Lyr Req: Mele Kalikimaka

Subject: Mele Kalikimaka
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 17 Dec 11 - 03:09 PM

There is a new version of this old song. I heard it first by Bing Crosby or Dean Martin with the Andrews Sisters. This one is by KT Tunstall and I find it just as good as the old ones.

The head of Hawaiin Public Radio was on Radio 2 the other day saying he thought it was good too and reckons that 'Mele Kalikimaka' is still a common Christmas greeting on the Island but how long before someone decides it is non-PC and offends the islanders in some way?

Anyway - Enjoy it while you can and feel free to post links to the earlier versions (Back to 1941 BTW)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Mele Kalikimaka
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Dec 11 - 03:53 PM

Listening now to Kaua'i Community Radio, KKCR, Hanalei, online, with Christmas carols. A RUM PA PA PUM !
A Christmas Parade tonight. Wish I could be there.

MELE KALIMAKA !

http://www.kkcr.org

Perhaps you can catch "O Holy Night," sung by Willie K. The best!

Subject: RE: Mele Kalikimaka
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Dec 11 - 04:06 PM

Hear Willie K sing "O Holy Night" on youtube-

http://www.youtube.com

GREAT BRAH ! Superb 'ukulele playing towards the end.

Subject: RE: Mele Kalikimaka
From: pdq
Date: 17 Dec 11 - 04:17 PM

The language we call Haiwaiian has only seven consonants: h, k, l, m, n, p, w

There is no "c", "h", "s", "t", "r" or "y" to be used in Merry Christmas.

All words must end in a vowell sound and each vowell must be preceeded by a consonant.

Mele Kalimaka is just Merry Christmas re-spelled into the modern Haiwaiian alphabet.

Subject: RE: Mele Kalikimaka
From: open mike
Date: 17 Dec 11 - 09:57 PM

Mele Kalikimaka, ha oli maka hiki ho

Subject: RE: Mele Kalikimaka
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Dec 11 - 03:09 PM

The song "Mele Kalikimaka" was composed in 1949 by Robert Anderson, a hapa haole composer, who also wrote "The Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai." He never composed a song with Hawaiian lyrics.

I have not found lyrics that I am certain were those written by Anderson.

Subject: RE: Mele Kalikimaka
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Dec 11 - 03:27 PM

The first page of sheet music starts out-

"Jingle Bells" upon a steel guitar,
through the palms we see the same bright star
Mele Kalikimaha if the thing to say
on a .....

Published by Anderson Songs, Honolulu, 1949. Could anyone post the original lyrics?

Subject: Lyr Add: MELE KALIKIMAKA (from Bing Crosby/Andrews
From: pdq
Date: 18 Dec 11 - 03:58 PM

as sung by Bing Crosby with the Andrews Sisters...


MELE KALIKIMAKA
Writer: R. ALEX ANDERSON

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day
That's the island greeting that we send to you from the land where palm trees sway
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way to say Merry Christmas to you

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas day
That's the island greeting that we send to you from the land where palm trees sway
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way to say Merry Christmas to you

Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way to say Merry Christmas to you

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day
That's the island greeting that we send to you from the land where palm trees sway
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way to say Merry Christmas
A very Merry Christmas, a very, very, Merry, Merry Christmas to you

Subject: RE: Mele Kalikimaka
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Dec 11 - 04:50 PM

Original sheet music lyrics, anyone?