Contemporary Maori music of New Zealand

The European immigrates brought the modern harmonies and instruments which were slowly accepted by the Maori composers. The action song known as waiata-a-ringa was widely built in the early 20^th century.

source of picture: www.nativecreatives.com

In the mid-20^th century, Maori singers and songwriters such as Howard Morrison, Dalvanius Prime, Prince, Tui Teka, Hinewehi Mohi and Moana Maniapoto built a unique Maori-influenced style.  Some of the musicians have produced Maori language songs and the Maori folk art of kappa haka song and dance has made renaissance.

Blue Smoke was the first New Zealand pop song that was written in the 1940s by Ruru Karatiana. It was recorded by Pixie Williams in 1949, though it went triple platinum in the New Zealand and also have the award of selling 50, 000 copies of the song which was only presented to Pixie Williams on 13 July 2011.

In the year 1962 a television station from Auckland began to show the first New Zealand music show known as In the Groove, which later showed on other regional channels as well. Other concerts followed which include on the beat, and C’mon which were presented by the television personality known as Peter Sinclair. The arrival of the music television concerts brought the rise of Sandy Edmonds who is one of the first New Zealand pop musicians.

It was established in the early 70s and differently featuring Phil Judd and Brothers Tim Finn and Neil Finn, the Split Enz attained chart achievement in New Zealand, Canada and Australia which was most prominent with their 1980s single known as I Got You and also develop a cult following elsewhere. The videos for some of the band’s in 1980s songs were among the first played on MTV channel.

Neil Finn in 1985 established the pop rock band Crowded House in Melbourne and Australia. Other founding members were Australians Paul Hester and Nick Seymour. Matt Sherrod, Neil’s Brother Tim Finn and Americans mark Hart after joining the band. Initially had its active period from 1985 to 1996, the band have had regular commercial and critical achievement in New Zealand and Australia and international chart achievement in two stages, beginning with their self-titled debut album known as crowded House which top number twelve on the United States Album Charts in 1987 and make the top 10 hits, Something So Strong and Don’t Dream It’s Over. More international achievement came in the United Kingdom and Europe with their third and fourth albums called Woodface and Together Alone and the compilation album known as Recurring Dream that include the hits such as Weather with You, Fall at Your Feet, Locked Out, Distant Sun, Not girl You Think You Are and Instinct. Elizabeth II gave an OBE to both Tim Finn and Neil in June 1993, for their support to the music of New Zealand.

How Bizarre by OMC was the New Zealand’s top selling pop songs of all time. The song became number one in New Zealand, Canada, South African, Australia, Ireland and Austria. It stayed for 36 weeks on the United States Billboard’s Hot 100 airplay charts, topping at number 4. It became the five positions in the United Kingdom and it was made the top 10 in Portugal and Israel.

In the year 2008, the traditional parody duo Flight of the Conchords set up international achievement with their eponymous album. The album debuted became the number three on the United States Billboard 200 chart, selling about 52,000 copies in its first week. In New Zealand the album became the number two and emerged to the number one spot the next week. The album was certified 2x Platinum in New Zeeland on August 2009 that sells over 30,000 copies.