Polynesian Dreams

I seem to have a fetish for all things Polynesian recently, after watching Moana.

It's not only the languages that fascinate me (just hearing something like Reo Tahiti seems to remind me of tiny islands in the Pacific), but I've been listening to some Polynesian music, and I want to share some of them with you here.

Te Vaka is a group behind some of the songs in Moana. It was founded by Opetaia Foa'i and is composed of eleven musicians and dancers from Tokelau, Tuvalu, Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji and New Zealand.

This is their first single. Not to be crass and juvenile, but the babe with the radically sexy hips is Olivia Foa’i, the daughter of the founder.

If you'd like something more tranquil, Maisey Rika sings in Maori (Te Reo), and some of her songs are quite ethereally beautiful.

From exploding penises to Disney...Oh my!

I watched Moana recently and really liked the depiction of Polynesians in the movie.

Compared to others, Disney has been relatively sensitive to cultural appropriation and other such things, and for the movie they even consulted many scholars of the Oceanic people. Disney also likes to create different versions of its songs in different languages, some of which are endangered.

I found a really good video showing one of the main songs in Moana being sang in the Tahitian language (Reo Ma'ohi), and I loved it. This is how Moana would actually sound like (well, if she was real). Also note that the term "Moana" actually means "Sea" or "Ocean" in that language, so you'll see that word in the subtitles too..

The Polynesian languages are all part of the Austronesian language family group, which also contains my native tongues, so I noticed some common words. (e.g. the word for "eye" is "mata"). The sounds are different though, because of the glottal stops and lack of phonemes in Polynesian languages. Their language does not contain a lot of phonemes...it only has five vowels and nine consonants!

Anyways, enjoy.

ps. I also like this other song from Moana in Tahitian...

Into the abyss (of marriage!)

Entering into new relationships is scary at times, more so if that long-term relationship will test your faithfulness and loyalty. And yet people do it all the time...they commit to something because they know (or hope!) that the rewards are more than the demands that will be placed on them. Or, maybe it's just because they don't know what horrors lurk in the prison of matrimony ;-)

But the magic moment is when you make the final decision to go ahead, come what may. Bravo to the brave ones, the ones who can dream of something better.

I kinda tear up when I view this very new music video from Malaysia...it shows the progression of a relationship from childhood to romance...to marriage and old age...very romantic pics and the melody is really good...enjoy!

The chorus in Bahasa and English:

Sedia ku terima dirimu seadanya
I am ready to receive you

Setia menjaga mu untuk selamanya
To faithfully watch over you always

Sedia ku diduga ku berani kerana
I am ready for my courage to be tested because...

Telah ku menang kamu
I've won you.

A love letter for Starla (music)

I really like the lyrics and melody of this low key Indo song...

There is an English translation if you hit the CC button...it's more or less accurate ;-)

Luis Fonsi - Despacito ft. Daddy Yankee (move over Gangnam Style)

Looks like we have a new winner in the youtube popularity standings...

This Spanish language song has taken in 2.7 billion views in only half a year *smh*

I still like the Indo parody version better....sexier singers! lol

Tabah (Elizabeth Tan)

Very good song in Malay, with a James Bond feel to it...

kau tahu,
ku akan s'lalu,
ada ruang di hati untukmu x

Dark City

I just watched Dark City on blu-ray. It's one of the best science fiction movies, and in it Jennifer Connelly sang this song. It reminded me of when Linda used to sing some song to me with her ukelele. She has a beautiful singing voice (Linda I mean, though Connelly is cool too).

When marimba rhythms start to play

Dance with me, make me sway

Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore

Hold me close, sway me more

Like a flower bending in the breeze

Bend with me, sway with ease

When we dance you have a way with me

Stay with me, sway with me

Other dancers may be on the floor

Dear, but my eyes will see only you

Only you have that magic technique

When we sway I go weak

I can hear the sounds of violins

Long before it begins

Make me thrill as only you know how

Sway me smooth, sway me now

Other dancers may be on the floor

Dear, but my eyes will see only you

Only you have that magic technique

When we sway I go weak

I can hear the sounds of violins

Long before it begins

Make me thrill as only you know how

Sway me smooth, sway me now

When marimba…

Frozen dalam Bahasa Melayu

Music sounds awesome in Bahasa Melayu, in fact better to my ears than the original English. Saya suka itu!

The singer of "Bebaskan", Marsha Milan Londoh.

Lain lagu daripada "Frozen":

Music: Let It Go by Rob Thomas

Let it go
Let it roll right off your shoulder
Don't you know
The hardest part is over?
Let it in
Let your clarity define you
In the end
We will only just remember how it feels

Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders
These twists and turns of fate
Time falls away
But these small hours
These small hours still remain

Let it slide
Let your troubles fall behind you
Let it shine
Until you feel it all around you
And I don't mind
If it's me you need to turn to
We'll get by
It's the heart that really matters in the end

Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders
These twists and turns of fate
Time falls away
But these small hours
These small hours still remain

All of my regret
Will wash away some how
But I can not forget
The way I feel right now

In these small hours
These little wonders
These twists and turns of fate
These twists and turns of fate
Time falls away, but these small hours
These small hours, still remain
They still remain
These little wonders
These twists and turns of fate
Time falls away
But these small hours
These little wonders still remain

El Perdón (Forgiveness)

Kinda late for this, but hey, it's a good song...

The production value of the original Spanish version is better:

Sia - Cheap Thrills

Early to Mid-1980s Music

Some of the music I liked when I was in high school ;-)

Leslie Grace: Hispanic and 1950s Americana Fusion

I enjoy the fusion of Hispanic dance and tones with early 1960s American music done by Leslie Grace.

Enjoy.

Arash: Broken Angel

Iranian-born Arash has made himself very popular in Bollywood and the Indian music scene, and now his brand of music has been making the transition to other countries as well.

When i first saw the Broken Angel vid, I thought he was Indian and the lyrics in Hindi, but it seems it's in Farsi.

I also like his rather similar song One Day below.

Josh Groban

We were dancing to live music at a new sim when Linda acted surprised that I knew who Christina Aguilera was, and she mentioned that I somehow "hated" music. Now, that's pretty obviously news to me, since my taste in music is actually pretty eclectic, running from pop songs from the 1970s, to the 1980s and 1990s, and into the 21st century (yes, I know all about that bass)

One of the songs in the dance was something I've never heard before, and a quick search on google revealed it was actually from a singer I knew and liked...Josh Groban.

So, just to prove to some...ahem...heretics...in SL that I DO have good taste in music, here are some youtube vids of some of Josh's songs.

Enjoy!

What I did for Love:

When You Say You Love Me (the song played in the dance)

You Raise Me Up

Remember Me

Natalia Jiménez - Creo en Mi (I believe in me)

I heard this relatively new song on the radio and immediately was taken by the lyrics and tune. The message wasn't too shabby either. Enjoy!

Les Misérables

When I was in college I watched this show probably 4 or 5 times in Broadway...it never failed to stir my emotions and the songs were all great. This flash mob (Orlando Shakespeare Theater) did a great job.

It had one of the more tragic example of unrequited love...the girl Eponine, who in almost all versions of the story cuts a much more sympathetic figure than the usually colder Cosette.

Marius...you doofus.

And probably the best rendition of One Day More during the 10th Anniversary concert.

The Beach Boys and Lorrie Morgan - Don't Worry Baby (1996)