Greek Australian Diana Rouvas has the voice and is now officially The Voice, having taken the crown at last night’s Grand Final, which saw her deliver flawless performances of “I Will Always Love You”, “Send in the Clowns” with her coach Boy George, and her new single “Wait for No One.”
Hot off the heels of her inspiring journey, and on one hour’s sleep, Diana took time out of her frantic schedule to talk to GCT and thank readers, saying winning hadn’t yet sunk in properly.
Being able to perform her new single “Wait for No One” was an incredible moment. “I wrote that song with Eric about 8 years ago,” Diana says. “It was inspired by my old boss, who influenced me to go on to The Voice the first time around. He used to scream ‘I wait for no one’ and I thought, yes he’s right, and I wrote that song about my career.”
Going into the blind auditions, Diana had set her sights on choosing George to be her coach, and their close bond has been a joy to watch, from their commitment to taking a song to new heights, to their good-natured jokes. Following the announcement of her win, a visibly emotional George told Diana he had never been happier for anyone in his entire life than he was for her.
“Diana makes me cry when she sings,” says George. “She has a voice that is a gift from above and I’m super proud to have coached and been touched by her amazing talent. I can’t wait to perform with her again. She is Australia’s Barbra Streisand and I don’t say that lightly.”
Being a songwriter from a young age, there is great anticipation surrounding the release of her upcoming album. “I don’t want to be put in a box, or singing the same thing over and over again,” Diana says. “I want to be free, whether that’s a ballad or a soul/rock song. I want to be able to say something. I am inspired by life, I love all its different aspects, the light, and the darkness. I love writing from all those points and connecting to people in that way.”
Having performed the most iconic songs in music throughout the competition, Diana was thrilled to have the chance to sing Whitney Houston’s legendary “I Will Always Love You” in the Grand Final, a song which she had never previously performed. Asked which song she was the most excited to sing throughout the whole experience, Diana does not skip a beat in her response, ”Definitely ‘A Song For You’. Donny Hathaway is one of my favourites.”
Along with the elegance and humility that has won millions of hearts around the country, Diana has exuded a deep gratitude every step of the way, especially for her fans and the voting public, and in a special message to GCT readers, she exclaims “S’agapo! I love you! You’ve changed my life. The Greeks – they really know how to get behind you. Their passion and love is amazing.”
GCT congratulates Diana and wishes her all the best.
Diana’s new single, Wait For No One, is available to listen to here.
