Tahiti Nui is a Tahitian song that has been recorded by a multitude of artists. It is possibly one of the most popular Pacific Island songs.
Background
The song can be heard on radio and in parties from Guam, to Port Moresby, to Rarotonga. [1] Toti's Tahitians covered the song and it was released on the Little Brown Gal album which was released on Viking VP 24. [2] [3] It has been described by Bengt Danielsson, author of From Raft to Raft: An Incredible Voyage from Tahiti to Chile and Back as a melancholy Tahitian song in praise of the island. [4] Possibly the earliest recorded version of the song was by Eddie Lund and his orchestra featuring female lead singer Irma Emma Samila Spitz, professionally known then as Mila. [5] The song credited to Mila avec L'Orchestre Eddie Lund was the B side on a 78 RPM single with the A side "Ragout pommes de terre" by Teaitu. It was released on Tahiti label cat # 139. [6] It was released as a 45 RPM single on Viking in 1958, credited to Mila With Eddie Lund And His Tahitians. [7]
A song of the same name was recorded by Sol K. Bright And His Holly-Waiians. This is a completely different composition. [8]
Releases
| Artist | Title | Release info | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaitu, Mila avec L'Orchestre Eddie Lund | "Ragout pommes de terre" / "Tahiti Nui" | Tahiti 139 | Side A = Teaitu, Side B = Mila avec L'Orchestre Eddie Lund [9] |
| Artist | Album title | Release info | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toti's Tahitians | Little Brown Gal | Viking VP 24 | Also released on 49th State Hawaii Record Co. LP-3426 [10] | |
| Manuia & Maeva | Otuitui • Tahiti | Reo Tahiti Records SRT-520 | 1966 | [11] |
| Artist | Album title | Release info | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amy Hanaiali'i | Generation Hawaii | Hanaiali'i Records 8556 | 2006 | [12] |
References
- ^ Pacific Islands Monthly Volume 45, Issues 1-6 Page 63
- ^ Discogs Toti's Tahitians – Little Brown Gal
- ^ Pacific Islands Monthly Volume 33 Page 50
- ^ From Raft to Raft: An Incredible Voyage from Tahiti to Chile and Back (page unknown)
- ^ Tahiti Jukebox Mila & Loma - Biographie
- ^ Rate Your Music Ragout pommes de terre / Tahiti nui
- ^ 45Cat Catalogue: V66-7
- ^ 45 Worlds Artist: Sol K. Bright And His Holly-Waiians
- ^ Rate Your Music Ragout pommes de terre / Tahiti nui
- ^ Discogs Toti's Tahitians – Little Brown Gal
- ^ Discogs Manuia & Maeva – Otuitui • Tahiti
- ^ AllMusic Amy Hānaiali'i Generation Hawai'i