Bali Ha'i
"Bali Ha'i" | |
---|---|
Showtune | |
Composer(s) | Richard Rodgers |
Lyricist(s) | Oscar Hammerstein II |
"Bali Ha'i", also spelled "Bali Hai", is a
In South Pacific
In the musical, Bali Ha'i is a volcanic island within sight of the island on which most of the action takes place. The troops think of Bali Ha'i as an exotic paradise, but it is off-limits—except to officers. The matriarch of Bali Ha'i, Bloody Mary, conducts much business with the troops, and she meets Lt. Joseph Cable soon after he arrives. She sings to him her mysterious song "Bali Ha'i", with its haunting orchestral accompaniment, because she wants to entice him to visit her island. She doesn't tell him that she wants him to meet, and fall in love with, her young daughter, Liat.
Resemblance to score for Bride of Frankenstein
Several commentators have noted that the opening melody of "Bali Ha'i" bears a resemblance to the "bride motif" in Franz Waxman's musical score for the 1935 film Bride of Frankenstein.[1][2][3][4] The two melodies share an identical three-note pattern.[3]
Cover versions
Several versions of the showtune made the bestsellers list in 1949. Perry Como's version was the most successful at #5. Other versions appearing on the charts were by Paul Weston and his Orchestra (#10), Bing Crosby (recorded March 10, 1949)[5] (#12), Peggy Lee (#13), and Frank Sinatra (#18).[6] Later, Harry James released a version on his 1955 album, Jazz Session (Columbia CL 669); Andy Williams released a version on his 1958 album, Andy Williams Sings Rodgers and Hammerstein; and Sergio Franchi included this song on his 1965 RCA Victor tribute to The Songs of Richard Rodgers.[7]
Connections to actual islands
"Bali Ha'i" was based on the real island of
Ambae is visible on the horizon from Espiritu Santo island, where James A. Michener was stationed in World War II. Michener referred to the island in his book, Tales of the South Pacific, which is the basis for the musical South Pacific. The author used the tranquil, hazy image of the smoothly sloping island on the horizon to represent a not-so-distant but always unattainable place of innocence and happiness. Hence the longing nature of the song.[citation needed] In his memoir, The World Is My Home (1992), Michener writes of his time in the Treasury Islands: "On a rude signboard attached to a tree, someone had affixed a cardboard giving the settlement's name, and it was so completely different from ordinary names, so musical to my ear that I borrowed a pencil and in a soggy notebook jotted the name against the day when I might want to use it for some purpose I could not then envisage: Bali-ha'i."
In the
Influence on popular culture
Mr. Bali Hai is the name of a mixed drink that originated at the Bali Hai restaurant on Shelter Island in San Diego, California.[citation needed]
The song is used in an episode of
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Bali Hai is the brand name for a beer produced by Bali Hai Brewery in Indonesia.[9]
References
- ISBN 978-1932916003. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- ISBN 978-0786427246. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- ^ ISBN 978-0810883987. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- ^ Bond, Jeff (2000). "Bride of Frankenstein". Film Score Monthly. 5 (9–10): 27. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- ^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- ISBN 0898200830.
- ^ Sergio Frenchi's The Songs of Richard Rodgers at discogs.com
- ^ Jeanne Cooper (March 27, 2009). "'Bali Hai' still calling visitors to Hawaii". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
- ^ "Bali Hai". balihaibeer.com. Bali Hai Brewery Indonesia. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
- ^ Chris Sherman (December 31, 1987). "A Toast To Auld Lang Wine". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- ^ Gerald D. Boyd (October 11, 2005). "Wine Lore". Winereviewonline.com. Retrieved October 17, 2018.