The Bridge (Deane Waretini song)

"The Bridge"
Single by Deane Waretini with the Rising Stars
A-side	"The Bridge"
B-side	"Luckenback Texas"
Label	CBS
Songwriter(s)	Nini Rosso, George Tait

"The Bridge" was a #1 chart hit in 1981 for New Zealand singer Deane Waretini, and his backing group The Rising Stars. This also marked a first . It was the first Maori language record to hit the no 1 spot in New Zealand. "The Bridge" is an example of an artist in the 1980s contributing to the success of a record. This was done by kick starting the process in the beginning by self-financing the record, having a hand in its own promotion by employing various tactics to get the record heard by the public.

It was sung in Māori language, and set to Nini Rosso's tune "Il Silenzio". The words were written Waretini's cousin, George Tait, a Te Arawa elder. It pushed John Lennon off the charts when it climbed to the top.

The Bridge was originally independently and self-released. It wasn't picked up CBS until later. After that it became the first no 1 song to be sung in the Maori language. It stayed at the top of the charts for two weeks.

The song has a meaning to it. It centers around the construction of the Mangere Bridge. The songs lyrics refer to the linking of two cultures in New Zealand, Māori and Pakeha.

It was recorded in Auckland in the suburb of Henderson. The session took place in a garage studio that belonged to a country singer. The ensemble that backed him on the recording included musicians from the Blind Institute. According to Alan Perrotts article, "You must remember this" in the March 30, 2009 edition of The New Zealand Herald, the group that backed Waretini, referred to there as The Rising Suns, was formerly called The Radars. The trumpet player on the song who happened to be married to the niece of George Tait was Kevin Furey formerly of the Quincy Conserve. Waretini didn't have money to pay the musicians so he paid them in Kentucky Fried Chicken.

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Wikipedia