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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
 Posted - 03/01/2008 : 06:44:53 AM
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This month's Hawai`i magazine has an article about the top five romantic spots in Hawai`i and the eight most romantic songs from Hawai`i. Here are their takes on it. Do you agree or disagree. What do you think is the most romantic song? For me it is Uncle Raymond and Aunty Elodia singing Ke Kali Nei Au. Her gazing at him with such love in her eyes really touches my heart. Ka Ipo Lei Manu is such a beautiful song, as well. No matter who sings it. E Pili Mai is mighty swell, too. Or Gary Haleamau singing Adios Ke Aloha. Or Lena Machado's E Nei.
8 Most Romantic Songs:
1. Ke Kali Nei Au - composed by Charles E. King in 1925
2. To You Sweetheart Aloha - by Harry Owens
3. I'll Weave a Lei of Stars for You - by R. Alex Anderson
4. Don Ho singing Kui Lee's "I'll Remember You"
5. Mackey Feary's Night Bird
6. Kawaipunahele by Keali`i Reichel
7. Cecelio Rodrigues' About You.
8. Jack Johnson's Better Together
And interesting thing to note is that most of these songs are not traditionally written Hawaiian language songs. Hmmm.
Most Romantic Spots:
1. Hanalei Bay by moonlight.
2. Lanikai sunrise.
3. Kona Coast at sunset
4. Nighttime cruise off Waikiki.
5. Picnic along the shore, just past Hana.
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Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
Edited by - wcerto on 03/01/2008 07:09:25 AM |
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hwnmusiclives
`Olu`olu
USA
580 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2008 : 07:09:31 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by wcerto
This month's Hawai`i magazine has an article about the top five romantic spots in Hawai`i and the eight most romantic songs from Hawai`i. Here are their takes on it. Do you agree or disagree. What do you think is the most romantic song? For me it is Uncle Raymond and Aunty Elodia singing Ke Kali Nei Au. Her gazing at him with such love in her eyes really touches my heart. Ka Ipo Lei Manu is such a beautiful song, as well. No matter who sings it. E Pili Mai is mighty swell, too. Or Gary Haleamau singing Adios Ke Aloha. Or Lena Machado's E Nei.
Well, I can't count "Adios Kealoha" among the romantic songs because - by my definition, anyway - a good romantic song has to have a happier ending than that. After all, isn't romance merely an extension of idealism? And I don't think the composer of an idealistic song - if he/she could craft any ending they wanted - would make it anything less than perfectly happy - even if there is misery along the way.
My favorite romantic songs are, ironically, hapa-haole: To Make You Love Me, Ku`uipo and Two Shadows On The Sand. In the Hawaiian language, my thoughts fly immediately to Lena Machado's seldom heard Aloha No, Makalapua's Be Still, My Heart, Mary Pukui and Maddy Lam's Pua `Ahihi, Kahauanu Lake's Pua Lililehua, and Robert Cazimero's `Ilolialoha.* Now add Lehua Kalima's The Rest Of Your Life, Ernie Cruz Jr.'s One Day Soon, and Billy Kau`i's Pretty Girl. And then there are the jazzy ones - like Andy Cummings' In Spite Of All and Irmgard Aluli's One Little Dream. These are as good as anything Cole Porter ever cranked out.
*(Robert Cazimero's entire album of self-penned love songs is a treasure.)
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Join me for the history of Hawaiian music and its musicians at Ho`olohe Hou at www.hoolohehou.org. |
Edited by - hwnmusiclives on 03/01/2008 08:15:33 AM |
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Auntie Maria
Ha`aha`a
USA
1918 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2008 : 09:41:03 AM
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Bill, I wholeheartedly second your vote for "Aloha No" -- currently only available on two CDs (Kanilau, and Robert Cazimero's solo one).
Add to the list: "Pili Aloha", "Ei Nei", "Pohai Kealoha", "Mi Nei"...sigh...so poetic!
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Auntie Maria
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2008 : 09:57:57 AM
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quote:
And interesting thing to note is that most of these songs are not traditionally written Hawaiian language songs. Hmmm.
Most Romantic Spots:
1. Hanalei Bay by moonlight.
2. Lanikai sunrise.
Interesting:
Hanalei by Moonlight is listed as a most romantic spot but the very romantic song about it with the SAME NAME is not!?!?
AND
Lanikai is listed as a most romantic spot but the very romantic song about it with the SAME NAME is not?!?!
Me thinks these Hawaii Magazine folks have a very limited memory!
