63-541: The Teen Queens were an Australian pop music girl group, formed in 1991 by three model-singer-actresses: Roxanne Clarke, Kellie Crawford and Liza Witt. In 1992 and 1993, they scored four hit singles on the ARIA Charts with cover versions of " Be My Baby " (No. 6, May 1992), " I Can't Help Myself " (No. 28, July 1992), " Love How You Love Me " (No. 14, September 1992) and " Baby It's You " (No. 91, April 1993). The group's debut album, Get Happy! ,
126-582: A Coca-Cola TV ad. In July 1992, the Teen Queens appeared on E Street as contestants on a fictitious, in-show dating game, Dream Date . They had further top 40 singles including The Four Tops' " I Can't Help Myself " (No. 28) in July 1992 and The Paris Sisters ' " Love How You Love Me " (No. 14) in September 1992. The latter track featured on an episode of E Street for the wedding theme for
189-693: A Hi-5 Christmas at number four in December 2001; and their greatest hits album, Hi-5 Hits , reached number ten in July 2003. Critics in the Australian press often described Hi-5 as quality children's entertainment. The original line-up were praised both as a cohesive ensemble, and for their talents at singing and dancing. Reviewers highlighted the group members' energy and enthusiasm. Hi-5's music has been described as simple, "infectious", and inspired by pop music. The brand's employment of diverse performers, to serve as positive role models for children,
252-481: A Hi-5 Christmas went platinum, and It 's a Party received double platinum status. Four of their albums reached the top 10 on the ARIA Albums Chart; It 's a Party (number four, July 2000), Boom Boom Beat (number three, August 2001), It 's a Hi-5 Christmas (number four, December 2001) and Hi-5 Hits (number ten, July 2003). It was reported in 2005 that a feature film starring
315-601: A Hi-5 Christmas ) and gold ( Celebrate ). Four of them reached the top 10 on the ARIA Albums Chart ; It 's a Party (number four, July 2000), Boom Boom Beat (number three, August 2001), It 's a Hi-5 Christmas (number four, December 2001) and Hi-5 Hits (number ten, July 2003). By 2004, the original line-up had received three Logie Television Awards for Most Outstanding Children's Program and five consecutive ARIA Music Awards for Best Children's Album . The group's later iterations did not enjoy
378-665: A Latin American group was created, followed by a local version for the Philippines in 2015, and the introduction of an Indonesian group in 2017. Business Review Weekly ' s annual Australian income list recognised the group as one of the country's highest paid entertainment groups, estimating annual earnings of A$ 18 million in 2007. The franchise was reported as Australia's highest selling children's music property in 2007. The original quintet consistently received album ARIA accreditations for their releases: Celebrate
441-627: A big brother or sister role as opposed to a parental role and just try to have fun." —Nathan Foley, 2004 Hi-5, and the related television series, blended educational aspects with music and movement, while regularly updating the music and costumes to remain "abreast of the times". The members were presented as older siblings or friends to their young audience, rather than appearing as adults teaching them. The series' creators loosely based it on an underlying educational structure influenced by Howard Gardner ' s theory of multiple intelligences . The producers recognised that most children have
504-609: A founding member of the children's music group, Hi-5 , from September 1998 to December 2008: she appeared on the TV series of the same name . Witt appeared on TV shows, Good Morning Australia and Mornings with Kerrie-Anne and, as from 2006, she hosted a TV online-shopping site. Clarke and her brother PJ Clarke devised the performing arts agency 'Detour' out of Brent Street Studios in Sydney from 1998 to 2003. As agents they launched many performers and creatives into successful careers within
567-470: A member of pop group Teen Queens . She left Hi-5 in December 2008 after ten years with the group. Crawford was born Kellie Lynn Hoggart on 1 May 1974. She began her career as a teenager appearing in Pizza Hut commercials. In 1991, at age 17, Crawford along with Liza Witt and Roxanne Clarke, formed an idea to bring back music from the past and recreate it as a pop music act. Initially, they tried to launch
630-438: A musical appeal to capture children's attention. Harris said that while Hi-5 was predominantly a television series, its music was able to be differentiated from the show. Featuring five performers, the cast were intended to act as the audience's older siblings or friends, rather than adults teaching children. Harris was inspired to develop a show with broad appeal and accessible themes such as family and animals. She modelled
