Kia ora koutou ē hoa mā
Nau mai, haere mai to the hints!
Good morning to everyone *but* my dance teacher who decided that all of our barre exercises last night should be done to ABBA. Terrible experience, 0/10, do not recommend.
There’s been some excellent answers already, though the 2010s song seems to be causing some confusion - so I’ve added the English lyrics in. They should help.
If you’re looking for some good news this Friday, here’s something that pleased me greatly when I discovered it: Gary Larson has discovered digital media tools and is now making new Far Side comics! They are most excellent, and found here.
Please use the below format to send your answers to thelyricsquiz@gmail.com by 3pm today (NZ time).
Team/name:
1980s: [artist] [song]
1990s: [artist] [song]
2000s (solo): [artist] [song]
2000s (group): [artist] [song]
2010s: [artist] [song]
2020s: [artist] [song]
Have a good Friday!
Kirsti and Bex.
1980s:
Tēnā ra e hine
Huri mai rā ki ahau e tau nei
Hei, utanga atu,
E Ipo
Hint: In 1966, this artist joined the Māori Volcanics and travelled around the world with the group. After the Māori Volcanics broke up, this artist worked in the club scene of Australia and south-east Asia, before returning to New Zealand for good in 1981. This song, released in 1982 was the first Māori-language song to reach number one in the New Zealand music charts, where it spent two weeks in 1982. It is a love song, dedicated to the artist’s wife, Missy. The artist’s name is three words: a royal title, a native bird species with iconic white plumage on its neck, and the te reo Māori word for a lie/falsehood or a dart. The title of the song is in the lyrics quoted and roughly translates to “To My Lover.”
1990s:
Say you’ll stay
Don’t come and go
Like you do
Sway my way
Yeah I need to know
All about you
Hint: This song was voted the 6th best New Zealand song of all time in 2001 by the members of APRA. It has appeared on Dawson’s Creek and two of the American Pie movies. A re-recording of this song in te reo Māori was included on the 2019 album Waiata/Anthems which features te reo Māori versions of popular songs by New Zealand artists. This artist was born in Christchurch, to a Māori father and Chinese Malaysian mother and is of Ngāti Kahungunu descent. She has two sisters who are also musicians. Her first name is Chinese and means “the colour of jade,” her surname is the te reo Māori word for “top, above, or the south.” The title of the song is in the lyrics quoted.
2000s (solo):
‘Cos I have all these dreams in my head
With you and I together wakin’ in each other’s arms
If only I could tell you how I feel
Then I wouldn’t have to sit and think about losing you
But it’s just a dream
I have in my head
Hint: This artist is well-known as a music artist, television presenter, activist, and lesbian. She has released several successful albums and has collaborated with other prominent NZ artists such as Hollie Smith, the artist of the previous song (and her sister), and featured on the Mutton Birds’ “Anchor Me” which commemorated the 20th anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior. Her last name is the same as a large native bird that are now extinct. The title is in the lyrics quoted.
2000s (group):
But you turned your back and you went away.
It’s making me crazy I feel so alone.
Why did you turn your back? Why did you go away?
’Cause you were my brother and you should of stayed
Hint: This song is the group’s best-known song and spent a total of twenty-nine weeks in the New Zealand charts. It spent eleven weeks at number one and broke a 23-year-old record by clocking up the longest consecutive run at number-one by a local act. The song is a reflection of life in South Auckland and was prompted by the killing of an alleged tagger in 2008. The title is in the lyrics quoted. The group’s name is a play on the word “bulletproof.” The featuring artist is what you’d get if a clear, juniper-flavoured alcohol that’s often paired with tonic water needed to pretend it has a lot of hair.
2010s:
Kei tōku ngākau nei koe
I ngā wā katoa
Kei tōku ngākau nei koe, āe
Kei tōku ngākau nei koe
I ngā wā katoa
Kei tōku ngākau nei koe
English version:
Girl, you got me singing with some melody
You’re always on my mind
This is what you do to me
Girl, you got me singing with some harmony
Forever you’re my queen and baby girl I’m your king, yeah
Hint: This song is a re-recording of a 2008 song, performed in te reo Māori, for the 2019 Waiata/Anthems album. The song is by an artist described on Wikipedia as a New Zealand-based musician, experimentalist, musical activist, producer, and live engineer. While being a successful artist himself, he has also produced multi-platinum albums for bands like Six60, Shapeshifter, and Salmonella Dub. In 2012, this song landed the number one spot on the Best of All Time Singles Chart in New Zealand. The artist’s first name is the same as a Māori carved figure often worn as a pendant or carved on a post marking a tapu place. His surname is an alternate spelling of the te reo Māori word for man, male, husband. The title in either English or te reo will give you full marks this week.
2020s:
Ooh, I feel it everywhere
It’s cold breathing in the dark
Take me on, I’ll lead you there
And call me when you’ll be far
I don’t wanna let you down
Slow leaving up too long
Ooh, I feel it in the air
You know me, I’ll keep you on
Hint: This New Zealand reggae band was founded by two brothers who are also members of the band Kora, and a former member of Katchafire. This song was ranked as New Zealand’s best-performing single of 2020. A friend of mine from high school has toured with them, playing saxophone accompaniment to their live performances (that probably won’t help you guess the answer, but it is pretty cool). The name of this band is an acronym (which apparently doesn’t actually stand for anything). The title is in the lyrics quoted.
