Saimone Vuatalevu Explained

Saimone Vuatalevu is a veteran Fijian musician who has had a career in music lasting more than 45 years. He also known for the popular Fijian hit, "Tucake Mai".

Background

1960s to 1980s

His career started in 1968 when he was aged 21, winning his first local talent quest.^[1] He also fronted a bad called the Quin Tikis in the late 1960s.^[2] In 1986, he found success with the hit "Tucake Mai" which would go on to become a classic.^{[3] [4] [5]}

He was popular during the 1980s and as cassettes were the recorded medium back then, Vuatalevu along with Sakiusa Bulicokocoko and Laisa Vulakoro may have been helped along by the good fidelity of Fijian cassettes.^[6]

1990s to 2000s

By 1998, he had won his fifth Vacalutu-i-Voce Award.^[7] In April, 2016, two of his compositions were nominated in the FPRA Music awards. They were "Mere Khuda Meri Dohai Sun" in the Best Hindi Song category and "Noqu Kalou Au Tagi vei Kemuni" in the Best Gospel Song category.^[8]

In 2014, his album Na Loloma Uasivi, a 10-track compilation of some of his more memorable work was released.^[9] In July, 2019, his song "Tucake Mai" was danced to by around 60 year 7 and 8 students who also paid tribute to Fiji by singing the national anthem at the Pacific Games opening ceremony.^[10]

As of 2019, he is the chairman for The Fiji Performing Rights Association.^[11]

Discography

• Saimone Vuatalevu and the Quin Tikis - Hibiscus HS-4^[12]
• My originals - Mangrove MGV CD 1330 - 2001^[13]
• Na Loloma Uasivi - 2014^[14]

Notes and References

1. Fiji Times, 25 May 2017 - 49 years of successful music - Manasa Kalouniviti
2. Fiji Sun, 23 Dec 2013 - Vuatalevu releases new album By WATI TALEBULA
3. Fiji Sun, 23 Dec 2013 - Vuatalevu releases new album By WATI TALEBULA
4. Pressreader, Fiji Sun, 2 Dec 2016 - A Tribute to the Classics
5. Fiji Times, 13 February 2014 - Backtracks: Vuatalevu's music journey
6. World Music: The Rough Guide. Latin and North America, Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific, edited by Simon Broughton, Mark Ellingham, James McConnachie, Orla Duane - Page 225 Poynesia
7. Fiji Times, 25 May 2017 - 49 years of successful music - Manasa Kalouniviti
8. Fiji Village, 13/04/2016 - FPRA announces nominees for music awards By Ana Ravulo
9. Fiji Times, 28 December 2014 - Saimoni Vuatalevu Na loloma uasivi
10. Fiji Sun, 07 Jul 2019 - I’ll Cheer For Fiji 7s Team: Tuilaepa by Rosi Doviverata
11. Fiji Village, 09/05/2019 - FPRA receives $10,000 sponsorship from Courts Fiji Limited ahead of Music Awards By Navitalai Naivalurua
12. [Discogs]
13. [National Library of Australia]
14. Fiji Times, 28 December 2014 - Saimoni Vuatalevu Na loloma uasivi