"Pōkarekare Ana" is a traditional New Zealand love song, probably communally composed about the time World War I began in 1914. The song is written in Māori and has been translated into English. It enjoys widespread popularity in New Zealand as well as some popularity in other countries.
Composition
editEastern Maori politicians Paraire Tomoana and Āpirana Ngata published the song in 1919, but neither of them claimed to have composed it. They explained that it had "emanated North of Auckland" and was popularised by Māori soldiers who were training near Auckland before embarking for the war in Europe.[1]
The Māori words have remained virtually unaltered over the decades, with only the waters in the first line being localized. For example, some versions refer to Lake Rotorua in the North Island. It is then associated with the story of Hinemoa swimming across the lake to her forbidden lover, Tūtānekai, on Mokoia Island. However, there have been many different English translations.
"Pōkarekare Ana" was originally written predominantly in triple time, with the verse in duple time, but has been more commonly heard in duple time since World War II.[1]
Lyrics and melody
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Pō – ka – re – ka – re a – na,
ngā wai o Wai – a – pu,
Whi – ti a – tu ko – e hi – ne,
ma – ri – no a – na e. __
E hi – ne e,
ho – ki mai ra.
Ka ma – te a – hau
I te a – ro – ha e.
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| Māori[2] | English[2] |
|---|---|
Pōkarekare ana, |
They are agitated, |
Use
editThe song is very popular in New Zealand, and has been adapted for multiple purposes, including in advertising and by sporting groups. Notable uses include:
- "Sailing Away", which promoted New Zealand's 1987 America's Cup challenge, and featured an ensemble choir of famous New Zealanders recording as "All of Us".
- It was used in multiple TV advertisements for Air New Zealand in the 1990s (using a recording with Kiri Te Kanawa) and in 2000.[3][4] Air New Zealand also used the song again in 2020 to mark the 80th birthday of New Zealand's national airline, this time, using a recording from Hayley Westenra.[5]
- In April 2013, members and spectators in the New Zealand Parliament sang "Pōkarekare Ana" after the house passed the bill legalising same-sex marriage in New Zealand.[6]
In popular culture, "Pōkarekare Ana" was used as the theme song for the 2005 South Korean film Crying Fist.[7][better source needed]
In the 2019 DLC for Civilization VI, Gathering Storm, the main theme for the added Māori civilization is Pōkarekare Ana and Ka Mate.[8] There are four renditions of the theme, each corresponding to a different era in the game. These renditions were composed by Geoff Knorr and Phill Boucher.[9]
Versions
editRecordings
editDozens of recording artists throughout the world have performed and recorded the song.
A version of "Pōkarekare Ana" by Rhonda Bryers appears on the 1981 CBS various artists album The Mauri Hikitia.[10][11]
Richard Clayderman recorded an instrumental version in 1984,[12][13] which appeared on the album Memories.[14]
Among New Zealand opera singers to record and perform "Pōkarekare Ana" are Kiri Te Kanawa and Malvina Major.
"Pōkarekare Ana" was featured on the 2003 album Pure, by the New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra.
A version of the song features on the self-titled album by Angelis, a British classical crossover singing group.
On the CD Classical-Crossover Compilation 2011, Hollie Steel sings "Pōkarekare Ana". Steel later released the song as a charity single for those suffering from the 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand.[15]
Adaptations
editIt was known that the song was introduced to South Korea by New Zealand soldiers fighting in the Korean War (although there is no record of New Zealand soldiers spreading the song during Korean War). It was eventually given Korean lyrics and a Korean title, "Yeonga" (Korean: 연가), and has become popular across the country.[16][17]
The melody of "Pōkarekare Ana" was used for an Irish hymn to the Blessed Virgin: "A Mhuire Mháthair, sé seo mo ghuí".[2][18]
A homophonous translation into Hebrew was composed in 2007 by Ghil'ad Zuckermann. In this translation the approximate sounds of the Māori words are retained while Hebrew words with similar meanings are used. In this translation, however, "Waiapu" is replaced by "Rotorua" (oto rúakh, Hebrew for "that wind").[19]
References
edit- ^ a b Allan Thomas (May–December 2007). "'Pokarekare': An Overlooked New Zealand Folksong?". Journal of Folklore Research. 44 (2/3). Indiana University Press: 227–237. doi:10.2979/JFR.2007.44.2-3.227. JSTOR 40206952. S2CID 161092212.
- ^ a b c "Pōkarekare Ana", folksong.org
- ^ "Air New Zealand – Birds", advertising video
- ^ Dita De Boni (30 June 2000). "Mood music to fit the product". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
- ^ Celebrating our 80th birthday – Air New Zealand on YouTube
- ^ Ohlheiser, Abby (17 April 2013). "New Zealand Lawmakers Burst into Song as They Legalize Gay Marriage". Slate. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
- ^ Crying Fist Soundtrack – Pōkarekare Ana on YouTube
- ^ "Maori Theme – Atomic (Civilization 6 OST) Pōkarekare Ana; Ka Mate". Youtube. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ "Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (Original Game Soundtrack)". Apple Music. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ National Library of New Zealand The Mauri Hikitia album (sound recording) / various artists.
- ^ Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision (New Zealand's Sound & Vision Archive) The Mauri Hikitia album / various artists
- ^ Tom Cardy (20 June 2013). "Watch: Richard Clayderman takes to the keys". The Dominion Post.
- ^ "Pōkarekare Ana" at Discogs
- ^ Memories at Discogs (list of releases)
- ^ "Hollie Releases New Song for Charity", 1 May 2011, holliesteelmusic.com
- ^ Kang Hyun-kyung (11 May 2015). "Popular love song reflects Maori influence in Korea". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ "Yeon-ga". New Zealand Folk Song. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
- ^ MP3 singing of A Mhuire Mháthair Archived 27 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Po kar hi li tikrá na "'It's cold here', she will tell me", homophonous translation of "Pōkarekare Ana" into Hebrew.
Further reading
edit- "Hoki mai ra – A unique find" by Michael Brown, 11 August 2014, National Library of New Zealand
External links
edit- Armstrong, Alan Haere Mai (1985) Viking Sevenseas Ltd ISBN 0-85467-087-4
- "Pōkarekare Ana – A Māori Love Song", documentary, NZ On Screen
- Traditional version on YouTube, sung a cappella by Marie Te Hapuku, with vintage photos of Māori women
- "Pōkarekare Ana" on YouTube, Teddy Tahu Rhodes
- "Pōkarekare Ana" on YouTube, sung by Hayley Westenra
- "Pōkarekare Ana" by Karly Te Maro, MP3 used by Air New Zealand at the Wayback Machine (archived 21 July 2005)
