One of Australia?s biggest singing and dancing groups has the world?s most loyal crowd ? kids

FOUR PLATINUM albums, sold-out live shows filled with wild, screaming fans, a regular TV show that has been running since 1999 and five ARIA Awards, Australia?s version of the Grammys ?it?s a resume that would make any performer green with envy.

But then again, those ARIA awards garnered by the band Hi5 are for ?Best Children?s Album,? and those platinum-selling records are full of songs for kids. And those wild screaming fans? They are all below 10 years old.

But the second generation of Hi5 members is not about to complain.

Despite their training in jazz singing, ballet, even Shakespeare, Fely, Casey, Lauren, Stevie and Tim consider their stint in Hi5 a unique achievement. Sure, they sing kiddie songs, but in live shows, the kids all sing along and know all the dance moves. Can Britney say the same?

Just like rock stars, they criscross the region on concerts. Just recently, they went on an Asian tour, staying at Ascott Properties in every stopover to do sold-out shows before a mass of children singing and dancing along.

They sat down with the Philippine Daily Inquirer Super for a chat:

You are not the original Hi5, you are the second generation. How does that work? Do the kids recognize you? Do they notice the difference?

Stevie: It?s been really nice, especially being here in the Philippines because the kids can get to know us as individuals and we don?t try to be anyone other than ourselves. We work very hard to stay true to the uniqueness in every one of us because every child out there is unique as well, and that gives them something to identify with.

Do you feel any pressure coming from having to live up to the first generation of Hi5?

Casey: We learn from them and pick up a few things they did that worked, then take out what didn?t.

Lauren: We also work with a great team and a great legacy, and that?s always a challenge and part of the fun.

Tim: And we play ourselves. We aren?t playing characters. We are ourselves and we work on being ourselves and we incorporate that into being Hi5.

I saw a VCD of your concerts and the kids are screaming, singing along and dancing to everything. How does that feel?

Lauren: We did a little sneak peak of our show we are bringing in November to the Podium, and we sang a whole bunch of brand new songs. Then yesterday, we had a meet-and-greet and I saw this little girl and she danced and sang along and she learned the song so quickly. That was so beautiful.

Stevie: We are in awe of our audience.

This might be offensive, but how does it feel to be wearing all those silly costumes and do the kiddie songs and stuff?

Casey: I think it?s funny. I mean, I get to be a mountain goat on some days.

Fely: And I think everybody deep down wants to be silly or stupid. It?s funny.

When you started out, taking up acting, singing and dancing, is this what you thought you?d end up doing?

Lauren: Totally. We get to do everything ? we get to be on TV, we make albums, we do shows ? and we get to make a difference in the world as well. We do a lot of charities and it?s very, very rewarding. And we get to do something we love.

Casey: And some people are jumping from job to job. You go to a corner and you see people who are an actor by day and a waitress by night. And by day I?m Hi5 and by night I?m Hi5. So that?s great.

What is it like working with puppets?

Stevie: They?re real, aren?t they? (laughs)

Casey: You can get lost in that. I work with a puppet, Chats plays my best friend and when I?m working with her, I don?t think about anything except what we are doing.

Stevie: We work on capturing the children?s imagination. And in the concert, they are the most popular characters in the show.