leonardcohenforum.com

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Wherein I will be occasionally posting music by artists we listen to in various places in the Pacific. This is not in any way meant to be a definitive catalog or history-- just various good stuff or things which can give people an idea of what is or has been popular or music/artists which people outside our area might never have heard of.

First off--

Olomana. A band led by Jerry Santos, a local singer-songwriter. Ku'u Home O Kahalu'u is a song Jerry wrote about growing up in the hills around where I live and missing home/returning home after being away. This is a long time popular song here and always brings back wistful memories to anyone over 35 or 40, and is sure to bring a tear of remembrance for those who have moved to the U.S. mainland.

(The chorus, "Me ke aloha ku'u home o Kahalu'u" means "With love, my home of Kahalu'u". )

("O'opu" is a small fish. )

http://youtu.be/HI0hkdyU1tY

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Te Vaka is a New Zealand band made up of members from Tokelau, Tuvalu, Samoa, Cook Islands and New Zealand and led by Opetaia Foa'i. They are very popular across the Pacific and their concerts get pretty big in Samoa, Hawaii and other populated places. They've played all over the world, so those of you in Europe and the UK might see them around. They are a lot of fun in concert. Opetaia Foa'i is the songwriter and they mix the styles of various Pacific music into their own sound. People from various places and islands would be able to recognize certain types of drumming and rhythms as coming from those places.

Here is a song called Pape E, sung in Tokelaun, and sung from the perspective of his father, who emigrated from his beloved Tokelau in search of better financial opportunities in another land, and who now reminisces about the home he left behind and the attempt to relay his love of home to his children.The tempo and sound is upbeat but the lyrics show the conflict in the ramifications of his decision. His decision is illustrated in the video as 'Papa' puts on western shoes for the first time:

http://youtu.be/6azrND93Y3U

Hihiki mai i faifaiga o te fenua
e he puli au ite olaga masani
he mafai fakapuli ite loto
ite loto o papa e
aue ite nuku o papa e

Chorus:
Aue aue Papa e
Aue Papa e
Aue aue Papa e
ite nuku o Papa e

Oku moko mokoga ke toe fanatu
i mea nae masani ai
kata lava e mua mai
te kata o Papa e
aue ite nuku o Papa e

English translation:
Listen Listen
While I tell you of the ways of the land
I shan’t forget those familiar ways
Those joyous memories embedded in
the heart
In the heart of Papa e
In the land of Papa e

CHORUS:

Oh ! Papa e
Oh! Papa e
Oh! Papa e
In the land of Papa e

In my mind I often go there
to places that contain fondest memories
The friendliness the joy the laughter
the laughter of Papa e
In the land of Papa e

Very nice. Thanks.

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Thanks, Kush. btw-- Here's a song Foa'i wrote in English for the movie "The Legend Of Johnny Lingo" (the movie is about a castaway boy who loves an outcast girl - when he is banished he vows to return to her one day. The full movie is on youtube. It's kind of clunky and amateurish in parts but is fun to watch).

The backup singers become a lead duet for this song.
The two littlest girl backup singers alone are worth watching this.

Tamahana

http://youtu.be/iafubcZ2EAY

and here's a song called Manatu:

http://youtu.be/RYaflaFUXyQ

MANATU / HOMESICK

These clothes feel so strange on me
Stranger still are these shoes
Taken to another world
I’m now crying for my home

Tell me where my mother is
She forgot to explain things to me
Tell me where my father is
I thought I heard him leave this morning

Heavy thoughts
what I need is an explanation
The purpose of this journey

Searching for answers in this small room
I can only think of my river
My friends are searching for me
But no matter how hard I try
There’s no way for me to answer them

I’m homesick , I’m longing
For my family
I’m longing for my home

Here I sit all by myself
In this darkness
My head is filled with hurt
With sadness - this darkness