Nature's Best
Encyclopedia
Nature's Best is a two-disc compilation album of thirty New Zealand
popular music
songs, selected by a panel as the top thirty New Zealand songs of all time.
A collaborative effort by representatives of major record companies and APRA - most notably Mike Chunn
- took place to produce an album of the top 30 songs from this selection. The resulting album was named Nature's Best after the title song, and was released in January 2002 on the Sony Music label. Sales were extraordinary - in the first four months after its release, over 100,000 copies were sold (over quintuple platinum in the New Zealand market).
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...
popular music
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
songs, selected by a panel as the top thirty New Zealand songs of all time.
Selection
The genesis of the idea was the 75th anniversary of the Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA) in New Zealand in 2001 and the selection of the top 100 New Zealand songs of the past 75 years. A list of over 900 candidate songs was prepared, and voting was open to APRA members and an invited academy. The list of the top 100 songs was announced in stages in 2001, with the number one place going to the 1969 song "Nature" by Fourmyula.A collaborative effort by representatives of major record companies and APRA - most notably Mike Chunn
Mike Chunn
Mike Chunn is a former member of the New Zealand bands Split Enz and Citizen Band. He performed alongside his brother Geoff Chunn in both bands....
- took place to produce an album of the top 30 songs from this selection. The resulting album was named Nature's Best after the title song, and was released in January 2002 on the Sony Music label. Sales were extraordinary - in the first four months after its release, over 100,000 copies were sold (over quintuple platinum in the New Zealand market).
Followups
Subsequent releases followed:- Nature's Best 2Nature's Best 2Nature's Best 2 is a two-disc compilation album of 35 New Zealand popular music songs, numbers 31-65 on the APRA 75th Anniversary Top 100 New Zealand Songs of All Time...
and Nature's Best 3Nature's Best 3Nature's Best 3 is a two-disc compilation album of 35 New Zealand popular music songs, numbers 66-100 on the APRA 75th Anniversary Top 100 New Zealand Songs of All Time...
, 2002, songs 31-65 and 66-100 of the official APRA list - DVD releaseNature's Best DVDThe Nature's Best DVD is a DVD release of sixty music videos to songs from the three Nature's Best compilation albums. See the Nature's Best article for more details on the selection process of the songs.-Track listing:...
, 2003, music videos to sixty of the songs from the three albums - Limited edition box set of the three albums and the DVD, 2005
- More NatureMore NatureMore Nature is a one-disc compilation album of twenty notable New Zealand popular music songs from 2000-2005, intended to be a supplement to the Nature's Best series of compilation albums...
, 2006, a selection of notable New Zealand songs since 2001
Track listing
- "Nature" - Fourmyula (Wayne MasonWayne MasonWayne Mason is a New Zealand musician born in New Plymouth in 1949. He was a founding member of 1960s pop group The Fourmyula and later formed Rockinghorse and The Warratahs before embarking on a solo career in 1994....
, 1969) - "Don't Dream It's OverDon't Dream It's Over-12": Capitol / 12CL 438 United Kingdom :* also available on CD and MC-Personnel:*Neil Finn: Vocals and guitar*Nick Seymour: Bass guitar*Paul Hester: Drums and backing vocals*Mitchell Froom: Keyboards-Release history:- Charts :...
" - Crowded HouseCrowded HouseCrowded House are a rock band, formed in Melbourne, Australia and led by New Zealand singer-songwriter Neil Finn. Finn is the primary songwriter and creative director of the band, having led it through several incarnations, drawing members from New Zealand , Australia and the United States...
(Neil FinnNeil FinnNeil Mullane Finn, OBE is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Along with his brother Tim Finn, he was the co-frontman for Split Enz and is now frontman for Crowded House...
, 1986) - "Loyal" - Dave DobbynDave DobbynDave Dobbyn, ONZM is an award-winning New Zealand musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. In his early career he was a member of the rock group Th' Dudes and was the main creative force in pop band DD Smash...
(Dave Dobbyn, 1988) - "Counting the BeatCounting The Beat"Counting the Beat" is a single by New Zealand rock band The Swingers released in 1981 from their album of the same name, Counting the Beat.-History:The single was performed by The Swingers, with frontman Phil Judd from Split Enz...
" - The SwingersThe SwingersThe Swingers were a New Zealand rock band. Formed out of the remnants of The Suburban Reptiles, the founding members were Phil Judd , Wayne Stevens , and Mark Hough . Formed in 1979, the band released the single "One Good Reason" which was a top 20 hit in New Zealand...