I can also think of more strongly romantic songs that are not on their list, and also agree that some on their list are not very romantic at all.
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 03/01/2008 10:01:05 AM |
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hwnmusiclives
`Olu`olu
USA
580 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2008 : 10:54:20 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Auntie Maria
Bill, I wholeheartedly second your vote for "Aloha No" -- currently only available on two CDs (Kanilau, and Robert Cazimero's solo one).
Add to the list: "Pili Aloha", "Ei Nei", "Pohai Kealoha", "Mi Nei"...sigh...so poetic!
I had considered for a moment Pohai Kealoha because it does have a romantic quality. But I had been reading about it recently (Pi`olani Motta and Kihei De Silva's book) and learned that it is not strictly a love song for a woman from her man but more a love song for a family and the love that fills their home. Aunty Lena wrote it for the Kealakai `ohana. When she wrote "Kamalani, Kamanui, Kamaiki," she was referring to three hau tress of varying heights on their front lawn. So she dubbed them "one for the father, one for the mother, one for the son."
She was a very clever lady and my second favorite composer (after Uncle Johnny). I have been digesting her 1930s recordings with Dick McIntire and His Harmony Hawaiians. It is interesting to hear the evolution of her own compositions - some of which she recorded three times in her career.
I wholeheartedly second Mi Nei. Gorgeous and heart-wrenching.
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Join me for the history of Hawaiian music and its musicians at Ho`olohe Hou at www.hoolohehou.org. |
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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2008 : 5:52:52 PM
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One of the reasons I don't subscribe to that magazine is dumb*** lists like that.
You probably can get a more "romantic" list by throwing darts. |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2008 : 6:12:52 PM
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| Raymond - agree the lists are dumb, but it makes for good conversation amongst us folks. I mean, for example, we do not know by what criteria or whom it was who decided these were the most romantic, but obviously "our" opinion of romantic differs considerably from the magazine folks. Even amonst us, there is diversity in what songs we believe to be very "romantic". I like the fact that Bill couched his choices with the fact that to him a good romantic song has to have a happy ending. Now, me, from my hillbilly background, we like the maudlin. That is probably why I like Adios Ke Aloha, because it is a bit sad and can make me almost weep. I think the bottoom line is that it has to touch a deep emotion in your soul. Raymond - what is a romantic song to you? |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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hwnmusiclives
`Olu`olu
USA
580 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2008 : 7:02:55 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by wcerto
That is probably why I like Adios Ke Aloha, because it is a bit sad and can make me almost weep.
Darling, does this make you weep? I recorded this when I was... 23, I think.
Adios Ke Aloha
I found it fascinating that the most erudite Prince Leleiohoku used vocabulary from four different languages - Hawaiian, English, French, and Spanish. I thought that was pretty progressive. I tried to make it radically more progressive by not using a musical setting from any of those countries. I chose Brazil. I was listening to a lot of Sergio Mendes at the time...
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Join me for the history of Hawaiian music and its musicians at Ho`olohe Hou at www.hoolohehou.org. |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2008 : 02:55:57 AM
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| Oooooh, Bill. You can really croon! Ranks right up there with Barry White for romantic voices. Maybe you need to record lots of them ho`onipo songs, The women would be all over you. I like the Brazilian rendition. It goes well. Now when you did this did you do all the instrumentation, or did you have a percussionist? The rythyms are great. A velvet voice, so versatile. Smooth like this one minute and falsetto on other stuff. You amaze me, son. Wow. Really, really Wow! |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2008 : 08:38:22 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by RJS
You probably can get a more "romantic" list by throwing darts.
Or shooting arrows, a la Cupid? Just don't throw those darts around me when I'm trying to be romantic, 'kay? |
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2008 : 08:59:10 AM
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we like the maudlin. That is probably why I like Adios Ke Aloha, because it is a bit sad and can make me almost weep.
Yes - many of my favorite songs are on the weepy side too, but "romantic" in the sense intended here is something you might want to hear to induce a romantic iterlude between consenting adults. The weepy kind, althought beautiful (like "Morning Dew" for instance), will not produce the intended effect.
However, a song like "Lanikai" - with words like...
"Alone together... 'neath evening skies
I gave my love away to you at Lanikai"
...is the kind of encouragement intended by the word "romance" in this case.
(me thinks!)
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 03/02/2008 09:14:08 AM |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2008 : 09:20:30 AM
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There are "romantic" songs and there are "ho`onipo" songs. What I mean by that is that there are songs to put one in a mood (these are romantic) and songs to listen to while , hmmm, well, lets just say while performing an action. These are the ho`onipo songs -- like "Let's Get it On", or one of the songs used for this purpose during the 70's -- Inagaddadavida or anything Barry White -- just the voice is all it takes, he doesn't even have to actually "say" anything.
