The Bridge (Deane Waretini song)
| "The Bridge" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Deane Waretini with the Rising Stars | |
| A-side | "The Bridge" |
| B-side | "Luckenback Texas" |
| Label | CBS |
| Songwriter(s) | Nini Rosso, George Tait |
"The Bridge" was a #1 chart hit in 1981 for New Zealand singer Deane Waretini and his backing group The Rising Stars. It was the first Māori language song to reach the number one spot in New Zealand. It was self-released and promoted before being picked up by CBS.
Background
"The Bridge" was sung in Māori language, and set to Nini Rosso's tune "Il Silenzio".[1] The words were written by Waretini's cousin, George Tait, a Te Arawa elder.[2] It pushed John Lennon off the charts when it climbed to the top.[3]
"The Bridge" was originally independently and self-released, and was not picked up by CBS until later. After that it became the first number 1 song to be sung in the Māori language. It stayed at the top of the charts for two weeks.[4]
The song centres around the construction of the Mangere Bridge. Its lyrics refer to the linking of two cultures in New Zealand, Māori and Pakeha.[5]
Making the record
Recording
The song was recorded in the Auckland suburb of Henderson. The session took place in a garage studio that belonged to a country singer. The backing ensemble included musicians from the Blind Institute. The backing group, The Rising Suns, was formerly called The Radars. The trumpet player was Kevin Furey, formerly of Quincy Conserve. Waretini paid the musicians in Kentucky Fried Chicken. "We recorded it just as we played it in the hotels, with heart and soul and feel," he said.[1]
Production and promotion
Waretini used a tactic first employed by Gary Havoc & The Hurricanes of self-financing a record.[6] He had a pile of the singles produced, which cost him $96. Some were sent to Radio 1ZB. He then bombarded them with play requests. He also managed to get it played at intermission time at Auckland's Civic Theatre. Another tactic was recruiting a newspaper boy to sell copies to passing people for 50 cents apiece. (His backing band, The Rising Stars,[1][7] two years later in 1983 would use the same approach in promoting a single.)[8]
"The Bridge" was produced by Allan Witana, and originally released on the Innovations label.[7] A short time later, people were going into record shops looking for "The Bridge". Not long afterwards, CBS sought the single.
On 3 April 1981, the song went to no 1, pushing John Lennon's "Woman" from the top spot.[1] It also reached no 7 in Australia.[9]
Waretini received $27,000 from CBS and gave up his rights to the song.[1]
Other versions
Alternative version
An unreleased alternative version by Waretini appears on the Waiata Maori Showbands, Balladeers & Pop Stars compilation that was released by His Master's Voice and EMI in 2011.[10][11]
Parody version
In 1981, the song was parodied by Kevin Blackatini and the Frigids, and a record was released on the RTC label. Kevin Blackatini was actually Radio Hauraki DJ Kevin Black.[12][13]
Chart progress
| WK | TW | LW | TI | No. 1 song |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 8, 1981 | 16 | 21 | 6 | "Woman" by John Lennon |
| March 15, 1981 | 13 | 16 | 7 | "Woman" by John Lennon |
| March 22, 1981 | 6 | 13 | 8 | "Woman" by John Lennon |
| March 29, 1981 | 5 | 6 | 9 | "Woman" by John Lennon |
| April 5, 1981 | 1 | 5 | 10 | "The Bridge" by Deane Waretini |
| April 12, 1981 | 2 | 1 | 11 | "Counting The Beat" by The Swingers |
| April 19, 1981 | 1 | 2 | 12 | "The Bridge" by Deane Waretini |
| April 26, 1981 | 1 | 1 | 13 | "The Bridge" by Deane Waretini |
| May 3, 1981 | 2 | 1 | 14 | "Counting The Beat" by The Swingers |
Releases
| Title | Release info | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "The Bridge" / "Luckenback Texas" | Innovation INN 009 | 1980 | Produced by Allan Witana New Zealand release[7] |
| "The Bridge" / "Luckenback Texas" | CBS BA 222767 | 1980 | New Zealand release[15] |
| Title | Release info | Year | Track(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waiata Maori Showbands, Balladeers & Pop Stars | His Master's Voice – 50999 6802952 EMI – 50999 6802952 4 |
2011 | "The Bridge" (Unreleased Alternative Version)[10] |
|
| Nature's Best: 40 NZ Number Ones, 1970-2013 | Sony Music 02239 | 2013 | "The Bridge"[16] | |
| Aotearoa: The Very Best Of Our Music | 2014 | "The Bridge" | Appears on DISC RUA 1975-1993 |
References
- ^ a b c d e The New Zealand Herald March 30, 2009 You must remember this - By Alan Perrott
- ^ NZ On Screen The Bridge
- ^ New Zealand Herald Monday September 10, 2012 "Talking Heads: Deane Waretini and Orlando Stewart" - By Sam Wicks
- ^ NZ On Screen Deane Waretini
- ^ New Zealand Herald, Saturday, July 25, 2015 "Songs that took Te Reo into the Pop Charts, Deane Waretini - The Bridge"
- ^ Stranded in Paradise: New Zealand Rock'n'Roll, 1955-1988, by John Dix, Page 219, Page 294
- ^ a b c 45cat Artist: Deane Waretini With The Rising Stars, Catalogue: INN 009
- ^ Central Leader, January 22, 2009 Former rocker's beat goes on
- ^ Stuff 05/09/2012 Is this Deane Waretini's hour? - James Croot
- ^ a b Discogs Various – Waiata - Maori Showbands, Balladeers & Pop Stars
- ^ WorldCat Waiata : Māori showbands, balladeers & pop stars.
- ^ 45cat Record Details, Artist: Kevin Blackatini And The Frigids
- ^ NZ On Screen Kevin Blackatini and the Frigids
- ^ Hits of All Decades NEW ZEALAND (R.I.A.N.Z.) WEEKLY SINGLE CHARTS FROM 1981
- ^ 45cat Artist: Deane Waretini With The Rising Stars, Catalogue: BA 222767
- ^ All Music Various Artists Nature's Best: 40 NZ Number Ones, 1970-2013