Young Divas

The title of Australia ’s most successful girl group currently belongs to the insanely camp Young Divas. The Divas’ original line up was comprised of four Australian contestants – the heavenly Paulini, the fabulous Ricki-Lee and two other trashy tarts. Unfortunately, Ricki-Lee recently announced her departure from the group in order to pursue her solo career. She will be missed but pop trash connoisseurs will be relieved to know that the Divas will go on, with a new album scheduled for late 2007.

Cover Queens

Young Divas started their career with a scintillating cover of Donna Summer’s “This Time I Know It’s For Real” and scored a massive top 5 hit. The girls then did the impossible and put together an album that "out gays" Marcia Hines' "Discotheque"! In fact, both albums share a similar concept. Marcia's album is comprised of disco covers from the 1970s, while Young Divas’ self-titled debut album sticks to 1980s pop music. And not just any old 80s material. The album is basically a collection of gay anthems and trash classics! There are a couple of tracks that have been done to death and really should have been left in peace - but who cares? Paulini and her backing singers breathe life into these classics and will hopefully bring a whole new audience to the likes of Donna Summer and Laura Branigan. A couple of interpretations are unnecessary and fall flat but, on the whole, this album is gay pop heaven and about as much fun as you can have without being on drugs! The response to “Young Divas” was huge. The album beat out some serious competition to debut at #4 on the Australian Album Chart over the busy Christmas period and has gone double platinum.

The album begins with Irene Cara’s classic “What A Feeling”. The song has been covered to death but the layered vocals work a treat and this anthem can't help but make you dig out some leg warmers and dance around like a poofter. The formula continues with “This Time I Know It’s For Real”. Young Divas launched their career with this SAW cover and it manages to more than hold its own with Donna Summer's original and Kelly Llorenna's fabulous high energy re-make. The song hit number #2 on the charts and went platinum. Kudos to the producers for being smart enough to let Paulini do most of the singing. The album’s first misfire is “Right About Now”, a cover of a Mousse T dance hit from a few years ago. The Divas have turned this into an En Vogue inspired urban groove. The song doesn't really fit with the others but it does come as a relief amongst all the cheese. The pillaging of classic hits then continues with Laura Branigan’s masterpiece “Gloria”. The girls butcher the song but do it in such a bright, gay, happy way that it’s impossible to resist. I just hope Laura isn't spinning in her grave.

“Happenin' All Over Again” was the second single from the album and takes on Lonnie Gordon's memorable SAW hit. The Divas’ version is fun but not as instant as their cover of "This Time I Know It's For Real". I would take Lonnie's version over this any day. That said, "Happenin' All Over Again" is still top shelf pop. Hazell Dean's “Searchin’” is a high camp classic and this version stays pretty true to the original but injects some much needed attitude. The album’s second stinker is the girls’ cover of “Woman In Love”. This is by far the strangest interpretation. While most of the cover versions "gay up" the originals to an even greater extent, Young Divas turn Barbra Streisand's classic into a slow groove R'n'B number. I'm not sure it works. In fact, it doesn't. Barbra's version shits all over this mess.

“It’s Raining Men” would have to make the list of the most covered songs of the past 20 years. I was dreading another version after that Spice has-been destroyed it for the “Bridget Jones' Diary” soundtrack. This version is much better than Geri's. In fact, it almost matches the heights of Deirdre Halliwell's "It's Raining Jizz"! The Weather Girls still take the crown but this is surprisingly excellent. “It’s Raining Men” is followed by one of the album’s best pop moments. I adore Deniece Williams and was frightened of what the Divas would do to her 80s classic, “Let’s Hear It For The Boy”. I was relieved and delighted when I discovered that they had given the song a bubble gum pop makeover. This should have been a single. Deniece fans will probably pull their hair out in disgust but this is insanely fun.

Next up is another Donna Summer classic. “She Works Hard For The Money” gets a Young Divas makeover and just like their cover of "This Time I Know It's For Real", this is an absolute winner. “Say I'm Your No. 1” represents a nice change of pace and yet another SAW cover. "Say I'm Your Number One" is one of the classiest songs ever to come out of the hit factory and Young Divas do it proud. The slower pace comes as a bit of a relief after the onslaught of gay disco that comes before it and Paulini's lead vocals are sublime as usual. The final track is “You'll Never Stop Me From Loving You”. Yes, that ugly, red troll – Sonia - gets a Young Divas’ overhaul. The Divas show that hideous, red beast how the song should be sound. The ladies seem to save their best for SAW covers and this is yet another superb track. The Young Divas are cheap, tacky and completely tragic - three fabulous reasons for their speedy ascent to pop trash icon status. 

Since the release of their debut album there have been some major changes in the Young Divas camp. Ricki-Lee Coulter has left the group to pursue her solo career and has been replaced by last year's Australian Idol runner-up, Jessica Mauboy. Homosexuals around the globe can breathe easier at night knowing that the ladies are currently in the studio working on another album of trashy covers.

- Mike

Happenin' All Over Again