Dean Waretini - The Bridge

[scudster69]

always loved this song, thanks for sharing it :)

[waiberia1]

Kia ora Dean,look forward to seeing you in Waiouru in January. The wonders of the internet have renewed some fading memories.

[MyTaniwha]

If you didnt know you were Maori you would now

[whionacherrington]

this song is one of my child hood favs driving up to Moerewa with tha famz an dad is blastng this. an even early in tha morning wehn he is having his breakfast.

[MsFreethy]

Our dads favourite song man!! Beautiful, beautiful voice!! Kia Ora!

[awhina11]

Kia Ora Dean I am in my own way the most previleged Maori here to know that we the (Maori) people have the most talented voice to sing without an instrument to backup. Through the years I have song Tui Teka's waiata and with bridge being in there and of cause I know that it is your waiata bro I sing it proud. In my eyes I see Tui, you and myself as brother's in arms and yet I have never met you yet. It is a dream to do so. So kia kah ma bro and God Bless.

[andreifrolov]

@awhina11 Kia Ora bro! It wil be easy to meet me on the road. In the first halve of January I will be on the road with my singing in amy places of North Island from Wellington to Rororua with my Russian friendAndrei who translated The Bridge into Russianand put me on the Russian radio. I will give a hug to you with a pleasure. See you, brother. Thank you for your warm words to me.

[bossy1681]

One of my old time favourites. Had the pleasure of meeting your bro here in Perth!!!

What a buzz, almost as good as meeting you

[Jonjon952]

Kia ora Dean last time we met in Koutou Rotorua... Kia kite e hoa...

Arohanui Jonjon Brady.

[Nonnie12100]

Kia Ora Koutou this is my mums most favourite Maori Song

[boceebo75]

shuddup, I've been waiting for this song to come out on youtube. shot!

[ooOooORoseOooOoo]

My father Bill Lemon has told me that you had the greatest voice he has ever heard

[58charles]

to much my uncle and cuz you kept our Koro proud and our name on high from the Cole whanau and our aunty Rangi and aunty Puti say hi as well look forward to catching up with you and your whanau some day uncle there is only 3 off yous left now look to see you coming through those farm gates at home in the near future so take care uncle got to go now to stop these tears tears of joy for the great times we had growing up together uncle Ka KIte'' MEAN MAORI MEAN ''

[besswilliams1]

Tino pai rawaatu tenei. TUMEKE DEAN

This rates a 10 out of 10

[clayt247]

and it might be "piles" not "powers"

[clayt247]

oh and i couldnt work how to add the symbols to show when a vowel should be dragged but by listening you should be able to work it out

[clayt247]

ok i only did this bsy listening to the song so if there are any mistakes im sure someone will correct me. and you tube has a dum layout which makes it hard to follow coz it would be easier if the lyrics were on seperate lines. hope this helps

[clayt247]

Taku aroha, i aue, i aue ki nga po o te piriti. paki paki a whai rau. E nga taikaha ra e puke puke ai aue nga roimata ai aku kamo iri te ki te ngaaru. Whati mai, whati mai i waho e Whati mai. My concern, for the powers of the bridge constantly pounded by the strong tides. The tears well up in my eyes they are like the waves that break the belt e nga taikaha ra e, puke puke ai aue. Nga roimata ai aku kamo iri te ki ngaaru. Whati mai whati mai i waho e whati mai

[annie482000]

I love the instrumental version of this.

[jogreyfamily]

Wow talk about memories, Taniwha St, GI, went to school with Dean's daughter Adrienne grew up with all these old skool maori entertainers and what voices they have :)

[wheels1nz]

Would you know where I could get the lyrics to this song ?? I have searched online without much luck. It is such a beautiful song. If anyone can help, that would be great.

[Mooniez1]

..Magic!!.. Kia Ora.

[akfurey]

Recorded at Mandrill Studios (the old one). Backing band was Alan Witana and the Radars, Kevin Furey trumpet. Most successful record I ever Played on yet only took about 2 studio hours to complete. B side is 'Lucenbach Texas"

[nzmedic]

For those who want the lyrics and translation to this great song, have a look here: folksong.org.nz/te_piriti/inde­x.html

[NiiKAHPLZ]

mean song grandad ! from Rhi ...

[stevesfav]

1981 I REMEMBER IT WELL GREAT SONG

[battman268]

diz is an awesome song......when i was a yung fella ma unkles alwayz sang it this song at parties...dae thort they sound gud......lol...........memorie­s........u gotta luv em ........churrr ma whanau

[graitery]

I was living in Turangi when this song was a hit. My mum still has the music casette.

Its the italian "Silenzio" with Maori text.

Can someone traslate what he sings. thanks

[tomilard]

i was in new zealand when this was a hit and I thought that I'd never hear it again, thanks so much ziggylia, beautiful memories of that beautiful country and it's wonderful people, the maori.

I remember someone bringing out "the fridge" after this song.

otara, be proud of yourself like this pakeha is of you, tomi.

[IronPillaz]

What a song.. graceful

[sadsack6]

Years ago I saw Dean singing this on tv when he had a huge hit with this song. Has anyone got the video clip?

[stevesfav]

thanks so much for this and also for eipo.great taste!!!

[phogwood545]

Kia Ora Dean, thankyou for this timeless song & your amazing voice.

