“Marcus Mariota”
Frank De Lima
(Pocholinga Productions)

Frank De Lima and his partner in parodies, Hoku Award-winning composer-lyricist Patrick Downes, have given Hawaii a long list of memorable satirical songs with political subjects. They’ve commented on the insider world of Bishop Estate trustees, the opposition to interisland ferry service, the claims by political fringe groups that President Barack Obama was born in Kenya, and the controversies surrounding the $6 billion Oahu rail project. This is different in that there’s nothing political or controversial about it.

De Lima starts off claiming Hawaii-born Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota as Portuguese in the humorous song. Mariota is of Samoan ancestry, and De Lima eventually concedes, “I can dream he’s Portuguese.”

The melody and arrangement are from “The Ballad of Davy Crockett,” which was written by George Bruns and Thomas W. Blackburn for Walt Disney in 1954. The production values are economical synth-track stuff, but with good reason because “Marcus Mariota” is available for free as a download at frankdelima.com. Donations support De Lima’s nonprofit Frank De Lima Student Enrichment Program.

“Looking In”
Rebecca Beralas
(Leap of Faith)

Afro-Caribbean rhythms, urban-style harmonizing, mainstream pop electronic instrumentation and touches of faux-Jamaican patois are the building blocks of this collection of 11 new recordings by singer-songwriter Rebecca Beralas. She wrote nine and co-wrote another. The results overall make this a fine showcase for her talents as both writer and vocalist.

Three songs represent the diversity of her writing. “Show You Love” is a straightforward Jawaiian fantasy with a woman asking the man she’s lusting for if she can “come over and treat you right.” It’s a fantasy many men will certainly relate to! Jamaican rhythms are also the foundation of “Take It Slow,” a cautionary message she directs at younger women who are “up in the parties, up in the clubs,” spending their nights “smoking it up and drinking it down.”

“Side by Side” stands out as one of the two songs that don’t use Jamaican rhythms, and for its message of self-confidence. Here Beralas speaks for women who aren’t “damsels in distress” and who are ready and willing to fight their own battles — maybe side by side with a man capable of respecting their need for independence.

Beralas’ production team — multi-instrumentalist Matthew Honda and guitarist Imua Garza — lay down solid instrumental arrangements for her throughout. The primary audience for most of these songs is here in Hawaii, but Beralas is also worthy of national radio play.

Visit rebeccavibes.com.

“Hawaiian Flow Guitar Magic”
Lee Eisenstein
(Lionel Standish Records)

Island music scene veterans remember guitarist Lee Eisenstein as one-half of the Hoku Award-winning instrumental duo White Eisenstein, which was active here in the mid-1980s. “White” was Brad White, who played recorder, panpipes and percussion. They won the Hoku Award for best instrumental album with their third album, “Old Friends III,” in 1987.

Eisenstein works his instrumental magic on an assortment of standards (“Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” “Hawaiian Wedding Song”) and originals. Most of the arrangements are straightforward acoustic guitar instrumentals. On a couple he uses studio technology to create multiguitar arrangements. “I ka Po me ke Ao,” written by Keola Beamer, gives the collection a strong and soothing Hawaiian sense of place.

Percussionist Richard Marquez slips in some unobtrusive rhythm work on several selections. Multitalented Pierre Grill adds sound effects on others. The final song, “Hapa Haole Rag,” breaks format completely with a rocking original that features Grill on accordion.

Visit members.cruzio.com/~lionel.