"Kua Makona" (English: "Isn't That Enough"), is the debut single from Moana Maniapoto. Produced by Dalvanius Prime and sung in the Māori language, the song was used in a campaign for the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand. In 1993, the song was re-recorded as a pop-reggae version entitled "Kua Makona (Kori Kori Tinana Mix)", released as a single by Maniapoto's group Moana & the Moa Hunters. This version was later included on their debut album Tahi (1993).
| "Kua Makona" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Moana | ||||
| from the album Tahi | ||||
| Language | Māori | |||
| Released | 1986 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:50 | |||
| Label | Maui Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Dalvanius Prime | |||
| Moana singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Moana & the Moa Hunters singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Kua Makona" at NZ On Screen | ||||
Background and composition
editManiapoto had been singing in clubs and cover bands and doing backing vocals, when musician Dalvanius Prime encouraged her to release her own music.[1] The pair first met after one of Prime's concerts, when Maniapoto's then husband Willie Jackson approached Prime and introduced Maniapoto to him as a promising musician.[2]
A year later, Prime contacted Maniapoto and asked her to take part in a campaign for the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand, around promoting moderation among Māori.[2] The campaign featured a pop song sung in Māori, produced by Prime and Ryan Monga (of Ardijah), which was released as a single under Prime's label Maui Records in 1986.[3] The song describes a woman's love and despair she feels for a man with a drinking problem, and is a warning on the perils of driving under the influence of alcohol.[4][5][6] The lyrics of the song were written by Ngamaru Raerino, who at the time was the Māori coordinator for Alcohol Advisory Council .[5]
The campaign launched in 1987, featuring a music video (which included an appearance by Hinewehi Mohi),[4][5] and a number of magazine appearances. During this time, Maniapoto was working as a barrister and graphic artist at Kia Mōhio Kia Mārama Trust, and singing at Club 21 on Queen Street with her band Whiteline.[6] Maniapoto was unused to the fashion style that Prime suggested for the magazine and music video appearances, feeling as if he had transformed her into "the Māori Cher".[2] The single began charting on the New Zealand singles chart in May 1987, peaking at number 27 in June.[7] At the 1987 New Zealand Music Awards, "Kua Makona" was nominated for Best Polynesian work, losing to Herbs' "E Papa / Jah Knows". At the same awards ceremony, Maniapoto won the Most Promising Female Vocalist award.[8]
After the formation of her band Moana & the Moa Hunters, the song was revisited in 1993, re-recorded as a pop reggae song and released as a double A-side single with "Peace, Love and Family" before the release of the group's debut album Tahi.[9] The original version of the song was added to the 1996 CD release of the Pātea Māori Club album Poi E.
Track listings
edit
|
|
Credits and personnel
editCredits for the 1986 version adapted from the "Kua Makona" single.[13]
- Computer Blues – executive producer
- Moana Maniapoto-Jackson – vocalist
- Graham Myhre – engineering
- Dalvanius Prime – co-producer, director, writer
- Ngamaru Raerino – writer
Credits for the 1993 version adapted from the "Peace, Love and Family" / "Kua Makona" single.[14]
- Kōwhai Intermediate School – haka
- Angus McNaughton – producer, engineer, programming, mixing
- Moana Maniapoto – lead vocal, additional lyrics
- Dalvanius Prime – writer
- Ngamaru Raerino – writer
- Teremoana Rapley – rap
- Mina Ripia – rap
Charts
edit| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] | 27 |
| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] | 23 |
References
edit- ^ Hayden, Leonie (8 June 2019). "The wonderful world of Moana Maniapoto". The Spinoff. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ a b c Maniapoto, Moana (23 July 2016). "Dalvanius — no one-hit wonder". eTangata. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ Bourke, Chris (28 September 2016). "Moana Maniapoto". Audio Culture. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Kua Makona". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ^ a b c Paratoki-Lewis, May; Gilmour, Cath (1 April 1987). "The mix has not been magic". Tu Tangata. No. 35. p. 14. Retrieved 10 December 2021 – via Papers Past.
- ^ a b "Moana Maniapoto–Jackson". Tu Tangata. No. 35. 1 April 1987. p. 17. Retrieved 10 December 2021 – via Papers Past.
- ^ a b "MOANA & THE MOAHUNTERS – Kua Makona". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ "Awards 1987". Listing. NZ Music Awards. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
- ^ "Moana and the Moa Hunters win Independent Music NZ Classic Record award". New Zealand Herald. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ Kua Makona (booklet). Moana. Maui Records, WEA Records NZ. 1986. MAUI 10.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Kua Makona (Cassette Single liner notes). Moana. Maui Records. 1986. MAUIEP11.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Kua Makona (Cassette Single liner notes). Moana. Maui Records. 1986. MAUIEPC11.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b Kua Makona (booklet). Moana. Maui Records, WEA Records NZ. 1986. MAUI 12.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b Peace, Love and Family / Kua Makona (booklet). Moana & the Moa Hunters. Southside Records. 1993. D11394.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "MOANA & THE MOAHUNTERS – Peace, Love & Family". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 9 December 2021.