(Phil JuddPhil JuddPhilip Judd is a New Zealand singer-songwriter known for being one of the founders of the bands Split Enz and The Swingers.-Split Enz:...
/Mark Hough/Wayne Stevens, 1981) - "Six Months in a Leaky BoatSix Months in a Leaky Boat"Six Months in a Leaky Boat" is a single from New Zealand art rock group Split Enz's album Time and Tide. It was written by Tim Finn and released as a single in 1982....
" - Split EnzSplit EnzSplit Enz were a New Zealand band of the 1970s and early 1980s featuring Phil Judd and brothers Tim Finn and Neil Finn. They achieved chart success in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada during the early 1980s ‒ most notably with the single "I Got You", and built a cult following elsewhere...
(Tim FinnTim FinnBrian Timothy "Tim" Finn, OBE is a New Zealand singer and musician. Finn is most known for his music with New Zealand 1970s and 1980s rock group Split Enz, and later for his solo work, a temporary membership in his brother Neil's band Crowded House and his joint efforts with Neil Finn as the Finn...
, 1982) - "SwaySway (Bic Runga song)"Sway" is a 1997 New Zealand music single by Bic Runga. It appeared on her first album, Drive, and it was featured in the 1999 film American Pie. It was released in 1998 in Germany, Australia, and twice in the United Kingdom. It was also released in the United States. An acoustic version of the...
" - Bic RungaBic RungaBriolette Kah Bic Runga MNZM is a New Zealand pop recording artist whose first solo album, Drive, debuted at number one on the New Zealand RIANZ charts. She has since become one of the highest-selling New Zealand artists in recent history...
(Bic Runga, 1997) - "Slice of HeavenSlice of Heaven"Slice of Heaven" is a single by New Zealand singer/songwriter Dave Dobbyn with the band Herbs, released in 1986 on the soundtrack of the animated motion picture, Footrot Flats: The Dog's Tail Tale. The single charted at No. 1 in New Zealand...
" - Dave Dobbyn with HerbsHerbs (band)Herbs are a New Zealand reggae vocal group formed in 1979 once described as "New Zealand's most soulful, heartfelt and consistent contemporary musical voice". It has been said their debut EP Whats' Be Happen? "set a standard for Pacific reggae which has arguably never been surpassed".-History:Herbs...
(Dave Dobbyn, 1986) - "Victoria" - Dance Exponents (Jordan LuckJordan LuckJordan Luck was the lead singer and songwriter for the New Zealand rock band The Exponents. He was born in Vanderhoof in the province of British Columbia, Canada, but his family moved to Tokarahi and later moved to Geraldine where he grew up. He attended University of Canterbury and College House...
, 1982) - "She Speeds" - Straitjacket FitsStraitjacket FitsStraitjacket Fits formed in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1986 and were a prominent band in the Flying Nun label's second wave of the Dunedin Sound.-Biography:...
(Shayne CarterShayne CarterShayne Carter is best-known for being the Straitjacket Fits' principal singer/songwriting/guitarist in the late 80s/early 90s, and later on a founding member of Dimmer.Carter comes from a musical family...
/Fits, 1987) - "April Sun in Cuba" - DragonDragon (band)Dragon is a popular New Zealand rock band, they were formed in Auckland, New Zealand in January 1972 and relocated to Sydney, Australia in May 1975. They were previously led by singer Marc Hunter and are currently led by his brother bass player Todd Hunter...
(Paul Hewson/Marc HunterMarc HunterMarc Alexander Hunter was a New Zealand rock and pop singer best known as the lead vocalist with Dragon, a band formed by his older brother Todd in Auckland in 1973....
, 1978) - "I Got YouI Got You (Split Enz song)"I Got You" is a 1980 song by New Zealand rock group Split Enz from their studio album True Colours. Split Enz's most commercially successful single, "I Got You" was written by Neil Finn and released in January 1980.-Music video:...
" - Split Enz (Neil Finn, 1980) - "Whaling" - DD SmashDD SmashDD Smash was a New Zealand pop/rock band formed by Dave Dobbyn after the breakup of Th'Dudes.-Members:Members included Dave Dobbyn , Peter Warren , Rob Guy , both formerly of Lip Service , and Lisle Kinney , formerly of Hello Sailor.-Origin:Originally formed in New Zealand, the band was resident...
