Music of Niue
Encyclopedia
The music of Niue
has a long history. Niue is a Polynesia
n island in the South Pacific
. Though independent, it is in free association
with New Zealand
.
for the dances.
and sometimes using a musical keyboard. It accompanies a dance that has different actions to go with the meaning of the song. Both men and women dance together in a tame. Most of the time the women will dance while sitting down while the men dance while standing. However, this has nothing to do with status, as Niue women and men have equal status in the Niue society.
of OMC (Otara's Millionaires Club) is half Niuean and half Māori, became the first New Zealander to reach the top of the charts in 12 countries with his hit "How Bizarre"
which sold over 3 million albums which makes him the most successful Pacific Music Artist ever.The Fuemana Family is the most successful pacific family with over 12 NZ music awards between. The musician Che Fu
is very popular, and has won several Tui Awards, a New Zealand music award. This is an enormous achievement for a country with only a few thousand people, as other countries bigger than Niue have yet to reach those heights conquered by these Niuean artists. The Kilakokonut Krew group and record label is also made up of Niuean artists Vela Manusaute
and Glen Jackson
. The migration of Niueans to New Zealand also make greater influences on Niuean music. There are up-and-coming artists, such as MC Kava, who now sing in contemporary styles of music like rap, hip-hop and reggae
.
There are also many Niuean artists who have produced records in Niuean language, groups like Island Pride, PNG Highlanders, Victa Talima, TA5, Moana Lukeluke & Tony.T & Ian Hipa & Island Pride & Nu Beat & Tama Niue Mooli and a lot of other artists to name. Fuata Muta was the first Niuean group to play and record their own music albums. From the actual playing of the instruments to the engineering and mixing the songs at one of Sydney's largest recording studios in 1985 and 1986. Church choirs are also common, however they sing traditional hymns with no instrumental accompaniment at all.
Two Niuean Lp's have being released. As well as several tapes and cds.
Niue
Niue , is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and inhabitants of the island call it "the Rock" for short. Niue is northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Samoas to the northwest, and the Cook Islands to...
has a long history. Niue is a Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
n island in the South Pacific
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
. Though independent, it is in free association
Associated state
An associated state is the minor partner in a formal, free relationship between a political territory with a degree of statehood and a nation, for which no other specific term, such as protectorate, is adopted...
with New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
History of Music
The Niue culture and tradition is also rich in music. However, most of the very traditional Niuean songs are sung without the use of any musical instruments. The only instrument that is used for the very traditional dances is a wooden drum known in Niuean as palau or nafa, made out of a carved trunk of the selie tree. The use of the instrument is mainly to provide a beatBeat (music)
The beat is the basic unit of time in music, the pulse of the mensural level . In popular use, the beat can refer to a variety of related concepts including: tempo, meter, rhythm and groove...
for the dances.
Tame
The main dance for celebrating the opening of a new building, facility, wedding, or birthday is the tame. The tame involves singing with guitars, ukulelesUkulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
and sometimes using a musical keyboard. It accompanies a dance that has different actions to go with the meaning of the song. Both men and women dance together in a tame. Most of the time the women will dance while sitting down while the men dance while standing. However, this has nothing to do with status, as Niue women and men have equal status in the Niue society.
Today
As Niue modernized, its music began to be influenced by other cultures. Manaia Studio and the Niue Broadcasting Corporation are the only recording studios on the island. There are many Niue artists who have made it to the top. ButPauly FuemanaPauly Fuemana
Pauly Lawrence Fuemana was a New Zealand singer, songwriter and musician. Fuemana was the lead singer of the music duo, OMC , which was best known internationally for the 1995 hit, "How Bizarre"...
of OMC (Otara's Millionaires Club) is half Niuean and half Māori, became the first New Zealander to reach the top of the charts in 12 countries with his hit "How Bizarre"
How Bizarre (song)
"How Bizarre" is the debut single of New Zealand musical group OMC from their debut album of the same name. It was released as a single in New Zealand in 1995 and internationally in 1996....
which sold over 3 million albums which makes him the most successful Pacific Music Artist ever.The Fuemana Family is the most successful pacific family with over 12 NZ music awards between. The musician Che Fu
Che Fu
Che Fu MNZM is a New Zealand Hip hop/R&B and Reggae recording artist and producer. Originally one part of the band Supergroove, as a solo artist he has gone on to sell thousands of albums both in New Zealand and internationally, including in Australia and the UK.-History:Fu is one of New Zealand's...
is very popular, and has won several Tui Awards, a New Zealand music award. This is an enormous achievement for a country with only a few thousand people, as other countries bigger than Niue have yet to reach those heights conquered by these Niuean artists. The Kilakokonut Krew group and record label is also made up of Niuean artists Vela Manusaute
Vela Manusaute
Vela Manusaute is a writer and director. He is credited with the original idea for the film The Tattooist. Vela is part Niuean and part Samoan, he was born in Niue and lived in his village Mutalau before his family left for New Zealand.-References:...
and Glen Jackson
Glen Jackson
Glen Jackson may refer to:*Glen Jackson *Glen Jackson , Canadian Football League player*Glen Jackson *Glen Jackson...
. The migration of Niueans to New Zealand also make greater influences on Niuean music. There are up-and-coming artists, such as MC Kava, who now sing in contemporary styles of music like rap, hip-hop and reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
.
There are also many Niuean artists who have produced records in Niuean language, groups like Island Pride, PNG Highlanders, Victa Talima, TA5, Moana Lukeluke & Tony.T & Ian Hipa & Island Pride & Nu Beat & Tama Niue Mooli and a lot of other artists to name. Fuata Muta was the first Niuean group to play and record their own music albums. From the actual playing of the instruments to the engineering and mixing the songs at one of Sydney's largest recording studios in 1985 and 1986. Church choirs are also common, however they sing traditional hymns with no instrumental accompaniment at all.
Two Niuean Lp's have being released. As well as several tapes and cds.