on Australian Idol series four runner-up Jessica Mauboy and according to Emily, it’s a ‘new person, new sound, new look, New Attitude’ on their second album.
With all the changes to the group, there is one thing that has stayed the same – the common thread that has brought the girls together – Australian Idol. Singers who made their name in a nationally televised competition against each other may seem unlikely candidates for collaboration, but again the Young Divas are a surprise. As Emily explains, her competition against fellow band member Kate DeAraugo in the third series of Australian Idol was the beginning of a friendship, not a challenge to one, even when Kate edged Emily out in the final tally to win the title.
‘When me and Kate were the only two left in the house, it was so funny because when we started the show, we were the two who had no fans. We had no signs, we had no little kids screaming for us, we had nothing. So, we were the first two who looked at each other and said, “Man, we are out.‒
But as most of Australia knows, neither Kate nor Emily were out, and in fact, after surviving the early rounds of Idol, both became fan favourites. Now, in their post-Idol years, they along with Jess and Paulini, continue to win over Australia. And as Emily told OUTinPerth, there is not another group in Australia quite like them.
‘I hope that it [the group] goes all the way because we are the only set of four girls in a group singing together at this very time and this very moment in Australia… To be four girls right now doing the best they can, to be getting out there and doing covers and singing such big songs, I honestly give us credit, having the guts to get up there,’
Young Divas – New Attitude – SonyBMG
With four Australian Idol finalists covering divas past and present, this album could easily have been (and sounded like) a cat fight. Luckily, that wasn’t the case and the girls hit the high notes, adding their own diva touch to standout tracks Turn Me Loose (original Loverboy) and Chain Reaction (originally sung by Diana Ross). From their opening role call on Got To Be Real, it’s clear that the Young Divas love their ‘New Attitude’.
