Most of the music I choose for Musical Mondays is from the 60s, 70s and 80s as these are the decades where I was most exposed to music and where I developed my preferences. But I’m not so set in my ways that I don’t don’t enjoy some music from more recent decades. This is one such song. In Māori mythology, Tangaroa is one of the deities present when the earth mother, Papatūānuku, and the sky father, Ranginui, were forced apart to let in the light and bring about the beginning of the world. He became the guardian of the oceans.
I don’t know what it is, but there’s something almost spiritual in many modern songs in te Reo Māori, and Tangaroa Whakamautai is no exception. I find it exquisitely beautiful. I hope you do too. This song by Kiwi singer songwriter Maisey Rika was released in September 2012.
Some of the music video was shot on Whakaari (White Island), which is an active volcano that lies about 50Km (30 miles) off the coast of Aotearoa. It erupted explosively in 2019 killing 22 people and seriously burning and injuring 25 others. Access to the island is now prohibited to tourists.
Tangaroa Whakamautai Te ararau o Tangaroa E rere ki te papaurunui Te ararau o Tangaroa E rere ki te papaurunui Te ararau o Tangaroa E rere ki te papaurunui Tahora nui ātea Te manawa o te moana Te mauri o Tangaroa Tangaroa whakamautai Tangaroa whakamautai Tūtara Kauika He poutiriao Te wai o Tangaroa Te wai o Tangaroa Te tangi a te tohorā He tohu nō aituā Te mau a Tangaroa Te mau a Tangaroa He kaitiaki He taonga He tipua He ariki He taniwha He tipua He kaitiaki He taonga He tipua Tangaroa whakamautai
An English translation by Maisey Rika:
The various waterways of Tangaroa
Flow back into its voluminous source
(x3)
The vast expanse
The heart of the ocean
The life-force of Tangaroa
Tangaroa commander of the tides
A pod of whales (or in reference to Tūtara Kauika the historical whale guardian ancestor)
A supernatural phenomenon
Evolving from the waters of Tangaroa
The waters of Tangaroa
The cry of the whale
Signals a warning
The power of Tangaroa
The power of Tangaroa
Tangaroa commander of the tides
A guardian
A precious treasure
A strange / supernatural being
A god
Of the ancient prehistoric realm
A guardian
A precious treasure
A strange / supernatural being
Tangaroa commander of the tides.
Another Spectrum 
7 Nov, 2022 at 6:31 am
Is this to say it is already Monday in Nz?
7 Nov, 2022 at 6:33 am
It’s been Monday for 6 hours and 33 minutes 😁
7 Nov, 2022 at 6:36 am
It is Sunday 20:35.
My friend, you are living in the future. If the world is ending, you will know a day before me.
7 Nov, 2022 at 6:41 am
It depends on how you look at it. If the world ends tomorrow, you’ll learn about it on Monday but we won’t learn about it until Tuesday – a day after you 🤣
7 Nov, 2022 at 6:42 am
That’s some perspective, Barry. A better one
7 Nov, 2022 at 1:13 pm
Yes, exquisitely beautiful – the accompanying video feels perfect.
7 Nov, 2022 at 1:27 pm
Thankyou. When it comes to choosing which video to link to, I’m sometimes spoilt for choice with more recent songs such as this one, and I’m faced with second guessing which version others might like. Older songs are lucky to have even one video.
I’m pleased you found this song as exquisitely beautiful as I do.