[phogwood545]

If ya don't like it then ya don't have to listen to it

[rioghann69]

this is my favourite song of all time. I met Dean some years ago, he used to jam with a friends father. Bloody talented man.

I rate this song 10 out 10

[tommyau2006]

@rioghann69 it's better than that by far

[klmozzie]

its a tribute to the maori battalion not a friggin dance song - listen to the words!!! Tui Teka also does a good version

[KURarEp]

Hes my NANz cousin (Maria Roberts nee; Kerei) she just died recently and he sung there at harwood Crematorium Chapel he was so amazing!!!!!! oh yeh and he showed up on his yellow TAXI??

[larsborg]

nono lala. tony taniwha street. born n bred. e hara ahau ki te tangata mohio ki te korero. ka kite mother patsy rosieur.

[flavarz]

wonderful song, excellent voice! I love this song and the singer, I was sweet sixteen when this song hit the top of the charts(Gold Record).Still I'm In Love with this song

[mmmimlovinitmmm]

kia ora my koro just told a story about a man by the name of dean waretini an it turned that alot waretini whanau is from around wea im from thats a liltle place kalled te hauke if u ever herd of it just leave a message an il get bak 2 u.. just wondering if aty649 would know anything about te hauke.. good litle place

[kiwinz40]

hi my daughters dad and grandprents and the rest of the family are from TeHauke there last name is Wairama

[mmmimlovinitmmm]

haha tru tru yea i went tah skool wit a fala michael wairama the parenrs probly no a bit ov wairamaz

[sparkles370]

hi all i once had the pleasure of meeting this great singer he is truely a great man and entertainer this song is my all time fav Dean thx for singing for us

[LisaChittick]

Tena Koe aty649.

May I ask who was Deanes mother is?

[aty649]

Rodady2, I can remember as a child, hearing people say that he sounded as good as "John Rowles" another gr8 kiwi entertainer, including the late gr8, "The Man, The Music, The Legend Prince Tui Teka". RE: Deane Waretini now days a successful business man in Ch-Ch & still singing, recording. So 4 future reference please post FACTUAL comments as its un-pleasant 4 a daughter of his 2 read such kaka!!

KiaOra.

[bagaay1]

Hi I too am a Maori in Aussie trying to find some of our lost artists and songs. I adore finding and listening to songs of my past. Keep up the good work.

[RODADY2]

Nino Rosso wrote the trumpet tune "Il Silencio in 1956 and George Tait, the Waretini's neighbour in Rotorua, wrote these Maori words in about 1970. The bridge in this song is a metaphor for the social structure which keeps different cultures in any country joined together. Adrian Waretini, was the first to sing it.

[RODADY2]

Adrian Waretini was the son of famous 1920s-30s singer Deane Waretini, but he took his dad's career for granted and moved to Christchurch as a building labourer. Then his dad died in 1967 and when he came back to the tangi he realized what he had lost. So he started singing his dad's songs. "You just sound like your old man," people said. And they started calling him "Dean" Waretini.

"Dean Waretini Jr." became one of the big names in the Maori showbands of the 1970s.

[aty649]

Rodady2, Just a couple of hiccups in your comments, 1 He went to Ch-Ch as a bus driver, 2 He NEVER took his fathers singing for granted, he had full respect for his dads career and when his dad died in 1967 he was determined to put his fathers name back on top, 3 He adopted his fathers name "Deane" as a stage name to which he succeeded with the "Bridge" song which became a GOLD record and hit the top of the charts on Wednesday 1st of April 1981. Kia Ora. (to be cont....)

[jimfish88]

Surely there would be a way. There is better technology out there, I wouldn't however, want to put you through the difficult process of obtaining it though. Not all Maori are fidgety with that sort of stuff like me. My father still buys tape cassettes of maori artists & my brothers don't care to know what an MP3 player is.

I guess that considering that it's a video from the 80's, I bet it would be some pretty rare footage. Hope you don't lose the tape, It could someday be a long lost treasure.

[jimfish88]

I think there is a live performance from Sir Howard & his Quartet I think my parents would absolutely adore but I am unable to find any youtube footage of it. :<

[jimfish88]

I love the version of this song from Dennis Marsh. One day I'm going to upload it for us all to hear. Also, Prince Tui Tekas version of this song is already uploaded & it's also very nice.. Try searching for "Maori Battalion Trilogy".

Taumarunui05 might you have the live version to share with us? I'd really really like to hear it. I think I read somewhere that Dean Waretini is the guy that helped originate this song in its Maori fashion in the 1920s, but my memory maybe inaccurate..

[taumarunui05]

Sorry No I dont. He sang it on Prince Tui Tekas show from the 80's and I have that show on Video but yeah thats it. I cant upload that :(

[ptawarrior]

suhp pepz diz mii koko simging no shit

im his moko jade waretini

[aty649]

KiaOra, If U his moko, my mother must B your grandmother, which makes me your aunty because I am his youngest daughter. Just curious e-whoa?

KiaOra.

[taumarunui05]

Ah good old classic, I like his live version of this song.

[jacquiz1]

Kia ora here I am a Part maori Kiwi living in Kentucky, USA and I have found some beautiful maori music..I love it thank you..wow I feel that spirit run through my veins..thankyou.

AROHANUI Jacqui x

[balzaminov]

Thank you, dear Celia, I am very touched, yours Deane Waretini

[jiggyeve1]

Found it! Thanks for this post.