“Happy To Be Me”
Randy Parker
(Mauka Productions MP1003)
With this anthology, Hawaii island singer/songwriter Randy Parker is sharing 30 years of original music. Many of the songs are contemporary hapa haole in style and content. “Mauka Shower” is a lovingly detailed description of life under a tin roof, and the self-explanatory “Back To Hawai‘i.” Others — “Light the Lamp of Love” and “Lucky Charm,” to name two — are mainstream acoustic pop tunes that share universal feelings without mentioning Hawaii.
Parker provides no information about the people and places that inspired him but “Kahali‘i” and “Hamakua” are beautiful descriptions of special places. “Iliahi” is a wistful love song, perfect for hula, about someone whose name apparently contains a reference to sandalwood (“Iliahi” translates as “sandalwood”).
“Two Wahine” is the rollicking first-hand account of being in a relationship with two women — one from the mountains, one from the sea. Parker doesn’t reveal whether the song is autobiographical or a product of his imagination but it rocks island-style with some rapping thrown in as well.
Parker salutes the musical contributions of the Portuguese and Puerto Ricans with a song that describes a beautiful woman who “likes to shake her thing” while men fight over her outside.
He brings yet another musical genre into the collection with “Tropical Dreams.” It brings to mind the romantic Top 40 love songs of the early 1960s.
The title song comes last. It ends with the words “I couldn’t ask for more.”
Money made from this album will help Parker pay his medical bills as he battles lung and throat cancer.
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“New Horizon”
Kazuki & Naoto
(Lele Music Productions LMPCD 1014)
Japanese musicians Kazuki and Naoto Imai came to Hawaii to record their 12-song calling card of original ukulele instrumentals. Kazuki doubles on guitar on four tracks, Hawaii residents Jon Yamasato (guitar), Randy Aloya (bass) and John Porlas (percussion) contribute as guests on others.
The brothers show imagination and technical competence throughout; their music is especially enjoyable when heard on good headphones.
The stories behind the songs are shared on the record label website. For instance, the intense and high-energy “Turn It Up” was written after a period of serious practice. “Wakea” was inspired by Hawaiian mythology, and “The Break of Dawn” anticipates the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
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