(Dave Dobbyn, 1984) - "Not Given Lightly" - Chris KnoxChris KnoxChris Knox is a New Zealand rock and roll musician, cartoonist, and DVD reviewer who emerged during the punk rock era with his bands The Enemy and Toy Love. After Toy Love disbanded in the early 1980s, he formed the group Tall Dwarfs with guitarist Alec Bathgate, much loved for their honest,...
(Chris Knox, 1990) - "Pink Frost" - The ChillsThe ChillsThe Chills are a guitar and keyboard-based rock band from Dunedin, New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, they were one of the proponents of the Dunedin Sound.- History :...
(Martin Phillipps, 1984) - "Jesus I Was Evil" - Darcy ClayDarcy ClayDarcy Clay was an Auckland, New Zealand singer/songwriter, who was made famous in 1997 for his minor hit "Jesus I Was Evil", in which he recorded all instruments in his bedroom on a 4-track recorder...
(Darcy Clay, 1997) - "Weather with YouWeather with You"Weather with You" is a 1991 song by rock group Crowded House. It was the third and most successful single released from the group's third studio album Woodface, reaching top fifty charts in six countries with a peak of #7 in the United Kingdom....
" - Crowded House (Tim Finn/Neil Finn, 1991) - "Blue Smoke" - Pixie Williams & The Ruru Karaitiana Quartet (Ruru Karaitiana, 1949)
- "Dance All Round the World" - BlertaBlertaBlerta , was a New Zealand musical and theatrical co-operative active in the 1970s....
(Corben Simpson/Geoff MurphyGeoff MurphyGeoff Murphy is a successful New Zealand filmmaker best known for his work during the renaissance of New Zealand cinema that began in the last half of the 1970s....
, 1972) - "Lydia" - Fur PatrolFur PatrolFur Patrol is a rock band, originally from Wellington, New Zealand, now based in Melbourne, Australia.Their debut EP, Starlifter, was released on the independent Wellington label Wishbone in 1998. Their debut album Pet was produced by David Long, guitarist of the Six Volts and the The Mutton Birds...
(Julia Deans, 2000) - "Blue LadyBlue Lady (song)"Blue Lady" is a song released by the band Hello Sailor in 1977 as part of their Hello Sailor album. The New Zealand pop/rock band released it as one of their first songs as written by the guitarist and lead vocalist Graham Brazier. It reached number thirteen on the New Zealand Singles Charts,...
" - Hello SailorHello Sailor (band)Hello Sailor was a New Zealand pop/rock band originally formed in 1975.- History :The band's history is long and complicated, with guitarist/vocalists Dave McArtney and Harry Lyon having first played together in the mid 1960s. After several lineup changes, the band released its first album, Hello...
(Graham BrazierGraham BrazierGraham Brazier is a New Zealand musician and songwriter. He first came to prominence in the band Hello Sailor. After Hello Sailor he formed a band called the Legionnaires...
, 1977) - "Drive" - Bic Runga (Bic Runga, 1996)
- "Chains" - DLTDLT (musician)DLT is a New Zealand DJ, music producer, composer & artist. Born Darryl Thompson in Maraenui, New Zealand.DLT was inspired by an article about rap and breakdancing in Life magazine when he was 16 years of age; he moved to Wellington in the '80s and established himself as a graffiti artist known as...
featuring Che FuChe FuChe 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...
(Che NessChe FuChe 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...
/Darryl ThompsonDLT (musician)DLT is a New Zealand DJ, music producer, composer & artist. Born Darryl Thompson in Maraenui, New Zealand.DLT was inspired by an article about rap and breakdancing in Life magazine when he was 16 years of age; he moved to Wellington in the '80s and established himself as a graffiti artist known as...
/Angus McNaughton/Kevin Rangihuna, 1996) - "Dominion Road" - The Mutton BirdsThe Mutton BirdsThe Mutton Birds was a band from New Zealand formed in 1991 by Don McGlashan, Ross Burge, and David Long.-History:All three members came into the band with experience: McGlashan came from Blam Blam Blam and The Front Lawn, guitarist Long had played in the Six Volts and Burge had played in the...
(Don McGlashanDon McGlashanDon McGlashan is a New Zealand musician and songwriter who has been a member of bands such as The Plague, From Scratch, The Whizz Kids, Blam Blam Blam, The Front Lawn, The Mutton Birds and, from 2009, The Bellbirds. He composed several pieces for the Limbs Dance Company...
