Music Around the World: American Samoa

The next stop on our global music journey is the Southern Pacific island chain of American Samoa. This American territory may be small in size, but it's definitely large in terms of culture. Here's a 30 second geography lesson to catch everyone up to speed:

-Capital City: Pago Pago

-Official Languages: English, Samoan

-Government: Devolved presidential constitutional dependency (currently under the leadership of Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga)

-Discovered by Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen in 1722 and originally called the Baumann Islands, has been a self-governing U.S. territory since 1967

-Land Area: 77 square miles

-Population: 55,212 (2020 estimate, 208th largest nation in the world)

-Religion: 98.3% Christian, 0.7% Agnostic, 0.4% Chinese Universalist, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.3% Bahá'i

-Drive on right side of the road

Some traditional American Samoan instruments include the fala (a rolled-up mat beaten with sticks), the soundingboard (which usually accompanies solo recitation of poetry), the conch shell (usually used for signaling), the jaw harp, the raft panpipe, the nose-blown flute, and (potentially the most recognizable) the drum. There are five main types of traditional Samoan drum: the logo is the largest and is made of felled trees; the lali is another large drum that is always played in pairs; the talipalau, a skin drum; the pate, a hand-held slit drum; and the nada, a smaller slit drum.

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I started listening to these artists over the last week, but I was pleasantly surprised by all of them. The biggest theme I gathered was that none of this music was in a hurry - it was all very laid back and seemed to run on "island time" which I loved. Without further ado, let's go ahead and jump in!

Chilling On the West Side by Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. (composer unknown)

Boo-Yah T.R.I.B.E. (which stands for Too Rough International Boo-Ya Empire) is a West Coast Hip Hop group based in California composed of the American Samoan Devoux Brothers: Paul "Gangsta Ridd", Vincent "Gawtti", Donald "Kobra", Danny "Monsta O", and Roscoe "Murder One," as well as former members Ted "The Godfather" (who passed away in 2018) and David "E.K.A." (who left the group in 2000). The boys grew up singing and playing music in the church, but eventually were drawn to the gang scene and have affiliations with the West Side Piru, the Samoan Warrior Bounty Hunters, and in the case of one of the brothers, the Park Village Compton Crips. When their youngest brother was killed in a gang related shooting, they decided a life change was in order and left Los Angeles for Japan to focus on their music, believing it to be what their little brother would have wanted. Since 1988, they have released 8 studio albums and 10 singles and have enjoyed success and are inspirations to other Samoan artists in the industry. Chilling On the West Side is from their 1995 album Occupation Hazard and was not even remotely what I thought I would hear from the '90s hip hop artwork to the little gray Explicit symbol on Apple Music. This is very, very West Coast rap, and I enjoyed the little steel drum thing they had going on in the back.

Remember them days when we used to curb serve/And the streetlight played our spotlight/And the hood was our stage, and we do shit like this/Chilling on the West Side, on the West Side, on the West Side/Chilling on the West Side, on the West Side, on the West Side

Afai E Te Alofa Ia A'U by The Five Stars (composer unknown)

The Five Stars are considered to be one of the most well known Pacific area bands, having released over 18 albums full of both traditional and original Samoan and Pacific music since 1974. What started as a Samoan family band based in New Zealand was formed by brothers Alofa and Solomon Tu'uga along with their relatives Samu Poulava-Selesele, Faifua Fa'atoe, and Uili Misa. Two of their albums have received Platinum certifications, and eight others have received Gold certifications. Though Alofa, who served as band leader, passed away in 2006, the band still performs with members of the Tu'uga family to keep the legacy going. Afai E Te Alofa Ia A'U (which translates to If You Love Me in English) is featured on their 1981 album Samoa Matalasi. It definitely has that island vibe and could easily be relaxed to on a beach. A rough English translation of the lyrics is listed below.

If you love/Until you come back/Come back to anger/I cry now/Nowadays/They are sad/Return from dear air/Come back/Return from dear air/Come back

Thank You by The Katinas (written by N. Lowe)

Following with the family band theme, The Katinas are a contemporary Christian group composed of the Katina brothers: Sam (keyboard and vocals), Joe (drums and vocals), James (bass and vocals), John (vocals), and Jesse (vocals). Since 1991, they have released 20 albums and 29 radio singles, have toured with artists like Jasmine Guy, DC Talk, and Amy Grant, and got to perform at the 2012 Republican National Convention. Thank You is featured on their 2001 album Destiny and very much so has that early 2000's boy band feel, but I really liked the message of the song a lot.

Just a little longer, I want to pray/Can't get You off my mind, so I came to say/Thank You, Lord, just for loving me, alright/Many times I do forget every need that You have met/Oh thank You, Lord, I know You're showing me/You are there when I am down and out, You're holding me/Your love is so amazing, oh, it changed me/Here I am with all I have, raise my hands to worship You/I want to say thank You, oh, thank You/For everything, for who You are, You cover me, You touch my heart/I want to say thank You, oh, thank You

Love Me by Trey Smoov (composer unknown)

Trey Smoov is a Hip Hop group based in SoCal composed of best friends Mack Daddy, Vocalz, and YC. I wasn't able to find a lot of information on them, but I did enjoy their song Love Me from their 2014 album Island B Music. It mixes R&B with that distinct island sound for something a little bit different and I really, really enjoyed it.

I give her everything she wants and more/Everything she loves me for/My undivided attention for her/Grows sweeter as our love endures/Ain't no other one can make me feel the way she does/She asks me, "What do you want from me"/I want you to just love me, never let me go/Baby, just hold me, don't let me go, no/'Cause you never know, oh, a good thing 'til it's gone/Baby, just love me

Amerika Samoa by The One World Ensemble (written by M. Tuiasosopo, N. Tuiteleleapaga)

The regional anthem of American Samoa was officially adopted by the territory in 1950. With music by composer/lawyer/author/poet Napoleon Andrew Tuiteleleapaga and lyrics by Mariota Tiumalu Tuiasosopo, an English translation of the lyrics is listed below.

American Samoa/You are my beloved country/Your name I shan't search for/You are my hope/You are the pearl of the Pacific/That is the lure of the five islands/Your customs and legends are well known/Tutuila and Manu'a/Stand up and be counted/Serve and bow down to your country/Let it be blessed and grow/American Samoa/The land of the free

In a time where everyone desperately needs a vacation, hopefully this week's music can help you imagine you're on a beautiful beach somewhere. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!