Guanábana: Polynesia, Belle Epoque
11.17.24

Join Madeleine Sturma and Hatt Merlino as they guide you through a musical escape to a sun-soaked paradise. Guanábana takes you on a global tour, from funky grooves to soulful melodies and disco rhythms, where every track feels like a warm breeze. It’s a journey through time, culture, and rhythm—a boppin’ vacation where every melody tells a story and every beat transports you to new horizons.
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On this episode of Guanabana, we explore the diverse sounds of Polynesia, from Hawaii and Samoa to Tahiti and the Cook Islands. With over 1,000 islands spread across the Pacific, Polynesia has a rich musical tradition rooted in storytelling and rhythm. Listen along as we move through a range of tracks – both modern and traditional – that highlight how Polynesian music has influenced artists well beyond the Pacific, shaping global music in unexpected ways.
Tracklist:
Bimbo – Amadeus Hula Bimbo – Vahine Anamite (Vietnamese Woman) Bimbo – Bimbo Tamure Neti et Fati – Pata Uta U (Butter Towards the Land) Fetia Tahitian Folkloric Group – Mau Topi (Many Hats) Tamarii Punaruu – Non Non Non Oui Oui Oui David Fanshawe (Recorded by David Fanshawe) – Tau’a’alo (Paddling Song) L’Orchestre Quinn’s Tahitian Hut – Tiare Moahi (Native Flower) Mila & L’Orchestre Quinn’s Tahitian Hut – Tiare (Flower) Teaitu & L’Orchestre Quinn’s Tahitian Hut – Ragout Pomme de Terre (Potato Ragout) The Surfers – Tamure, Tamure Les Surfsiders – Ueue Rii (Little Shake) Tahiti Jazzy – Puna’auia Les Barefoot Boys – Mama E Atira (Mother Atira) Les Barefoot Boys – Petite Ile Sacrée (Little Sacred Island) Daphne Walker – Rekareka Te Hauti (Happy In Love) Alec Salmon – Poroe (Night’s Rest) Andy Iona & His Orchestra – How’d Ya Do Felix Mendelssohn – Where The Waters Are Blue (Hawaiian Serenade) Felix Mendelssohn – Beautiful Dreamer Roy Smeck – Bugle Call Rag Paradise Island Trio – Paradise Island Paradise Island Trio – On Miami Shore Hawaiian Trio – La Paloma (Dove) Irene West’s Royal Hawaiians – Drowsy Waters Joe Keawe & His Harmony Hawaiians – Hookipa Paka (Hospitality Park) Leonard Kwan – Opihi Moemoe (Sleeping Mollusks) Haunani Kahalewei – Far Away Places Jerry Byrd – I Regret To Say Aloha Andy Cummings – Waikiki George Kainapau and the Hawaiians – Mauna Keas (White Mountains) Kaulaheaonamiku Kiona – Pihanakalani (The Abundance of the Heavens) Malufinao Falemai – Pū (Conch Shell) Matai of Solosolo, Upolu – Laulau Siva (Dance Stage) Fetu O Le Afiafi – Fiafia ‘O Lo’u Loto (Joy of My Heart) Pepe & The Rarotongans – Kare Koe Ngaro Iaku (I Will Never Forget You) Kanui & Lula – My Little Grass Shack in Kealakekua Die Kilima Hawaiians – Vaya Con Dios (Perlenfischer) (May God Be With You, Pearlfisher) The Amboina Serenaders – É-Tanasé Al Kealoha Perry & Webley Edwards – Hi’ilawe (To Carry Away) Al Kealoha Perry & his Singing Surfriders – Ai Ana La Ika Hinama (Eating the Hinama Fish) Charles E King’s Hawaiians – The Queen Hula Les Paul & His Trio – Aloha Oe Francis Mazière (Recorded by Francis Mazière, musicians not listed) – Not Goodbye