"Ten Guitars" is a 1967 song by the English singer Engelbert Humperdinck. It was the B-side to his single "Release Me".[1] The song is especially well known in New Zealand, where it has become a beloved folk song and is considered by some to be the "unofficial national anthem" of New Zealand.[2]
"Ten Guitars" was released as the B-side to Humperdinck's 1967 single "Release Me". While the A-side track was an international hit, in New Zealand radio programmers favoured "Ten Guitars" due to its upbeat sound and a guitar style that lent itself to the popular "Maori strum" technique.[2]
The song had originally been popularised in New Zealand by Rotorua radio programmer Eddie O'Strange of 1YZ. This led to increased sales of the single and national popularity of the song, particularly as a singalong party number.
The song later became especially popular with Māori in the 1960s who had left their regional homes and moved to cities for work. The song was a reminder of life in their hometowns.[3]
Cultural impactedit
Billy Connolly's 1975 album "The Big Yin: Billy Connolly In Concert" has a track "Glasgow Accents/Nine and a Half Guitars" where the Big Yin explains how he's sick of having to sing the song in folk clubs.
In 2012, an attempt to break the world record for the most number of guitarists playing at once was made in Kaikohe, New Zealand, with "Ten Guitars" as the selected song. The world record of 7273 was not broken, with approximately 50 guitarists showing up for the record attempt.[5]
^"Engelbert Humperdinck – Release Me (And Let Me Love Again) / Ten Guitars". Discogs. 1967. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
^ ab"King of Romance Engelbert Humperdinck to bring his Ten Guitars to NZ". Stuff. Fairfax. 20 July 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
^ ab"Ten Guitars". New Zealand Folk Song. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
^"Ten Guitars Television – 1996". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
^"8000 guitars needed for record bid". Northern Advocate. NZME. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
External linksedit
Ten Guitars - 1996 New Zealand documentary
Entry at New Zealand Folk Song
Radio New Zealand item
January 01, 1970
guitars, 1967, song, english, singer, engelbert, humperdinck, side, single, release, song, especially, well, known, zealand, where, become, beloved, folk, song, considered, some, unofficial, national, anthem, zealand, single, engelbert, humperdincka, side, rel. Ten Guitars is a 1967 song by the English singer Engelbert Humperdinck It was the B side to his single Release Me 1 The song is especially well known in New Zealand where it has become a beloved folk song and is considered by some to be the unofficial national anthem of New Zealand 2 Ten Guitars Single by Engelbert HumperdinckA side Release Me Released1967GenrePopLength2 40LabelDecca RecordsSongwriter s Gordon MillsProducer s Ken WoodmanEngelbert Humperdinck singles chronology Dommage Dommage 1966 Ten Guitars 1967 There Goes My Everything 1967 Contents 1 Popularity in New Zealand 1 1 Cultural impact 2 Other versions 3 References 4 External linksPopularity in New Zealand edit Ten Guitars was released as the B side to Humperdinck s 1967 single Release Me While the A side track was an international hit in New Zealand radio programmers favoured Ten Guitars due to its upbeat sound and a guitar style that lent itself to the popular Maori strum technique 2 The song had originally been popularised in New Zealand by Rotorua radio programmer Eddie O Strange of 1YZ This led to increased sales of the single and national popularity of the song particularly as a singalong party number The song later became especially popular with Maori in the 1960s who had left their regional homes and moved to cities for work The song was a reminder of life in their hometowns 3 Cultural impact edit Billy Connolly s 1975 album The Big Yin Billy Connolly In Concert has a track Glasgow Accents Nine and a Half Guitars where the Big Yin explains how he s sick of having to sing the song in folk clubs A 1996 television documentary Ten Guitars looked at the history of the song and its impact on New Zealand culture It featured cover versions of the song from prominent New Zealand musicians of the time including Tim Finn and Neil Finn the Topp Twins Dalvanius Prime Jan Hellriegel Purest Form Mika and Moana Maniapoto 4 In 1999 the New Zealand artist Michael Parekowhai created the sculptural work Ten Guitars It was made up of ten custom built guitars inlaid with paua shell designs of kowhaiwhai patterns The work examines the role of Maori in New Zealand society including the changing roles in the second half of the 20th century 3 In 2012 an attempt to break the world record for the most number of guitarists playing at once was made in Kaikohe New Zealand with Ten Guitars as the selected song The world record of 7273 was not broken with approximately 50 guitarists showing up for the record attempt 5 Other versions editTom Jones 1967 John Hore amp Howard Morrison 1967 Toni Williams 1969 Neil Reid 1971 The Clarendonians 1972 Bamboo 1989 Sten amp Stanley Dansa en dans med mig 1992 Tom Sharplin and Friends 2012 The Break 2013 Sol3 Mio 2013 References edit Engelbert Humperdinck Release Me And Let Me Love Again Ten Guitars Discogs 1967 Retrieved 21 November 2016 a b King of Romance Engelbert Humperdinck to bring his Ten Guitars to NZ Stuff Fairfax 20 July 2016 Retrieved 22 November 2016 a b Ten Guitars New Zealand Folk Song Retrieved 22 November 2016 Ten Guitars Television 1996 NZ On Screen Retrieved 22 November 2016 8000 guitars needed for record bid Northern Advocate NZME Retrieved 22 November 2016 External links editTen Guitars 1996 New Zealand documentary Entry at New Zealand Folk Song Radio New Zealand item Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ten Guitars amp oldid 1195725060, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
