AM Foreign World Cup: Round 2 - Australia/Pacific

[Stephan]

Bracket 2.3.13
Alfred Aholo Apaka - Na Moku Eha
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Ka Huila Wai

Bracket 2.3.14
Dany Stewart - Les Femmes d'Amérique - RapidShare
Pynolasa Bamboo Band - Mouna Manu - RapidShare

Bracket 2.3.15
Fiji Phoenix Choir - Lutu Sobu Na Yakavi - RapidShare
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu- Wiyathul

Bracket 2.3.16
Frank Yamma- She Cried
Holonga Vava'u- Faikava Love Song

[Honorio]

This week is more difficult than usual to listen to the nominations so I'm posting again the Spotify playlist I did for the first round, this time including 5 of the 8 nominations: "Na Moku Eha", "Ka Huila Wai", "Les femmes d'Amérique", "Wiyathul" and "Faikava Love Song". And a link for Na Moku Eha giving the fact that the You Tube link is now dead (scroll down a little to listen to it).


Bracket 2.3.13
Alfred Apaka & His Hawaiians - Na Moku Eha (USA, 1949)
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Ka Huila Wai (USA, 1993)
Probably the best bracket of the week, "Ka Huila Wai" was my nomination (and I think it's fantastic) but I still prefer the wonderful Hawaiian vintage sound of "Na Moku Eha" and I even would like to see this song winning this Pacific part.


Bracket 2.3.14
Augie Goupil and His Royal Tahitians (chant Danny Stewart) - Les femmes d'Amérique (Tahiti/USA, 1937)
Pynolasa Bamboo Band - Mouna Manu (Papua New Guinea, 1990s?)
The oldie or the rooty? Mmm, I think I'll go again with one of these delicious oldies that nicolas know so well.


Bracket 2.3.15
Fiji Phoenix Choir - Lutu Sobu Na Yakavi (Fiji, 1990s?)
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - Wiyathul (Australia, 2008)
Delicious sounds from Fiji but my vote goes to Gurrumul voice, so pure.


Bracket 2.3.16
Frank Yamma - She Cried (Australia, 2010)
Villagers of Holonga, Vava'u - Faikava Love Song (Tonga, 1981)
Remarkable power-ballad from Frank Yamma but I prefer the field recording, the villagers of Holonga singing a traditional love song while a girl pours Kava (a traditional drink).

[nicolas]

Bracket 2.3.13
Alfred Aholo Apaka - Na Moku Eha 3.75
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Ka Huila Wai 4

Bracket 2.3.14
Dany Stewart - Les Femmes d'Amérique 4
Pynolasa Bamboo Band - Mouna Manu 4+

Bracket 2.3.15
Fiji Phoenix Choir - Lutu Sobu Na Yakavi 4.25
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu- Wiyathul 4

Bracket 2.3.16
Frank Yamma- She Cried 4
Holonga Vava'u- Faikava Love Song 4+

[Kingoftonga]

Bracket 2.3.13
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Ka Huila Wai

Bracket 2.3.14
Pynolasa Bamboo Band - Mouna Manu

Bracket 2.3.15
Fiji Phoenix Choir - Lutu Sobu Na Yakavi

Bracket 2.3.16
Holonga Vava'u- Faikava Love Song

[jamieW]

Bracket 2.3.13
Winner: Alfred Aholo Apaka - Na Moku Eha
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Ka Huila Wai
I have always loved the Hawaiian sound of “Na Moku Eha.” People who know me well complain that I only like “depressing” music. Does my voting against the always hopeful sound of Israel prove their point? (Although “Na Moku Eha” sounds happy to me, too.)

Bracket 2.3.14
Dany Stewart - Les Femmes d'Amérique
Winner: Pynolasa Bamboo Band - Mouna Manu
“Les Femmes d’Amerique” is a fun, traditional-sounding ballad reminiscent of the bluegrass music I love. However, “Mouna Manu” sounded completely original to me (although I am a fan of “Deep Forest,” which pairs traditional vocals similar to these with electronic music).