693-570: A net worth of A$ 18 million in 2009 to A$ 9.7 million in 2010. In June 2012, the Nine Network sold the Hi-5 brand to Asian equity group, Asiasons, through a private fund. The company planned to expand the brand throughout Southeast Asia, while maintaining its presence in Australia. Former series' producer Julie Greene became the brand's executive creative director. The Hi-5 brand
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#1732776441219756-415: A preferred style of learning , and structured the group's work to have each member modelling skills in a specific area such as kinesthetic learning and musicality . Harris observed most children would identify with the presenter who demonstrated their favoured learning style. According to the group's website, Hi-5 incorporated Piaget's theory of cognitive development . The educational theory caters to
819-578: A roster of temporary performers for touring purposes until 2019. Hi-5 were formed in September 1998 in Sydney, Australia, as a children's musical group . Television producer Helena Harris, who had worked on Bananas in Pyjamas , co-created Hi-5 as a concept for a new television show of the same name for the Nine Network . She and co-producer Posie Graeme-Evans developed the series as preschool entertainment, blending educational theories with
882-430: A teen TV soap opera, for a self-titled half-hour TV program about a girl group set in 1960s. According to The Canberra Times correspondent the show "follows three girls from the country who head to the city to make it big in the music world. Naturally all doesn't go according to plan." By the time that the pilot was turned down, the trio had made the group a reality as a dance-pop act. In May 1992 their cover version of
945-409: A teenage and adult following, with dedicated older fans; adult followers in the Philippines would use the group's songs to learn English. Later iterations of the group were criticised for their performances, and the brand was criticised for frequent membership changes. In her blog for The Daily Telegraph in 2011, Sarrah Le Marquand found fault with Brant's musical abilities, claiming that while she
1008-443: A wide range of ages in the audience while being aimed primarily at children aged two to eight. Harris intended for the central themes promoted to be universally accessible, as she believed children are essentially the same around the world. The pace and design of the group's performances were influenced by that of contemporary music videos. They encouraged participation at their live stage shows through interactive elements with which
1071-477: The Business Review Weekly ' s annual list several times, earning an estimated A$ 18 million in 2007. As employees of the brand, once owned by the Nine Network, the members of Hi-5 did not hold equity . The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) certified their albums as double platinum ( It 's a Party ), platinum ( Jump and Jive with Hi-5 , Boom Boom Beat , It 's
1134-586: The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Albums Chart . Hi-5 won the 2000 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Children's Program in recognition of their television program, and the ARIA Award for Best Children's Album for Jump and Jive with Hi-5 . Their releases consistently received album accreditations; Celebrate was certified as gold, while Jump and Jive with Hi-5 , Boom Boom Beat and It 's
1197-620: The Circus show in Singapore. Harding permanently departed in November after recovering from his injuries and was replaced by Nicholson. Robinson (then referred to as Delaney) exited from the group in February 2008. She expressed an interest in proving herself as an actor for an adult audience and said she would help find a replacement member. After leaving, she established a career in
1260-529: The Australian media industry as a presenter. In April, Casey Burgess was revealed as Robinson's replacement and began touring with the group. In March 2008, the Nine Network, along with production company Southern Star, purchased the Hi-5 brand. The change of ownership saw Harris and Graeme-Evans end their involvement with the franchise, which was placed under the direction of Martin Hersov and Cathy Payne, Nine and Southern Star executives. By November 2008,
1323-399: The Nine Network announced that because of their ongoing financial difficulties, they had sold the Hi-5 brand in its entirety to Malaysian-based equity group , Asiasons. Datuk Jared Lim, Asiasons's managing director, described plans to expand Hi-5 throughout Southeast Asia, while keeping the group's presence in Australia intact. Julie Greene, former producer of the television series, assumed
