"The Bridge" was a #1 chart hit in 1981 for New Zealand singer Deane Waretini, and his backing group The Rising Stars. This also marked a first. It was the first Maori language record to hit the no 1 spot in New Zealand. "The Bridge" is an example of an artist in the 1980s contributing to the success of a record. This was done by kick starting the process in the beginning by self-financing the record, having a hand in its own promotion by employing various tactics to get the record heard by the public.
| "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 |
Background
editIt was sung in Māori language, and set to Nini Rosso's tune "Il Silenzio".[1] The words were written 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. It wasn't picked up CBS until later. After that it became the first no 1 song to be sung in the Maori language. It stayed at the top of the charts for two weeks.[4]
The song has a meaning to it. It centers around the construction of the Mangere Bridge. The song's lyrics refer to the linking of two cultures in New Zealand, Māori and Pakeha.[5]
Making the record
editRecording
editIt was recorded in Auckland in the suburb of Henderson. The session took place in a garage studio that belonged to a country singer. The ensemble that backed him on the recording included musicians from the Blind Institute. According to Alan Perrotts article, "You must remember this" in the March 30, 2009 edition of The New Zealand Herald, the group that backed Waretini, referred to there as The Rising Suns, was formerly called The Radars. The trumpet player on the song who happened to be married to the niece of George Tait was Kevin Furey formerly of the Quincy Conserve. Waretini didn't have money to pay the musicians so he paid them in Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Production & promotion
editHe used a tactic first employed by Gary Havoc & The Hurricanes of self-financing a record,[6] Waretini paid for his own record. He had a pile of the singles produced, which cost him $96. Some singles were sent to Radio 1ZB. Waretini 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 news paper boy to sell copies to passing people for 50 cents a piece. (His backing band, The Rising Stars,[1][7] two years later in 1983 would use the same approach to getting the single out there.)[8] The single which Allan Witana produced, and originally released on the Innovations label.[7] A short time later, people going into record shops looking for "The Bridge". Not long afterwards, CBS wanted to put it out. On the third of April 1981, the song went to no 1, pushing John Lennon's "Woman" from the top spot it previously held.[1] It also reached no 7 in Australia.[9]
For his part, Warentini he received $27,000 from CBS and also gave up his rights to the song.[1]
Other versions
editAlternative version
editThere is an Unreleased Alternative Version by Waretini that appears on the Waiata Maori Showbands, Balladeers & Pop Stars, various artists compilation that was released by His Master's Voice and EMI in 2011.[10][11]
Parody version
editIn 1981, the song became victim to a parody 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
edit| 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 |
| May 10, 1981 | 2 | 2 | 15 | "Counting The Beat" by The Swingers |
| May 17, 1981 | 3 | 2 | 16 | "Being With You" by Smokey Robinson |
| May 24, 1981 | 3 | 3 | 17 | "Being With You" by Smokey Robinson |
| May 31, 1981 | 8 | 3 | 18 | "Being With You" by Smokey Robinson |
| June 7, 1981 | 15 | 8 | 19 | "Being With You" by Smokey Robinson |
| June 14, 1981 | 19 | 15 | 20 | "(Morning Train) Nine To Five" by Sheena Easton |
Releases
edit| 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
edit- ^ a b c d 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[clarification needed] 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