Considering the sniggering P.I. humour of the foregoing, and though I confess to a closet giggle or two myself, wonder if we oughtn't return this thread to a somewhat more elevated, or at least, innocent, plane. (The "mum" thread, after all, is about Songs for small fry!) Also, shouldn't like to think that we left a discussion of Hawai'ian music with no better examples, though I am definitely NOT offering to be The Mele Maven, here -- no qualifications.

Knew nothing of the genre until the search to verify the Little Grass Shack lyrics led me into the previously unfamiliar waters of island music. Astounded to discover that my concept of this form, i.e. Don Ho's (deservedly) much-parodied rendition of "Tiny Bubbles in the Wine," was essentially L.C.D. tourist trash, and there is a rich Hawai'ian and multi-cultural musical heritage alive and well in The mid-Pacific! (And for those who require reassurance that Celtic Music Lovers are, indeed, EVERYWHERE, check out : String Fever: Oldtime Foot-stompin' Music from Upcountry Maui at http://www.maui.com/~sbdc/SFever.html.) For some good places to start looking for Hawai'ian Music, go to: Stevo's Hawai'ian Music Guide Links at: http://members.aol.com/StevenA442/hawaimus/muslinks.htm.

The quality and "authenticity" of the songs produced, like those of any "folk" tradition vary widely, and the form continues to evolve, veering happily, at the moment, toward its pre-European Hawai'ian roots. Heard one lovely, haunting clip, albeit a painfully short one, of a song by the recently deceased Israel Kamakawiwo'ole; only wish I had bookmarked it. From my limited exploration, it seems that there is a rough equivalence in these songs, between their æsthetic value and the percentage of the lyrics written in Hawai'ian. Put the other way round: the more English, the more humourous and/or lightweight the material. However if you'd fancy a chuckle, try reading this "fractured fairy tale" aloud:

http://www.hisurf.com/FairyTales/Bedtime.html
Pupule-Locks And The Three Mongeese
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once upon one time, lived three mongooses. Da Pops, Da Mama, and Da Junior Boy. One day Da Mama made some really onolicious pochogeese bean soup for eat but the stuff was smokin' hot. So before anybody had to call 911 to report multiple seco nd degree burns, Da Papa said "Eh, We go out cruising for little while." So Da Papa, Da Mama, and Junior Boy piled into their '68 Rambler and peeled out of the driveway...(The rest is at the site cited. Glossary available on request.)

On the other hand, just as it seemed there might actually be a language other than English, acceptable to The Database, (due to an apparent lack of diacriticals), it turns out that one has to download Hawai'ian fonts to appreciate the song lyrics in all their pristine glory! Merde! Therefore, unless some generous soul, knowledgeable in Hawai'ian, comes forward, I can only post a couple of kiddie songs here, and recommend that if any of this even vaguely intrigues you, -- surf on over to the starter sites mentioned above and go chase down some audio clips of mele and slack-key. Some of this stuff is melodically exquisite!!

Off the box, then. Here are the songs mentioned:

HAWAI'IAN SUPA-MAN
(submitted by Jonathan Wong)
Composed by Del Beasley, recorded by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole on his Facing Future CD

Am
Oh, tall is the tale of the mischievous one
G F E7 Am
Who fished out all the island and captured the sun
Am
His deeds and tasks I will unmask so that you'll understand
G F E7 Am
That before there was a Clark Kent there was a Hawai'ian Super Man

C G F
He fished out the islands with a magic hook
C G Am
There would have been more, somebody looked
C G F
He pulled morning sky, the sun he entwined
C G Am E7
Slowed down his flight so kapa could dry, yeah

Chorus:
Am
Mischievous, marvelous, magical Maui: Hero of this Land
G F E7 Am
The one the only, the ultimate Hawai'ian Super Man
Am G F E7
Maui, Maui, oh Maui, the Hawai'ian Supa Man
Am G F E7
Maui, Maui, oh Maui, the Hawai'ian Supa Man

Am
Secret of fire was locked somewhere in time
G F E7 Am
So when the ahi died in the hale kuke, no way to be ignite
Am
So off he goes in search of those who hold the information
G F E7 Am
So fire could be used by all the future generations

C G F
He found that alae held the fire connection
C G Am
But his plan of deception fell short from perfection
C G F
Without a choice he had to get mean
C G Am E7
So he squeezed alae's throat until she screamed the secret

Chorus

ISLAND STYLE
Composer: John Cruz
Performed by: John Cruz

C G7 C

Chorus:
F C
On the island, we do it island style

from the mountain to the ocean
G7 C C7
from the windward to the leeward side
(Repeat)

C F C
Mama's in the kitchen cooking dinner real nice
G7 C
Beef stew on the stove, lomi salmon with the ice
F C
We eat and drink and we sing all day
G7 C
Kanikapila in the old Hawai`ian way

Chorus:

C F C
We go grandma`s house on the weekend clean yard `cause
G7 C
If we no go grandma gotta work hard
F C
You know my grandma she like the poi real sour
G7 C
I love my grandma every minute every hour

Chorus:

Instrumental:

Repeat 1st verse:

Chorus: (2X`s)

Bon voyage,

Shula

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 21-May-02.