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#17327764412191386-541: The Ronettes' " Be My Baby " became a No. 6 hit on the ARIA Singles Chart . Their debut album, Get Happy! , was released on Westside Records/ Phonogram in November 1992 and reached No. 36 on the ARIA Albums Chart. It included "some classic songs from the '60s." Bevan Hannan of The Canberra Times rated the album at 3 out of 10, he felt that it was "Manufactured pop... for aspiring musicians (?) like
1449-450: The Teen Queens, who supposedly have the world at their feet, why would you choose to play the type of material that clapped out rockers use on the RSL club circuit? Get Happy! is a bit like that... it would probably be better to tune in to 2CA, or better still purchase one of the '60s rock box collections. The originals blow away this regurgitated stuff." The group also provided the vocals for
1512-511: The UK in 2004, and in 2005 performed in arenas around Australia to maximise the audience capacity. In addition to their regular tours, Hi-5 appeared annually at Vision Australia ' s Carols by Candlelight in Melbourne, broadcast live by the Nine Network on Christmas Eve. In early 2006, de Leon Jones announced she was pregnant, and would take maternity leave from April onwards. Sun Park
1575-422: The brand. Crawford noted, "the money system has to go a long way around before it gets to us". In March 2008, the Nine Network and production company Southern Star purchased the Hi-5 brand. The franchise was placed under the direction of Martin Hersov and Cathy Payne, Nine and Southern Star executives, while Harris and Graeme-Evans ended their involvement with the company with the sale. The brand dropped from
1638-528: The cast wore costumes she designed under her new fashion label, Loliboli. Her successor, Tanika Anderson , was already working with the group as an understudy and puppeteer. Nicholson departed in December 2015 to further his performing career and promote his children's book, Superdudes . He was replaced by Lachie Dearing, who was introduced on tour in January 2016. After being cast in an Australian musical production of Xanadu in January 2016, Melham left
1701-505: The characters of Toni and CJ. A final single, a cover version of The Shirelles ' " Baby It's You " was released in April 1993, which peaked at No. 91. In June that year they performed the track on TV's Midday show, with backing by the station's Geoff Harvey band. A second album, Get Happy! II , was released in July 1993 before the group disbanded. After the Teen Queens split in 1993, each member pursued solo projects. Crawford became
1764-471: The children engage. Group members expressed that performances were adapted to include more songs and physical elements in countries where English is not the main spoken language. Hi-5 brand creators, Harris and Graeme-Evans, originally owned it under their joint production company Kids Like Us. In contrast to their peer entertainers, the Wiggles, the cast of Hi-5 did not hold equity , but were employees of
1827-594: The fourth generation of the group. The quintet debuted at Carols by Candlelight on Christmas Eve, Hi-5's first appearance at the Nine event since 2012. The new television series was filmed in Malaysia and premiered in May 2017 on Nine's multichannel, 9Go! in Australia. Additional filming in 2018 was halted before the Australian production office was closed and the brand was relocated to Singapore. All five members departed
1890-530: The group had undefined member roles and that the performers attempted to upstage each other. Similarly, in a 2011 survey by the Australian Council on Children and the Media, parents condemned the costuming of the group, stating it was inappropriate for the audience and "premature sexualisation". Commentators have expressed disapproval of the franchise frequently replacing its performers with new talent;
1953-618: The group in June 1998 (narrowing down around 300 people to only five), the television pilot for Hi-5 was produced in mid-1998. The original cast consisted of Kellie Crawford (née Hoggart), Kathleen de Leon Jones , Nathan Foley , Tim Harding and Charli Robinson . After being commissioned, production began in October 1998. The first series premiered in April 1999 on the Nine Network. In September, Sony Music released their debut album, Jump and Jive with Hi-5 , which reached number 33 on
Teen Queens - Misplaced Pages Continue
2016-502: The group was in early development, as well as arrangements for a single release. Hi-5 toured nationally for up to eight months of every year, with sell-out concerts in venues such as the Sydney Opera House . The quintet's production of Hi-5 Alive won the 2002 Helpmann Award for Best Presentation for Children , while their Space Magic production was nominated in the same category in 2006 . The group first toured