Bracket 2.3.15
Fiji Phoenix Choir - Lutu Sobu Na Yakavi
Winner: Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu- Wiyathul
I’m choosing the melancholic, wistful strings and vocals of “Wiyathul” (my favourite of the week) over the melodic harmonies of “Lutu Sobu Na Yakavi.”

Bracket 2.3.16
Winner: Frank Yamma- She Cried
Holonga Vava'u- Faikava Love Song
The tropical atmosphere created by Vava’u is wonderfully soothing; but with what I’ve said about my love of sad music, it was probably inevitable where my vote would go.

[Henrik]

I forgot about this. Can I have another day?

[Miguel]

Bracket 2.3.13
Alfred Apaka & His Hawaiians - Na Moku Eha

Bracket 2.3.14
Augie Goupil and His Royal Tahitians (chant Danny Stewart) - Les femmes d'Amérique

Bracket 2.3.15
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - Wiyathul

Bracket 2.3.16
Frank Yamma - She Cried

[Dan]

Sorry for being tardy. I'll vote later today.

[Stephan]

Sure Henrik and Dan, I'll keep it open a day more.

[Dan]

Bracket 2.3.13
Alfred Aholo Apaka - Na Moku Eha
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Ka Huila Wai

The word "sunny" comes to mind for both of these songs.

Bracket 2.3.14
Dany Stewart - Les Femmes d'Amérique
Pynolasa Bamboo Band - Mouna Manu

Traditional Papa New Guinean house/techno. Yeah!

Bracket 2.3.15
Fiji Phoenix Choir - Lutu Sobu Na Yakavi
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu- Wiyathul

Hmmm... gorgeous, quirky melodies from the Fiji Phoenix Choir. Pity I couldn't vote for the lovely "Wiyathul" though.

Bracket 2.3.16
Frank Yamma- She Cried
Holonga Vava'u- Faikava Love Song

And there I was thinking that I don't remember this Australia/Pacific region being so good. Shame on me! Two more beautiful songs

[Henrik]

Bracket 2.3.13
Alfred Aholo Apaka - Na Moku Eha
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Ka Huila Wai

Bracket 2.3.14
Dany Stewart - Les Femmes d'Amérique
Pynolasa Bamboo Band - Mouna Manu

Bracket 2.3.15
Fiji Phoenix Choir - Lutu Sobu Na Yakavi
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu- Wiyathul

Bracket 2.3.16
Frank Yamma- She Cried
Holonga Vava'u- Faikava Love Song

[Poliuks]

Good week once again. Sorry for being late, nicolas, I wanted to vote yesterday, but somehow I just couldn't focus on music.
Bracket 2.3.13
Alfred Aholo Apaka - Na Moku Eha
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Ka Huila Wai
My feelings are exactly the same sa Dan's - this is pure happiness!

Bracket 2.3.14
Dany Stewart - Les Femmes d'Amérique
Pynolasa Bamboo Band - Mouna Manu

Bracket 2.3.15
Fiji Phoenix Choir - Lutu Sobu Na Yakavi
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu- Wiyathul
My vote goes to the song I found more emotional - both are very good on the musical side.

Bracket 2.3.16
Frank Yamma- She Cried
Holonga Vava'u- Faikava Love Song
Two really melancholic, sad songs this week; both of them got my vote - not that I'm feeling bad or depressed, they are just, well, beutiful.

EDIT: Ouch, I noticed that Stephen is boss here, not nicolas... Sorry once again !

[Stephan]

No worries Poliuks, nicolas and Honorio are my co-hosts because their knowledge of foreign music far outshines mine.

My votes this week go to Israel, Dany, Geoffrey, and Frank.

Bracket 2.3.13
Alfred Aholo Apaka - Na Moku Eha - 5
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Ka Huila Wai - 4

Bracket 2.3.14
Dany Stewart - Les Femmes d'Amérique - 3
Pynolasa Bamboo Band - Mouna Manu - 6

Bracket 2.3.15
Fiji Phoenix Choir - Lutu Sobu Na Yakavi - 3
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu- Wiyathul - 6

Bracket 2.3.16
Frank Yamma- She Cried - 4
Holonga Vava'u- Faikava Love Song - 5