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Chulu Chululu

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"Chulu Chululu"
Single by Eddie Lund & His Tahitians
A-side"Chululu"
B-side"Samoa Silasila"
Released1958
GenrePop, Pacific Island music
LabelViking Records
Songwriter(s)Unknown
Eddie Lund & His Tahitians singles chronology
"Chulu Chululu" "Isa Lei (Fijian Farewell Song)"

Chulu Chululu sometimes referred to as Chululu is a Fijian song that has been covered by a multitude of artists ranging from Peter Posa to Bill Sevesi & His Islanders. An English version of this song was a hit for Bill and Boyd.

Background

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The song of Fijian origin is considered to be very well known in Fiji and the Pacific.[1] It is also a popular party song.[2] The Fijian version begins with the lyrics "Chulu Chululu o lo’u manuee" with this verse repeated five times throughout the song.[3] The song was originally composed by Sam Freedman whose songs have been covered by The Kingston Trio, Bill Sevesi and Maria Dallas etc.[4][5]

Eddie Lund version

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It was possibly first commercially released by Eddie Lund & His Tahitians and released on record in 1958.[6] It was released as a single on Viking Records in May 1958.[7] The B side "Samoa Silasila" was sung in Samoan. According to the National Public Library of New Zealand, the group that recorded it was an Auckland-based Tahitian group.[8] It appeared on Lund's Lure of Tahiti album which was released in 1960.[9][10]

English version

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The song was recorded by Bill & Boyd in Rotorua, New Zealand 1964.[11] It became a hit for them and appeared on their album Songs for a cloudy afternoon.[12] The English version was written by Bill Cate and Bill Robertson.[13] Bill and Boyd rerecorded the song in 1974 and that version appeared as the B-side to the single, "Santa Never Made It Into Darwin". The single was recorded to raise money after the devastating 1974 cyclone that decimated Darwin.[14]

Other versions

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In 1993, New Zealand group The Radars recorded their version of the song as the B side to "The Banana Boat Song" released on the Epic label. It gained them an award under the Best Polynesian Album award, beating finalists Dalvanius & the Patea Maori Club and the Kaiwhaiki Cultural Club.[15][16][17] The Wiggles also recorded their version on their Wake Up Jeff! album.

Releases

[edit]
Singles
Artist Single A & B side Release info Year Notes
Eddie Lund & His Tahitians "Chululu" / "Samoa Silasila" Viking V66 - 4 1958 [18]
Bill and Boyd "Chulu Chululu" / "Habit Of Loving You" Philips BF-105 1964 [19]
Bill and Boyd "Santa Never Made it Into Darwin" / "Chulu Chululu" Fable FB 234 1975 [20]
The Radars "The Banana Boat Song" / "Chulu Chululu" Epic ES 878 1983 [15][16][21]
EP
Artist EP title Release info Year Notes
Various Tahiti Dances Viking V126-26 1959 "Chululu" by Eddie Lund And His Tahitians[22]
Tegu Ni Laqere Group Fascinating Fiji Tapa TEP. 3 [23]
Various Artists Our South Pacific With Air New Zealand A1278 Licensed From Viking Records,
Produced For Air New Zealand[24]
Various Swing South Pacific With Air New Zealand Air New Zealand 1974 Air New Zealand promo EP[25]
Nasilai Tropicana Group Tropical Fiji Viking VE.205 1965 [26]
Orchid Islanders Entertainers Memories Of Orchid Island Hibiscus HE.9 1972 [27]
Peter Posa And The Islanders Peter Posa In Fiji Viking VE.240 [28]
Albums (LP)
Artist Album title Release info Year Notes
Eddie Lund & His Tahitians Lure of Tahiti Viking VP 14 1960 [29][9][10]
Various Artists Bula, A Musical Rendition Of Fijian Hospitality Tapa TPLS.2 Also released on Viking Records.[30][31]
Bill and Boyd Songs for a Cloudy Summer Afternoon Philips PL-O8759 1965 Also released on Philips PD-151 as Chulu Chululu[32]
Bill Sevesi & His Islanders Polynesian Romp Vol. 1 Festival Records – SFL-933, 185 1966 [33]
The Fijians The Rhythm Of Fiji Hibiscus HLS-20 [34]
The Vei-Lomani Group Isa Lei Salem Records XP5041 1967 [35]
Various Hawaii Sings Musicolor Record – ML-3005 1968 [36]
The Kabu Kei Namara Group Fiji Playground Of The South Pacific Salem Records XPS 5066 1970 [37]
Voqa Kei Turaki (Voices of Turak) The spell of Fiji Hibiscus 1972 Produced by James Siers[38]
Fiji Police Band The Band Of The Fiji Police Viking VPS183 Released on Viking VP183 (mono)
Viking VPS183 (stereo)[39]
Peter Posa And The Islanders The Beat Of Polynesia Viking VP190 [40]
Fiji Military Forces Band,
Fiji Mocambo Hotel Group,
Nasilau Tropicana Group
Action Fiji! Viking VP250, Chululu by Nasilau Tropicana Group[41]
The Nakamakama Villagers Unique Fiji Viking VP272 Also released on Olympic OL-6159[42]
Various Artists 20 Golden Songs Of Fiji Vol. 2 Viking VP 424 1978 "Chulu Chululu" by Suva Fijian Drama Group[43]
Kabu Kei Vuda Entertainers Exciting Fiji World Record Club R-05738 1978 [44]
Albums (Cassette)
Artist Album title Release info Year Notes
Various Artists 20 Golden Songs Of Fiji Vol 2 Viking VPS 424C 1978 [45]
Fiji Military Forces Band,
Fiji Mocambo Hotel Group,
Nasilau Tropicana Group
Action Fiji! Viking VPS250C "Chululu" by Nasilau Tropicana Group[46]
Albums (CD)
Artist Album title Release info Year Notes
Conua Entertainment Group Fijian Melodies SPR 18 Manufactured for exclusive distribution by Motibhai Group, Fiji[47]
Various Artists Tahiti Belle Epoque: All Time Tahitians Favorites Playasound 65807 1994 Chulu Chululu by Eddie Lund[48]
Various Artists Turtle Island: Fiji – Musical Memories Turtle Island Records 94 1994 [49]
Various Artists Colors of the World: Fiji Allegro Corporation 103 1999 [50]
Various Artists Voyager Series: Memories of Fiji Columbia River Entertainment Group 140155 2002 [51]
Various Artists World Music of Hawaii and Polynesia Sharp Edge Records 2015 "Chulu Chululu" by Mila[52]
Digital
Artist Album title Release info Year Notes
Pan Pacific Singers Ports of the Pacific: 20 Favourites K-Tel 2010 [53]

