| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Eddie Lund & His Tahitians |
| A-Side: | "Chululu" |
| B-Side: | "Samoa Silasila" |
| Released: | 1958 |
| Genre: | Pop, Pacific Island music |
| Label: | Viking Records |
| Next Title: | 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.
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 "" 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]
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]
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]
In 1993, 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.
| 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 Banana Boat Song" / "Chulu Chululu" | Epic ES 878 | 1983 | [21] | |
| 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] | |
| Artist | Album title | Release info | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eddie Lund & His Tahitians | Lure of Tahiti | Viking VP 14 | 1960 | [29] |
| 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] |
| 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] | |
| 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] |