2079-420: The group's new line-up. Burgess described the change as a difficult transition period that led to uncertainty over their future. They toured regional Australian locations in early 2010 to build a new audience. The group celebrated the 500th episode of the television series in 2010, and in 2011, they rerecorded several of the original line-up's songs. They did not receive the same positive critical reception as
2142-574: The group's style on the fast-paced nature of contemporary music videos and strove to allude to items of current interest (such as relevant curriculum as well as popular jokes, films and music) to keep children engaged. Harris recalled watching the Spice Girls , whose dance moves she believed preschoolers could copy. The creators saw the need for "life-affirming" television for rapidly maturing preschoolers and found most children learn from programs which use music and movement. After auditions for
2205-546: The group, and new member Gabe Brown took his place in February. Brown was later succeeded by Chris White. The Nine Network renewed its partnership with the Hi-5 franchise in October 2016 and expressed plans to revive the original television series with a new cast in 2017. As a result, Zheng, Lascaris, Anderson and White gave their last performances in December 2016. After auditions were held in November 2016, new members Courtney Clarke, Shay Clifford, Joe Kalou and Bailey Spalding were revealed in December, joining Dearing to form
2268-402: The group, and the brand used temporary touring members for the remainder of 2018. The franchise continued employing non-permanent performers for touring purposes in 2019. Hi-5 were described as "a pop group for kids" by Foley in 2004. Chris Harriott was the group's primary composer, writing thousands of their tracks. Graeme-Evans and Harriott had worked together when he scored the themes for
2331-399: The industry and produced entertainment at events. Clarke currently works with her brother PJ at Jeep Management Pty Ltd in Sydney, Australia. Kellie Crawford Kellie Lynn Crawford , née Hoggart (born 1 May 1974), is an Australian singer, actress and children's performer. Crawford was an original member of the Australian children's musical group Hi-5 from 1998 to 2008 and was also
2394-704: The older demographic. This received mixed reception but Crawford was confident that she is constantly advocating positive messages for all her target audiences. Crawford was announced as a judge for the Seven Network's talent program All Together Now in 2018. Since 2019, Crawford has been based in Melbourne, Australia and is a freelance voice-over artist and television actress. In 2023 Crawford returned to her home town of Sydney to continue working as an Actor represented by Williams Management and Voice Artist Represented EM Voices. Born in Sydney, Crawford
2457-406: The original line-up had left, and the group's membership changed several more times after that. They collectively starred in several television series, released albums, and performed on worldwide tours. The television series features puppet characters Chatterbox and Jup Jup, who were included in the group's live stage shows . Hi-5 were one of Australia's highest paid entertainment groups, placing in
2520-538: The original members; one reviewer found fault with the new line-up's vocal abilities. The group joined World Vision Australia as ambassadors in 2009, beginning their work in the Philippines while on a promotional tour, and completing a volunteer trip to Cambodia in 2012. They also became representatives of the Starlight Children's Foundation in 2009; their work included regular visits to hospitals while on tour. Irvine's final performance as part of Hi-5
2583-542: The pace of Hi-5's performances. Just a few days before this, Stevie Nicholson had been hired as an understudy and was put straight to work as a temporary replacement for Harding. The group toured the Hi-5 Circus Stageshow in 2007; the show adopted a circus theme and incorporated tricks such as trapeze , tightrope walking and gymnastics . They had only one week of training; some members benefitted from prior experience. Nicholson debuted on tour with
Teen Queens - Misplaced Pages Continue
2646-435: The producers were "opting to recruit younger, cheaper performers". Neither of them responded to these reports, but Park denied the industry rumours, saying that there had been no pressure for any of them to resign. The departing members gave their final performance at Carols by Candlelight on Christmas Eve in Melbourne. In February 2009, Lauren Brant , Fely Irvine and Tim Maddren joined Nicholson and Burgess to complete
