Wa Wa Nee
Wa Wa Nee | |
---|---|
Origin | Australia |
Genres | synthpop, pop rock |
Years active | 1982–1989 |
Labels | CBS |
Past members | Paul Gray Steve Williams Geoff Lundren Elizabeth Lord Chris Sweeney Mark Gray Phil Witchett |
Website | wawanee |
Wa Wa Nee was a 1980s Australian funk band.
Career
Singer/songwriter Paul Gray and guitarist Steve Williams formed the band in 1982. They were joined by Geoff Lundren (bass), Elizabeth Lord (keyboards, backing vocals) and Chris Sweeney (drums) and signed with CBS Records in 1985. Mark Gray, Paul's brother,[1] and Phil Witchett joined the group soon after and their debut single "Stimulation" was released in April 1986. The song peaked at number 2 in Australia.[2] "I Could Make You Love Me" was released in August 1986 and peaked at number 5.[2] In November 1986, Wa Wa Nee released their debut self-titled album which peaked at number 29 in Australia.[2] Two more singles were released from the album, "Sugar Free" in December 1986 gave the band a third Australian Top 10 hit, and "One and One (Ain't I Good Enough)" in April 1987 which peaked inside the Top 20. "Sugar Free" was released in the United States in July 1987 and peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] The song featured in the film, Cassandra. "Stimulation" was released as the follow-up single where it peaked at number 86. It was featured in the film Satisfaction. In 1987, a remix album, titled Ulta Mixes was released.
During the recording of the second studio album in 1988, keyboardist Phil Witchett died. In November 1988, "Can't Control Myself" was released as the lead single from the band's second studio album. The song peaked at number 31. Their second studio album, Blush was released in May 1989, and included two more hit singles, "So Good" and "I Want You". However, the album's commercial performance was disappointing, and the group disbanded later in 1989.
Later works
After the dissolution of Wa Wa Nee, bassist Mark Gray went on to work with Tania Bowra Band, with James Reyne and Indecent Obsession.
After Wa Wa Nee, Steve Williams was asked by
Paul Gray died of multiple myeloma on 24 April 2018, aged 54.[7] The news was announced by his brother and fellow band member, Mark.[1]
In 2023, Steve Williams launched a new band celebrating the songs of Wa Wa Nee, Steve Williams Plays Wa Wa Nee.[8] [9]
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications
| |
---|---|---|---|---|
AUS [2] |
US [10] | |||
Wa Wa Nee |
|
29 | 123 | |
Blush |
|
32 | — | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country. |
Remix and compilation albums
Title | Details |
---|---|
Ulta Mixes |
|
The Essential Wa Wa Nee |
|
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUS [2] |
NZ [14] |
US [3] | |||
"Stimulation" | 1986 | 2 | 11 | 86 | Wa Wa Nee |
"I Could Make You Love Me" | 5 | — | — | ||
"Sugar Free" | 10 | — | 35 | ||
"One and One (Ain't I Good Enough)" | 1987 | 19 | — | — | |
"Can't Control Myself" | 1988 | 31 | — | — | Blush |
"So Good" | 1989 | 36 | — | — | |
"I Want You" | 52 | — | — | ||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Awards and nominations
ARIA Music Awards
The
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
ARIA Music Awards of 1987 | "Stimulation" | ARIA Award for Highest Selling Single
|
Nominated |
themselves | ARIA Award for Best New Talent | Nominated | |
Paul Gray – Wa Wa Nee ("Stimulation", "I Could Make You Love Me") |
ARIA Award for Best Songwriter | Nominated | |
Jim Tait for Wa Wa Nee by Wa Wa Nee | ARIA Award for Engineer of the Year | Nominated
|
Countdown Australian Music Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1986 | Wa Wa Nee | Best Debut Album | Nominated |
"Stimulation" | Best Debut Single | Nominated | |
themselves | Best Debut Act | Nominated | |
Most Popular Australian Group | Nominated |
See also
- Wa Wa Nee Official Website
- List of 1980s one-hit wonders in the United States
References
- ^ a b "Australian singer Paul Gray of Wa Wa Nee dies aged 54". abc.net.au. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Australian chart peaks:
- Top 100 (ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 12 June 1988.
- Top 50 (ARIA) peaks from 13 June 1988: "australian-charts.com > Wa Wa Nee discography". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- "I Want You" (ARIA) peak: Scott, Gavin. "This Week in 1989: May 28, 1989". Chart Beats: A Journey Through Pop. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- Top 100 (
- ^ a b "Billboard > Wa Wa Nee Chart History > Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ^ "Steve Williams Plays Wa Wa Nee". tickets.oztix.com.au. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "About". Wa Wa Nee Official Website. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "Wa Wa Nee". Retro Universe. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ "Lead Wa Wa Nee singer Paul Gray dies". nine.com.au. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ "Steve Williams Plays Wa Wa Nee". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "Tour Dates". Wa Wa Nee Official Website. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "Billboard > Wa Wa Nee Chart History > Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ^ "Kent Music Report No 642 – 3 November 1986 > LP & Tape: New Releases". Retrieved 26 April 2018 – via Imgur.com (original document published by Kent Music Report).
- ^ "Absolute 80s" (PDF). www.popshop.com.au. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Platterlog: LP & Tape – New Releases > 8 May 1989". Retrieved 26 April 2018 – via Imgur.com (original document published by Platterlog).
- ^ "charts.nz > Wa Wa Nee in New Zealand Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- Portable document format (PDF)). Countdown Magazine. Australian Broadcasting Corporation(ABC). March 1987. Retrieved 16 December 2010.