“Poke Mon Go”
Frank De Lima
(Pocholinga Productions, no serial number)
The “Pokemon Go” craze is the inspiration for this comic song parody by Hoku Award-winning comedian Frank De Lima.
De Lima built it on the melody and arrangement of “The Candy Man,” written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley in 1971 and a huge hit for Sammy Davis Jr. in 1972. The new lyrics describe the experiences of fanatic “Pokemon Go” players, such as “walking into poles and bushes,” and advises them to “stay out private places and other people’s faces.” De Lima’s longtime musical director, David Kauahikaua, is his studio orchestra.
“Poke Mon Go” is available for free as a download at De Lima’s website, but a payment of any amount supports De Lima’s nonprofit Frank De Lima Student Enrichment Program.
Visit frankdelima.com.
“Affection”
Ivory City
(Music of Kauai, no serial number)
Singer-songwriter Josh Sharp was one of the several talented guests who contributed to the success of Aidan James’ recent one-nighter at Blue Note Hawaii. This newly released single by Ivory City reveals another facet of Sharp’s musical repertoire. He’s an accomplished alt-rock vocalist as well as a pop songwriter.
The group — Sharp (lead vocals), Jon Banquil (guitar), Skyler Sponberg (guitar) and Elias English (drums) — has been together less than a year but is tight enough that it was picked to open for the Cure earlier this month. “Affection,” written by Sharp and Banquil, blends elements of electronic “new age” pop music and rock guitars with “urban” vocal nuances. Sharp’s multilayered vocals deliver a compelling message of love and longing. The guitars and drums amplify the sense of urgency.
Yes, love can feel “like magic.” Lucky are those who have the feeling!
“Affection” establishes Ivory City as a group to watch — on the local club scene, certainly, and quite possibly at the 2017 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards as well.
Visit ivorycitymusic.com.
“Eddie Would Go”
Lee Gonsalves
(Moon Surfer Productions, no serial number)
Longtime musician-songwriter Lee Gonsalves teamed up with Hawaii record industry veterans Gordon Broad and Dave Tucciarone to create this musical account of the 2016 Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau big-wave surf contest at Waimea Bay in February.
Gonsalves writes in the liner notes that a voice woke him in the middle of night, he saw the late Eddie Aikau “for a few seconds” and the lyrics suddenly came to him. Gonsalves, who sings and plays ukulele, asked Broad for help with the arrangement. Broad filled in the rest of the instruments and added backing vocals. Tucciarone engineered the project.
Gonsalves sings and narrates an expository account of the event, which was won by John John Florence. He dedicates the song to the memory of Aikau and North Shore surfer Brock Little, who died a week before the contest.
Contact Gonsalves at leegonsalves808@gmail.com.