2709-595: The production company shifted the commercial focus of the group to the Southeast Asian market, with an increase in Asian touring locations. In 2014, the group debuted in the Middle East with a Dubai show and toured Bangkok for the first time in ten years. They returned to the Philippines in 2015 for an encore season after a sold-out run of concerts the previous year. A new television series entitled Hi-5 House
2772-490: The project as a television idea set in the themed time of the 1960s. As the group experienced difficulties getting the television show off the ground, they diverted their attentions towards simply creating music. They decided to name the group The Teen Queens , and from 1992 to 1993 the group released three top ten ARIA singles. After the group split in 1993, Crawford continued to act in television and movies, and appear in commercials for companies such as Pizza Hut. Crawford
2835-555: The remaining original cast members had stated their intent to withdraw from the group. Crawford reported in October that she would be leaving at the end of the year to explore other options, and a month later, Foley outlined his plan to exit and focus on his adult music career. In December, Park also stated she would be departing the group since she had expected only to be a temporary replacement. The Daily Telegraph ' s Sydney Confidential reporter alleged that Hi-5's production company had asked Crawford and Foley to leave, and that
2898-454: The respective groups had different musical styles, with Harriott's compositions resembling top 40 rather than nursery rhymes . Original member of the Wiggles and classical musician Phillip Wilcher commended the gentle educational appeal of Hi-5's music, and declared that they seemed to "know the subtle difference between childlike and childish." "We are a pop group but with educational values and we push this as much as possible. We take on
2961-464: The role of executive creative director. New members Mary Lascaris and Ainsley Melham joined Nicholson, Brant, and Zheng in early 2013. The audition process was filmed and turned into a documentary-style film, Some Kind of Wonderful , which premiered exclusively through Hoyts Cinemas in Australia in March. The press branded this line-up as a "new generation" of the group. Throughout this period,
3024-410: The same name . Helena Harris and Posie Graeme-Evans created the television series for the Nine Network , which premiered in 1999. The group were made up of five performers who entertained and educated preschool children through music, movement and play. Kellie Crawford , Kathleen de Leon Jones , Nathan Foley , Tim Harding and Charli Robinson were the founding members. By the end of 2008, all of
3087-432: The same popularity or critical success as its original line-up. Hi-5 were last nominated for a major Australian award in 2012 and last released an album in 2014. The Nine Network sold the brand in 2012 to Malaysian-based group Asiasons, who shifted its commercial focus to the Southeast Asian market. After a short-lived television revival in 2017, the group's production company wholly relocated to Singapore and began employing
3150-447: The show, Word Play , promoted and educated children on language skills and recognition of sounds and noises. In October 2008, she announced that she would quit Hi-5 after ten years of commitment to the group alongside Nathan Foley . She was replaced by Lauren Brant . Following her exit from children's entertainment group, Hi-5 , Crawford was featured in a racy Ralph cover story. She expressed her desire to establish herself for
3213-416: The teen dramas series, The Miraculous Mellops (1991) and Mirror, Mirror (1995), and he had worked on his own in Australian theatre. The creators approached him and tasked him with writing top ten songs for an age range of two to six. Harriott worked regularly with a group of lyricists, including Chris Phillips, Leone Carey and Lisa Hoppe. Foley cited the Wiggles as an influence of Hi-5, but noted
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#17327764412193276-453: The television series. In 2002, an American version of Hi-5 was created; the group filmed for television, recorded albums and toured. By 2005, franchises local to India, South America and Germany were planned, but these did not eventuate. A television series and a tour introduced the UK group in 2008. After the brand's sale in 2012, there was a return to licensing international groups. In 2014,
3339-534: Was accredited as gold, while Jump and Jive with Hi-5 , Boom Boom Beat and It 's a Hi-5 Christmas went platinum. It 's a Party received double platinum status. Four of the original line-up's albums reached the top 10 on the ARIA Albums Chart ;– It 's a Party peaked at number four in July 2000; Boom Boom Beat reached number three in August 2001; It 's
