On New Zealand Music
Radio New Zealand has put the call out for the country folk to vote on the all-time best New Zealand songs. Being a proud middle-aged white man, I took it upon myself to not only vote, but to write up my carefully curated thoughts on why I voted the way I did.
Waiata 100. what is Atearoa's favourite song
NZ music can loosely be grouped into four eras.
As fate would have it, I am indeed fortunate, as it just so happens that my lived experience lines up perfectly with these national cultural touchstones.
The Nature's Best Era
In January of 2002 a double compilation CD came out called 'Nature's Best'. This CD shortly after became a fixture in all respectable suburban middle-class households.
The CD unapologetically shone the spotlight on our back catalogue. Once tucked away gathering dust on the shelf, now brushed off and rediscovered as treasure hiding in plain sight.
It was the spark that led to the birth of the music renaissance (see below). The tunes in question were mainly your classic boomer grooves of yesteryear. Your Crowded Houses, Dave Dobbyns, Exponents, Split Enz and the like.
Bangers that I dare say could use tucking back on the shelf for a wee while, as most have succumbed to a fate of mall/classic hits radio/sports stadium purgatory.*
For the time though, it was magic. Imagine finding your favourite pair of socks under the fridge years after you had given up all hope.
As one slips into the cosy warm embrace of the Nature's Best fridge socks, the magic comes rushing back into one's nether digits, wriggling to and fro. The tickle is still there and the fit is groovy.
*I may still carry some bitterness towards a certain generation for buying up all the housing stock, possibly affecting my judgement.
The 90s Era
The Nature's Best CDs did have a few '90s tracks on them, but they kind of felt a bit token, not really complementing the more boomeresque pop-rock musical journey.
The exception to this rule was of course Bic Runga's 'Sway', which was an immediate hit with all generations. Cementing a young Bic Runga as one of our most beloved cultural treasures. Securing permanent residence on the vineyard circuit forevermore.
To my memory, the larger '90s era was all about young rock of various inclinations. Leading the charge were bands such as Supergroove, Shihad, Headless Chickens, Garageland, Head Like a Hole... with The Feelers and Zed coming up the rear.
90s bands deserve extra credit for finding local audiences in a decade of broader local cultural cringe. Mainstream TV and radio did not support local acts. Great music was being made in spite of a larger cultural indifference outside of uni circles*
*At this point I'm just making shit up, what do I know? I was 8-18 in the '90s. Zits of various shapes and sizes were of more pressing concern than keeping tabs on the cultural pulse of my elders.
The Renaissance Era
One Mike Chunn of Split Enz fame, who spearheaded the Nature's Best CDs (see above), was also instrumental in kicking off NZ Music Week (and later Month) to celebrate and peer-pressure TV and radio into playing more NZ music.
Over the late '90s and early 2000s, NZ Music Month was overwhelmingly successful.
Not only at encouraging more local support on the radio, but also at turning the tide with the public at large. Transforming once eye-rolling sceptics into fully signed-up, card-carrying local music enthusiasts.
This, combined with the rise of plentiful summer music festivals post the mud-ridden hippy love-fest success of the Gathering, saw NZ music transform from a playing-it-cool but deep-down-insecure caterpillar into a proud, confident butterfly, sprouting wings of exciting new genres and sub-genres. Flying freely into sonic winds of exploration and celebration.*
*A butterfly? Really? Well yes, either that or a phoenix, and I'm saving that bad bird for later.
The Contemporary Era
The Contemporary era kicks off 2010ish, which aligns nicely with me hitting my thirties while simultaneously moving to the cultural Groundhog Day vortex of Queenstown.
The more obtuse reader will have observed that, much like belly-button fluff circling around the plug hole, I have been circling round the idea of personal life experience equalling objective national cultural trends.
I am self-enlightened enough to appreciate such hubris. Furthermore, it is the natural order of things to believe the 'best' music ever made was coincidentally made in one's youth.
However, one tends to reach for nostalgia over scientific curiosity when selecting bangers for the more mature punters partying it up at 9.30pm on a Friday.
The Contemporary era is indulged in by yours truly after having one too many cab savs on a night at home, digging through the latest offerings on Spotify in a desperate attempt to tap the fountain of youth.
Indeed there is gold to be found here, and it needs to shine evermore brightly to penetrate through the instincts of the elderly to open up one's heart to the new, while simultaneously resisting the strong pull to revisit the old and familiar.
The Snubs
The provided list that one may vote from is indeed vast. But of course, it can't contain every NZ track ever made. Bold move by RNZ, unleashing such a list onto the internet.
Lists of anything will always be targets of what-about-ism from the pedantic dorks of cyberspace.
It is a great list though, and I'm working my way through it, discovering a lot of great stuff that I had no idea existed. For example, this '80s synth-pop banger with the on-point cover to match.
However, here are some tracks that could have been in my top ten if they were on the list. Shame the good folk over at RNZ are not as worldly as yours truly.
8 Foot Sativa : 8 Foot Sativa (2002)
'What, no 8 Foot?' I thought, perusing the list (in the voice of Mike Myers in Wayne's World).
The opening riff grabs you by the balls/ovaries and doesn't let go.
A few bars later we are into the first verse of one very enthusiastic screamer, known for passing out on stage due to a "shortage of breath attributed to a lack of vocal training".
The screams begin to harmonise with a now slower, groovier riff, leading into the pre-chorus hype scream of "Whaattts Thaaatttttt?"
Smashing into the catchy glory of the main event.
"Step up, step up, step up for sativa!" "Wake up, wake up, wake up for sativa!"
Pure genius...
From there it just gets better, with a dizzying array of riffs, manic drums and plentiful screaming throughout, each bar building on the last, leading to a crescendo of awesome (and that's just the first half).
Bonus points for appreciating the nod to tradition in the guitarist's footwear choice in the music video.
I'm Not Asking : Great North (2014)
I was hoping this band would get a look in, but they got the snub despite winning best folk album for 'Halves' in 2013.
The 'band' were husband and wife duo Hayden and Rachel Donnell. I say were, as the band has since broken up. Constant touring on the side, while raising little ones, was too much.
As Hayden explains at the beginning of David Farrier's Flightless Bird podcast: "It started out with 5 members, then slowly got whittled down to just me and Rachel. And then Rachel quit. So I took that as a sign that I should just give up."
This track is my favourite from Great North. Controversial statement, but dare I say it's one of the best alternative country tracks to come out of Ponsonby.
Simple strumming while an emotional Hayden sings about being a TV-watching alcoholic, expecting his love to leave him.
Rachel then bursts in with:
"This is where I made my bed, it's no surprise, I'll lieeeeee in it"
Gets me every time.
I do hope the band sets aside their creative differences and reunites for a gig down my way.
Won't Come Back : Scott J Mason (2014)
A couple of years ago, I went on a deep dive to find the best NZ alt-country (or let's be honest, alt-country adjacent) songs NZ has to offer. My mother-in-law had an English-based internet radio show focused on country music. She asked me for New Zealand tracks so she could spotlight NZ on one of her shows. I dug into the depths of NZ folk/country and found this hidden gem.
Mr Scott J Mason, a man that does not believe in self-promotion, squeezed out this hidden diamond from his soul. He does not fuck about, first chord straight into the chorus, part love song, part existential despair. It's a joy for the man to gently caress my earholes. One listens and shall experience the touch of the man. He will touch you deeply, and you will ask for more.