The Voice Australia premiered a world-first last night when talented Wiradjuri singer Olivia Coe Fox took to the stage to sing ‘I am Australian’ by The Seekers in Yawuru language.
The First Nations language, spoken in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, is endangered, and Olivia bringing it to centre stage on a popular show like The Voice left many in the room, including the coaches, emotional.
Olivia was accompanied by her brother playing the didgeridoo and received four chair turns and a standing ovation, with Aussie singer and coach Kate Miller-Heidke saying the performance gave her “goosebumps”.
“I was incredibly moved by that performance,” fellow coach Ronan Keating added.
The Voice fans have one demand following Olivia’s iconic performance
Taking to social media, The Voice Australia fans have one loud demand. “Olivia must perform this at the AFL grand final!” someone commented on Facebook. “Delete Snoop Puppy Dog and lock Olivia in NOW.”
The comment now has over 3,500 likes, with another comment saying, “Let her and her brother do the Australian anthem at the AFL,” while someone else said, “This is what the AFL should be looking at for the GF!! Imagine 100,000 AFL fans belting this out with a tear in their eye!!”
Thousands of Aussies are in agreement in the comments, with another adding, “How amazing to hear it sung in language, that had me in tears. The haunting sound of the Didgeridoo was spectacular. Would rather hear this at the AFL Grand Final.”
“Wow. I felt every word. This was more than singing. Every word, every syllable dripped with the spirit, the energy of the ancestors. This moved my soul,” someone else commented.
Olivia Coe Fox responds to viral The Voice moment: ‘No dream is too big’
In a statement to Chattr, Olivia said: “Last night’s performance was one of the most powerful moments of my life! I am soaking in all the lovely comments from my nearest and dearest to complete strangers. Waking up to over 1 million views on my blind audition is something I never thought was possible! The love from across the nation has honestly left me speechless.
“To everyone who watched, cried, and shared their words with me I thank you. Singing I Am Australian in Yawuru language was more than just a performance. It was a tribute to the beauty of my Culture, my connection to identity, and an overall message to our young people to always be proud of who you are and where you come from.
“The comments about me possibly performing at the AFL grand final were such a shock, and I am so excited to see what the future holds for me. No dream is too big and I am beyond proud of myself for sharing music with Australia that speaks to heart, First Nations or not.”
Many fans are now also saying Olivia’s version of the song should be Australia’s new national anthem
With many fans left teary-eyed, people are also saying they’d love to see this version of the song become Australia’s national anthem.
“This performance destroyed my soul in the best kind of way. I was unashamedly sobbing,” one person said, with another saying, “That should be the Aussie anthem.”
“Couldn’t agree more about this being the national anthem. I’ve been saying this for years. It’s the one thing that could actually unite us as one nation,” someone else commented.
The Voice Australia continues 7:30pm, Monday and Tuesday on Channel Seven and 7plus.
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