Kiwi Music

What can we say about New Zealand music? Even though is not very famous around the world, it is very loved and heard by New Zealanders. There is ‘Kiwi’ music in every party and event that you go, they always ‘dance’ (it is not the most danceable music, and ‘kiwis’ don’t really dance very well but they try to do their best) it or they just enjoy sitting down, talking and listening at some ‘kiwi’ songs, the boys drinking some Tui and the girls drinking some Spirits.

It is so important to for them to make a space for music in their lives that they have the NZ Music Month – ‘New Zealand Music Month began in 2001. Each May, New Zealand music is showcased on radio and television and in live performances. It aims to boost the visibility and success of New Zealand music. It was developed to support the New Zealand music industry by creating a commercially successful platform for local performers’. Available in http://www.nzhistory.net.nz –

New Zealand music develops different genres of music, for example Reggae, Rock, Hip Hop, Pop, Ska-Punk, and its own sub-genre Dub Aotearoa.

Some of the most famous bands are Elemeno P, Shihad, Hello Sailor, OMC, The Black Seeds, Salmonella Dub, Katchafire, Deja Voodoo, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Opshop, The Exponents, Goodshirt, Split Enz, The Feelers, Smashproof, Midnight Youth, Evermore, etc.

And some of the song writers/singers are Bic Runga, Liam Finn, Tiki Taane, Luger Boa, Gin Wigmore, Dave Dobbyn, etc.

Their music is very loved by New Zealanders because most of the bands sing about their lifestyle. For example in this part of an Elemeno P song we can understand a little bit, more of how Kiwis see life.

‘Got My Coffee and a Packet of Cigarettes
Up Late cause Lectures don’t start
I have a Bowl of Weet-bix
and a Plate of Bacon and Eggs
Sunday Morning Gunna do it all again!’

(Elemeno P – Every day’s a Saturday. 2002)

In this first verse they sing about a typical Saturday morning in New Zealand, having some typical ‘kiwi’ breakfast and some Weet-bix. Even though it is an Australian cereal, Kiwis eat it with milk every morning. If you listen to the song, is mainly about how relaxed and slow Saturday’s are and how they see every day as a weekend.

I picked up this other verse from another song by Elemeno P, which (I’ve got to mention it) is one of my favourite songs.

‘Here's a little story that should be told
With a whole lotta heart and a little bit of soul
Well we're all stuck in dead end jobs
But the party's out the back
So Baby come on!!!’

(Elemeno P – Baby Come On. 2007)

In here is pretty much the same, this song is about how taking life as it comes and that even though you’ve got to work really hard to get what you want, it doesn’t matter; you will always find the way to celebrate with your family and  mates.

There’s another pretty interesting fact about the lifestyle in New Zealand, the weather. The weather is just unpredictable, it can be very sunny in the morning and then suddenly it will start raining. Kiwis are used to this kind of weather and it actually doesn’t affect their life. This shows how Kiwis are just so relax, and how they just don’t let small things, like the awful weather, to get in their way.

Here we have a piece of a song, which it was written by Dave Dobbyn – ‘Dave Dobbyn is regarded as a national treasure in New Zealand.  Wherever Kiwis gather around the world, it is likely to be songs by Dave Dobbyn they sing when thinking of home. Songs written by Dobbyn had moved people throughout the country. They were songs they had danced to with their first lover, songs they have married to, songs that made them laugh and cry or even played when burying their loved ones.’ Available in http://www.davedobbyn.co.nz –

‘You got really rotten weather it's so hard, I know...
Tell me where a weatherman should start,
When he's miles from his sunshine...
Promise you the warmest winter fire,
When outside its freezing cold...
Promise you the bluest summer sky;
It'll shine just for you...’

(DD Smash – Outlook for Thursday. 1983)

In this song Dave Dobbyn sings about the weather and how unpredictable it can be. He tries to put it in a metaphorical and aesthetic way.

So we can state that New Zealand music is the expression of the culture of New Zealand. It has been influenced by Maori people and immigrants from the Polynesia but its musical origins are predominately British, with contributions from America and Europe.

Certainty, Kiwi music is unique and different but the most important thing is that at the end of the day is a reason to bring Māori and Pakehas (Māori term for New Zealanders who are not of Māori blood lines, mostly descended from British) together with one purpose: To create music that no matter what colour your skin is, you can all enjoy equally.