Hawaiian songs are so good for romance. The poetry is amazing. Just think about Dennis Kamakahi writing "Pua Hone" for Robin. No wonder she married him! How could she not, after a song like that? How about Robert Cazimero's Lei Pikake? The melodies, so sweet and flowing, coupled with the imagery from the poetry, oh, and then, the smell of the flowers in the air and the sound of the surf and the gentle breezes blowing the palms, oh, my. Gotta go take a cold shower. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2008 : 09:52:22 AM
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These are the ho`onipo songs -- like "Let's Get it On", or one of the songs used for this purpose during the 70's -- Inagaddadavida
Gosh, I'd never really thought of "Inagadavida" in quite that way.
That may be more information than we need here, Wanda.  |
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2008 : 10:27:39 AM
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quote:
There are "romantic" songs and there are "ho`onipo" songs.
I do not think they were referring to the ho'onipo song either, but more the preliminaries.
More the "lyrical" type and not so much the "rhythmical" type 
("In a Gadda da Vita" or Led Zep's "Whole Lotta Love", etc., etc.)
But more like Lei Pikake - now that's a very good romantic example (also not on their list).
Still... they missed many good ones even in this limited scope don't you think?
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 03/02/2008 10:33:48 AM |
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KäneKïHö`alu
Akahai
64 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2008 : 5:25:52 PM
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I think I'd keep Kawaipunahele, Ke Kali Nei Au, and I'll Remember You on the list, but none of the others. The top song for me is ʻĪlolialoha by the Brothers Cazimero. Such deeply expressive lyrics in Hawaiian combined with a beautiful melody and the Cazimeros' unmatchable voices. It's a wonder that it's not already on the list. I'd also add E Hoʻi I Ka Pili by Kealiʻi Reichel and Love & Honesty by Hawaiian Style Band. The Cazimeros did a nice version of that one, too.
As for the most romantic places, I think they can be different for everyone. Certain places have certain sentimental value, etc. Here are the lyrics for ʻĪlolialoha:
‘Eha nei puʻuwai he ‘īlolialoha he aloha lahaʻole haʻupu aʻe nei
Haʻupuʻupu ka manaʻo iā kāua no kēia leoku e hoʻohaliʻa e
E halihali ‘ia kuʻu hapane aloha a haliʻi haʻahaʻa ‘ia i mua ou
I ‘ike leʻa mai nō hoʻi ‘oe nou wale kuʻu aloha makamae e
My heart aches with longing as a rare kind of love is recalled
It is a romantic memory of us let this song remind you, too
May these words be carried and placed humbly before you
So you can clearly understand, my adoring love is for you alone
Maʻemaʻe ke aloha e hu aʻe nei mapuna aʻe me he punawai la
A he wai ‘olu ke moni iho naʻu nō ‘oe e hainu e
E haʻina mai ‘oe i oʻu nei ma nēia poli ana ‘oe e maha ai
Me aʻu ana ‘oe a me ‘oe ana au pili hemo ‘ole a pili paʻa e
Pure love wells up within me and flows out like springwater
A water so very refreshing, let me give you a drink
So declare unto me that you are going to be at peace in my embrace
That you will be with me and I with you, an unseverable pledge of intimacy
E haʻina ‘ia mai ana ka puana ‘eha nei puʻuwai he ‘īlolialoha
He aloha laha ‘ole e haʻupu aʻe nei a kēia leoku e hoʻohaliʻa e
E halihali ‘ia kuʻu hapane aloha a haliʻi haʻahaʻa ‘ia i mua ou
I ‘ike leʻa mai no ho’i ‘oe nou wale ku’u aloha makamae e
Let the story be told, my heart aches with longing
As a rare kind of love is recalled, let this song remind you too
May these words be carried and placed humbly before you
So you will clearly understand my adoring love is for you alone
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E mālama pono a e hoʻomaha ma ka maluhia o ke Akua,
Matt |
Edited by - KäneKïHö`alu on 03/03/2008 5:33:54 PM |
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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2008 : 9:58:59 PM
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Wanda,
For me, for a song to be romantic, it needs to engage my senses - melody, rhythm, poetry, association - help create a mood in which I want to open emotionally, and spark my imagination. The amazing thing is that I usually have no trouble finding such music.
As to sharing titles, well, that gives too much away. Got to keep some mystery, no? |
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