# Chulu Chululu

Chulu Chululu sometimes referred to as Chululu is a Fijian song that has been covered by a multitude of artists ranging from Peter Posa to Bill Sevesi & His Islanders. An English version of this song was a hit for Bill and Boyd.

## Background

The song of Fijian origin is considered to be very well known in Fiji and the Pacific. It is also a popular party song. The Fijian version begins with the lyrics "Chulu Chululu o lo’u manuee" with this verse repeated five times throughout the song. The song was originally composed by Sam Freedman whose songs have been covered by The Kingston Trio, Bill Sevesi and Maria Dallas etc.

### Eddie Lund version

It was possibly first commercially released by Eddie Lund & His Tahitians and released on record in 1958. It was released as a single on Viking Records in May 1958. The B side "Samoa Silasila" was sung in Samoan. According to the National Public Library of New Zealand, the group that recorded it was an Auckland-based Tahitian group. It appeared on Lund's Lure of Tahiti album which was released in 1960.

### English version

The song was recorded by Bill & Boyd in Rotorua, New Zealand 1964. It became a hit for them and appeared on their album Songs for a cloudy afternoon. The English version was written by Bill Cate and Bill Robertson. Bill and Boyd rerecorded the song in 1974 and that version appeared as the B-side to the single, "Santa Never Made It Into Darwin". The single was recorded to raise money after the devastating 1974 cyclone that decimated Darwin.

### Other versions

In 1993, New Zealand group The Radars recorded their version of the song as the B side to "The Banana Boat Song" released on the Epic label. It gained them an award under the Best Polynesian Album award, beating finalists Dalvanius & the Patea Maori Club and the Kaiwhaiki Cultural Club. The Wiggles also recorded their version on their Wake Up Jeff! album.

## Releases

Singles :
| Artist | Single A & B side | Release info | Year |
| Eddie Lund & His Tahitians | "Chululu" / "Samoa Silasila" | Viking V66 - 4 | 1958 |
| Bill and Boyd | "Chulu Chululu" / "Habit Of Loving You" | Philips BF-105 | 1964 |
| Bill and Boyd | "Santa Never Made it Into Darwin" / "Chulu Chululu" | Fable FB 234 | 1975 |
| The Radars | "The Banana Boat Song" / "Chulu Chululu" | Epic ES 878 | 1983 |
EP :
| Artist | EP title | Release info | Year | Notes |
| Various | Tahiti Dances | Viking V126-26 | 1959 | "Chululu" by Eddie Lund And His Tahitians |
| Tegu Ni Laqere Group | Fascinating Fiji | Tapa TEP. 3 | | |
| Various Artists | Our South Pacific With Air New Zealand | A1278 | | Licensed From Viking Records, Produced For Air New Zealand |
| Various | Swing South Pacific With Air New Zealand | Air New Zealand | 1974 | Air New Zealand promo EP |
| Nasilai Tropicana Group | Tropical Fiji | Viking VE.205 | 1965 | |
| Orchid Islanders Entertainers | Memories Of Orchid Island | Hibiscus HE.9 | 1972 | |
| Peter Posa And The Islanders | Peter Posa In Fiji | Viking VE.240 | | |
Albums (LP) :
| Artist | Album title | Release info | Year | Notes |
| Eddie Lund & His Tahitians | Lure of Tahiti | Viking VP 14 | 1960 | |
| Various Artists | Bula, A Musical Rendition Of Fijian Hospitality | Tapa TPLS.2 | | Also released on Viking Records. |
| Bill and Boyd | Songs for a Cloudy Summer Afternoon | Philips PL-O8759 | 1965 | Also released on Philips PD-151 as Chulu Chululu |
| Bill Sevesi & His Islanders | Polynesian Romp Vol. 1 | Festival Records – SFL-933, 185 | 1966 | |
| The Fijians | The Rhythm Of Fiji | Hibiscus HLS-20 | | |
| The Vei-Lomani Group | Isa Lei | Salem Records XP5041 | 1967 | |
| Various | Hawaii Sings | Musicolor Record – ML-3005 | 1968 | |
| The Kabu Kei Namara Group | Fiji Playground Of The South Pacific | Salem Records XPS 5066 | 1970 | |
| Voqa Kei Turaki (Voices of Turak) | The spell of Fiji | Hibiscus | 1972 | Produced by James Siers |
| Fiji Police Band | The Band Of The Fiji Police | Viking VPS183 | | Released on Viking VP183 (mono) Viking VPS183 (stereo) |
| Peter Posa And The Islanders | The Beat Of Polynesia | Viking VP190 | | |
| Fiji Military Forces Band, Fiji Mocambo Hotel Group, Nasilau Tropicana Group | Action Fiji! | Viking VP250, | | Chululu by Nasilau Tropicana Group |
| The Nakamakama Villagers | Unique Fiji | Viking VP272 | | Also released on Olympic OL-6159 |
| Various Artists | 20 Golden Songs Of Fiji Vol. 2 | Viking VP 424 | 1978 | "Chulu Chululu" by Suva Fijian Drama Group |
| Kabu Kei Vuda Entertainers | Exciting Fiji | World Record Club R-05738 | 1978 | |
Albums (Cassette) :
| Artist | Album title | Release info | Year | Notes |
| Various Artists | 20 Golden Songs Of Fiji Vol 2 | Viking VPS 424C | 1978 | |
| Fiji Military Forces Band, Fiji Mocambo Hotel Group, Nasilau Tropicana Group | Action Fiji! | Viking VPS250C | | "Chululu" by Nasilau Tropicana Group |
Albums (CD) :
| Artist | Album title | Release info | Year | Notes |
| Conua Entertainment Group | Fijian Melodies | SPR 18 | | Manufactured for exclusive distribution by Motibhai Group, Fiji |
| Various Artists | Tahiti Belle Epoque: All Time Tahitians Favorites | Playasound 65807 | 1994 | Chulu Chululu by Eddie Lund |
| Various Artists | Turtle Island: Fiji – Musical Memories | Turtle Island Records 94 | 1994 | |
| Various Artists | Colors of the World: Fiji | Allegro Corporation 103 | 1999 | |
| Various Artists | Voyager Series: Memories of Fiji | Columbia River Entertainment Group 140155 | 2002 | |
| Various Artists | World Music of Hawaii and Polynesia | Sharp Edge Records | 2015 | "Chulu Chululu" by Mila |
Digital :
| Artist | Album title | Release info | Year | Notes |
| Pan Pacific Singers | Ports of the Pacific: 20 Favourites | K-Tel | 2010 | |