, 1992) - "(Glad I'm) Not a Kennedy" - Shona LaingShona LaingShona Laing is a New Zealand musician. She has had several hits in her native country, as well as a few minor international hits, most notably " Not a Kennedy" and "Soviet Snow". Laing also contributed to the Manfred Mann's Earth Band album Somewhere in Afrika...
(Shona Laing, 1986) - "I Hope I NeverI Hope I Never"I Hope I Never" is a 1980 song by New Zealand art rock group Split Enz from their studio album True Colours. The album version of the song goes for 4:36, forty seconds longer than the single version. The song was later covered by ENZSO, a collaboration between Split Enz's Eddie Rayner and the New...
" - Split Enz (Tim Finn, 1980) - "Tears" - The CrocodilesThe CrocodilesThe Crocodiles was a New Zealand pop band formed in 1979 with lead singer Jenny Morris, who went on to commercial success as a solo artist in Australia; and later included drummer Barton Price who subsequently joined Sardine v and then Models...
(Fane FlawsFane FlawsFane Flaws is a New Zealand musician, songwriter, and artist. He was a member of bands including Blerta, Spats and The Crocodiles.He wrote many of the songs used in the film Meet the Feebles....
/Arthur BaystingArthur BaystingArthur Baysting is a songwriter, screenwriter , and comedian from New Zealand. He was a songwriting member of The Crocodiles, co-writing their biggest hit Tears with Fane Flaws....
, 1980) - "Be Mine Tonight" - Th'DudesTh'DudesTh' Dudes were a late 1970s / early 1980s pop/rock band from Auckland, New Zealand. Hits include "Walking in Light", "Right First Time", " Be Mine Tonight" and "Bliss".-Members:*Dave Dobbyn*Ian Morris *Peter Urlich...
(Dave Dobbyn/Ian Morris, 1978) - "I See RedI See Red (Split Enz song)"I See Red" is a 1978 song by New Zealand art rock group Split Enz from their studio album Frenzy. "I See Red" was the second Split Enz song to achieve a top 20 chart position, peaking at #15 in Australia and #43 in the band's native New Zealand....
" - Split Enz (Tim Finn, 1979) - "Beside You" - Dave Dobbyn (Dave Dobbyn, 1998)
- "Home Again" - ShihadShihadShihad is a New Zealand hard/alternative rock band, currently based in Melbourne, Australia. During Shihad's recording career, they have produced four number-one studio albums and three top-ten singles in their home country of New Zealand....
(Karl KippenbergerKarl KippenbergerKarl Brenton Jamie Kippenberger , grandson of Captain E.T Kippenberger, great nephew of Major-General Sir Howard Kippenberger, is the bass guitarist of the New Zealand band Shihad....
/Tom LarkinTom LarkinTom Larkin is a member of the New Zealand band Shihad. He plays the drums, sings background vocals and uses samplers...
/Phil Knight/Jon ToogoodJon ToogoodJonathan Charles Toogood is the frontman of the New Zealand rock band Shihad. He formed the band in 1988 with fellow Wellingtonian Tom Larkin...
, 1997)
See also
- Nature's Best 2Nature's Best 2Nature's Best 2 is a two-disc compilation album of 35 New Zealand popular music songs, numbers 31-65 on the APRA 75th Anniversary Top 100 New Zealand Songs of All Time...
- Nature's Best 3Nature's Best 3Nature's Best 3 is a two-disc compilation album of 35 New Zealand popular music songs, numbers 66-100 on the APRA 75th Anniversary Top 100 New Zealand Songs of All Time...
- More NatureMore NatureMore Nature is a one-disc compilation album of twenty notable New Zealand popular music songs from 2000-2005, intended to be a supplement to the Nature's Best series of compilation albums...
- Nature's Best DVDNature's Best DVDThe Nature's Best DVD is a DVD release of sixty music videos to songs from the three Nature's Best compilation albums. See the Nature's Best article for more details on the selection process of the songs.-Track listing:...
- Australasian Performing Rights Association
- Music of New ZealandMusic of New ZealandThe music of New Zealand is the expression of the culture of New Zealand. New Zealand's music is influenced by the culture of the indigenous Māori and immigrants from the Pacific region, though its musical origins lie predominantly in British colonial history, with contributions from Europe and...
- New Zealand rock
- Mike ChunnMike ChunnMike Chunn is a former member of the New Zealand bands Split Enz and Citizen Band. He performed alongside his brother Geoff Chunn in both bands....