Listen here: mrthn.fm/jc_mana
Taken from the fifth album ‘I Am The River, The River is Me’
Pre-order here: mrthn.fm/jc_iamtheriver
Mana - prestige, authority, influence, spiritual power.
Takatāpui - A Māori person who is gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.
Credits -
Producer: Ruby Reihana-Wilson
Director: Anno Hickey
Directors Assistant: Alesha Ahdar
DoP: Kirk Pflaum
1st AC: Alice Toomer
1st AC: Angie Sanchez-Villar
LX / Tech Assist: Nathan Adams
LX / Tech Assist: Sash Samaratunga
Make-up & Hair: Jessica Hallet
Make-up & Hair: Nora Jean Stewart
Production Manager: Jaimee Poipoi
Production Assist: Jaya Beach-Robertson
Production Assist: Elle Wootton
Ngā mihi nui to:
Kevin Haunui & Tiwhanawhana Trust
Te Herekiekie Herewini & Chrissie Mariana te Oha Locke
Te Papa Tongarewa
Kerry Peipi
Michal & Mateusz Mendrun
The Polish Association NZ
Sinead Overbye
Joanne Reihana
Thomas Coppell
This clip stars heroes of mine - those who continue to weave our takatāpuitanga (queer Māori culture) by standing tall. You will see dancing on the steps of NZ Parliament Greens MP Dr. Elizabeth Kerekere, whose PhD and accompanying whāriki (weaving) ‘Mana Takatāpui’ inspired the name of this song; members of the legendary Pōneke (Wellington) based Tiwhanawhana Kapa Haka who formed 30 years ago as a place for takatāpui to stand proud in our tikanga (cultural practices), the gorgeous Tangaroa Paul, a non-binary model for Infamy Apparel and soon to be Dr. Tangaroa, Jacob Tamata, an exciting new choreographer and passionate advocate of vogue ballroom dancing, The Tiwhas, a Māori drag queen trio who serve takatāpui cabaret goodness wherever they go and Quack Pirihi, a brave, young non-binary activist who champions rangatahi (young people) growing up in a system that was never designed for Māori to succeed.
Even though I have spent most of my life away from my land - making this album and clip has been a true homecoming. It is on my matrilineal moana (ocean) Whangaroa Harbour in Te Tai Tokerau (Northland NZ) that you can see me sailing along and singing while playing my Aunty Myra’s guitar. I hope this becomes the anthem takatāpui can sing at the top of their lungs in the car, cleaning the house, at the club (remixed!) or at the next Pride day. This song is for all of us. The joyful celebration we need and deserve right now.
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Lyrics
I know you’re weak
I know you struggle
Just to blink
You held a queen
And traded her down
For a joker
Now a gay like me
A gay like me
Is in your dreams
A gay like me
Is in your dreams
And always will be
Hey I know
I still got a way to go
But I think I see
Aroha
Mana Takatāpui
Kei roto i a koe
Our tiny world
A fragile eggshell
Tumbling swirl
Cracking open
There’s an ocean
Flooding in now
I won’t drown
Babe, you can save yourself
A golden thread
Above my head
I’m getting out now
Hey I know
I still got a way to go
But I think I see
Aroha
Mana Takatāpui
Kei roto i a koe
Big sad moon
I was drawn to you
It’s true
You reflect the sun
Without them
You are no-one
Was my light
Was my light
Shining too bright?
Is that why you said
That you can’t shine around me?
If you won’t let me be
The love of your life
Then I’ll be
The loss of your life
#JenCloher #ManaTakatāpui
7 ноя 2022
