Free download of modern Pokarekare Ana
27 May 2014
A passionate modern version of New Zealand's most famous love song Pokarekare Ana is being given away by Destination Rotorua Marketing for free to celebrate New Zealand Music Month.
A 30 second snippet of the song has already been heard in living rooms across the country as the soundtrack to a recent television commercial promoting Rotorua.
The new version of the timeless song is courtesy of former Supergroove frontman turned composer, Karl Steven, and has instantly caught people's attention.
I like its simplicity and honesty, says Steven. There are so many versions of the song and it's sung in schools and so forth, but I think our version offers something fresh while remaining true to the spirit of the original song.
Steven says his goal was to expose the raw nerve at the emotional heart of the song and people's reaction to it had been humbling. Pokarekare Ana is about the forbidden love between legendary Maori figures Hinemoa and Tutanekai, who were separated by their families and the waters of Lake Rotorua.
As soon as we started looking closely at the meaning of the lyrics it revealed itself to be an incredibly moving and powerful love song on an artistic level, Steven says.
As a lover of good songs and that whole era of Pacific music, I felt very lucky to be working with such great material.
Steven plays harmonica on the new track, which he also co-produced. The vocals are by Caoimhe MacFehin - Stevens' fellow bandmate in Drab Doo Riffs and Heart Attack Alley, while slide guitar is performed by Ben Sciascia of Supergroove fame.
One of the aims of NZ Music Month each May is to increase coverage of home-grown musical talent by reigniting passion for old Kiwi favourites as well as uncovering new songs and artists.
Destination Rotorua Marketing (DRM) general manager Oscar Nathan says the free release of Pokarekare Ana was a great way to celebrate NZ Music Month.
It's one of those songs you can put on and instantly relax into. We all know the words so it's familiar, yet Karl's interpretation of it is completely different. It's very contemporary and beautifully-done.
The television commercial in which the song features is part of the Famously Rotorua three-year campaign.
The campaign is all about rediscovering and reconnecting with Rotorua. And we're happy to help people reconnect with this famous song in the process, Nathan says.
Earlier this year DRM ran a Swap-a-Snap' online promotion, encouraging people to share their favourite photographs of the city on RotoruaNZ's facebook page or instagram in exchange for a copy of the full length song.
People loved it, and for those who missed out we're happy to make it available again during NZ Music Month, Nathan says.
To download the free full length version visit rotoruanz.com/pokarekareana