Chulu Chululu

"Chulu Chululu"
Single by Eddie Lund & His Tahitians
A-side	"Chululu"
B-side	"Samoa Silasila"
Released	1958
Genre	Pop, Pacific Island music
Label	Viking 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

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

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

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

In 1993, a 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

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

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. Discogs Eddie Lund And His Tahitians – Lure Of Tahiti
10. 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. InMyCollection The Radars Single 'The Banana Boat Song'
16. 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