3402-408: Was an enthusiastic entertainer, she had limited vocal talent. The reporter went on to suggest the entire line-up at the time were "melodically challenged". A business blog argued that the group's target audience was unclear; while the franchise was aimed at preschoolers, the music and choreography seemed too complicated and like it was designed for an audience of older children. The writer stated that
3465-416: Was at Carols by Candlelight on Christmas Eve 2011. Nine Network representatives said she would leave to explore "other career options". Her replacement, Dayen Zheng, joined the group in January 2012. Burgess and Maddren departed in early 2013; Maddren had secured a role in the Australian musical production of The Addams Family , while Burgess had decided to further her solo music career. In June 2012,
3528-467: Was consolidated under Tremendous Entertainment in 2014, after the equity fund was sold. The Nine Network renewed its partnership with the Hi-5 franchise in October 2016 and participated in the production of a new television series in 2017. In September 2018, the Australian production office was closed; the entire franchise relocated to Singapore. The franchise launched a series of international versions; each group toured and produced local adaptations of
3591-716: Was educated at the Meriden School in Strathfield , a suburb of Sydney. She is the youngest of two daughters; her older sister, Kyllé (born 22 May), played the character of Roberta 'Robbie' Henderson in ABC TV's The Ferals . Her parents are Dennis , a former professional footballer , and Sonjie. Kellie has mild dyslexia . Through the show, she became good friends and eventually in 2002 began dating fellow Hi-5 cast member Nathan Foley. The couple became engaged in 2005 to be married in March 2007. On 7 December 2006, it
3654-554: Was filmed in Singapore and Malaysia between 2013 and 2015, and aired on pay-TV channel Nick Jr. in Australia and Disney Junior in Asia; its success in Asia resulted in an Asian Television Award for Best Preschool Program in 2015. The program premiered worldwide on online television streaming service Netflix in March 2016. Brant's final performances were in July 2014 for the Australian House Hits tour, in which
3717-497: Was introduced as her temporary replacement; de Leon Jones gave birth to her first child in July. Park was part of the television series filming in 2006 and toured with the group across Australia. In July 2006, de Leon Jones said she was intent on returning to Hi-5; however, in July 2007, made the decision to leave the group permanently to focus on being a mother. Park took her place as a full-time member. A serious motorcycle accident in June 2007 left Harding unable to keep up with
3780-587: Was originally cast as Tracy Russell in Australia's long-running sitcom Hey Dad..! , but was replaced by Belinda Emmett . Crawford's next breakthrough came in 1998 when she was enlisted to join the new children's band and television show Hi-5 as the group's oldest and most commercially experienced member. She featured with a puppet named "Chatterbox", better known as "Chats", voiced originally by co-cast member Charli Robinson (later Sophie Katinis , Erin Marshall and Noni McCallum). Kellie and Chats' segment of
3843-478: Was released in November 1992, which peaked at No. 36. The group disbanded in 1993. Their singles "I Can't Help Myself" and "Love How You Love Me" were nominated for Engineer of the Year at the 1993 ARIA Awards . The Teen Queens were formed in Sydney in 1991 by three model-singer-actresses: Roxanne Clarke, Kellie Crawford (née Hoggart) and Liza Witt. A pilot episode was developed by the creators of E Street ,
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#17327764412193906-413: Was reported that Crawford and Foley had decided to end their engagement. Apparently, their breakup had occurred some time prior to the reports. In 2007, Kellie became engaged to Addam Crawford. They married in May 2008. Addam died in October 2018. Hi-5 (Australian group) Hi-5 were an Australian children's musical group formed in 1998 in association with the children's television series of
3969-608: Was well-received. The group's concert tours were admired for the fast pace of the shows and the bright colours of the staging design. Reviewing the Circus Stageshow in 2008, Nicole Bittar of The Age described the members as versatile and cheerful, and commended their circus skills. A 2015 concert was viewed by The Daily Telegraph as "well-choreographed and performed". The group's productions have also been noted for their humour, incorporating slapstick elements inspired by pantomime comedy. Reporters said they had
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