References

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  1. ^ Catching the Wind by Norman Yee Page 149 Social Life
  2. ^ All Around This World Chuluchululu
  3. ^ Fijian Lyrics Chulu chululu
  4. ^ The University of Tennessee Knoxville "Isle of Many Flowers (Chululu)
  5. ^ Discogs Sam Freedman, Sam Freedman Discography, Writing & Arrangement
  6. ^ WorldCat Chululu Samoa silasila
  7. ^ 45Cat Record Details, Catalogue: V66-4
  8. ^ National Public Library of New Zealand Chululu Samoa silasila / (performed by) Eddie Lund and His Tahitians.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ a b Discogs Eddie Lund And His Tahitians – Lure Of Tahiti
  10. ^ a b National Public Library of New Zealand Lure of Tahiti (sound recording) / Eddie Lund and his Tahitians.
  11. ^ Auckland City Council Libraries Index Auckland: local history, arts and music, (93 of 835)
  12. ^ National Library of New Zealand Bill and Boyd : NZ pair enter world class with new album
  13. ^ National Library of Australia 1964, English, Printed music edition:, Chulu chululu (music) / written by Bill Cate and Bill Robertson.
  14. ^ Audio Culture Bill and Boyd Profile // Chris Bourke – Show more +
  15. ^ a b InMyCollection The Radars Single 'The Banana Boat Song'
  16. ^ a b Audio Culture The Radars Profile // Adam Gifford – Show More +
  17. ^ NZ Music Awards Past Winners, 1983 Winners[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ 45Cat Eddie Lund And His Tahitians – Discography
  19. ^ 45Cat Record Details, Catalogue: BF-105
  20. ^ Rate Your Music Santa Never Made it Into Darwin / Chulu Chululu
  21. ^ Sergent.com Radars
  22. ^ 45Cat Record Details Catalogue: V126-26
  23. ^ 45Cat Tegu Ni Laqere Group – Discography
  24. ^ Discogs Various – Our South Pacific With Air New Zealand
  25. ^ 45Cat Air New Zealand – Label Discography
  26. ^ 45Cat Record Details, Catalogue: VE.205
  27. ^ 45Cat Orchid Islanders Entertainers – Discography
  28. ^ 45Cat Peter Posa And The Islanders – Discography
  29. ^ Pacific Islands Monthly Volume 38, Issue 1 Page 131
  30. ^ Discogs Various – Bula – A Musical Rendition Of Fijian Hospitality
  31. ^ WorldCat Bula : a musical rendition of Fijian hospitality.
  32. ^ Rate Your Music Songs for a Cloudy Summer Afternoon
  33. ^ Discogs Bill Sevesi & His Islanders – Polynesian Romp Vol. 1
  34. ^ Discogs The Fijians – The Rhythm Of Fiji
  35. ^ Discogs The Vei-Lomani Group – Isa Lei
  36. ^ Discogs Various – Hawaii Sings
  37. ^ Discogs The Kabu Kei Namara Group – Fiji Playground Of The South Pacific
  38. ^ WorldCat The spell of Fiji
  39. ^ Discogs The Band Of The Fiji Police* – The Band Of The Fiji Police
  40. ^ Discogs Peter Posa And The Islanders – The Beat Of Polynesia
  41. ^ Discogs Fiji Military Forces Band, Fiji Mocambo Hotel Group, Nasilau Tropicana Group – Action Fiji!
  42. ^ Discogs The Nakamakama Villagers – Unique Fiji (The Nakamakama Villagers In Mekes And Songs
  43. ^ Discogs Various – 20 Golden Songs Of Fiji – Vol. 2
  44. ^ Discogs Kabu Kei Vuda Entertainers – Exciting Fiji
  45. ^ Discogs Various – 20 Golden Songs Of Fiji Vol 2
  46. ^ Discogs Fiji Military Forces Band, Fiji Mocambo Hotel Group, Nasilau Tropicana Group – Action Fiji!
  47. ^ Discogs Entertainment Group – Fijian Melodies[permanent dead link]
  48. ^ Allmusic Various Artists, Tahiti Belle Epoque: All Time Tahitians Favorites
  49. ^ All Music Various Artists, Turtle Island: Fiji – Musical Memories
  50. ^ All Music Various Artists, Colors of the World: Fiji
  51. ^ All Music Various Artists, Voyager Series: Memories of Fiji
  52. ^ Suffolk Libraries World Music of Hawaii and Polynesia
  53. ^ All Music Pan Pacific Singers, Ports of the Pacific: 20 Favourites