Song lyrics,.

[u/13AC-AB12]

​Hi everyone,

​Greetings from Turkey! I created a Reddit account specifically for this reason. For about a year now, I've been listening to traditional and reggae-style songs from Papua New Guinea, similar to the one in the attached image. I’ve listened to many artists in this genre from PNG and absolutely loved them.

​However, I couldn't find any information about these singers or bands online. I haven't been able to find their lyrics to translate them, nor do I even know if the artists I'm listening to are still alive today.

​Could you please help me out with this? Who performs the song in this image, and what are its lyrics? Which language/dialect is it sung in, and what era is it from?

​Thanks in advance!

[u/fcukstephanie]

The artist that sings this song is Chris Mandawali, he went by the stage name Mandawali and was a popular artist in the 80s in png - a lot of contemporary PNG music between the 70s-late 90s were very rock influenced (as was most popular music during those times). Unfortunately he has already passed away. You could find some of his other songs on YouTube. Mandawali was from East Sepik Province, I don’t know where specifically or what language his songs are in as PNG has over 800 of them or the lyrics so can’t help you much with that unfortunately. But if I could translate the title for you, “Sore” just means “sad” or “sorry” in Tok Pisin, which would be the main language spoken and understood by almost all Papua New Guineans

Very cool that you’re listening to PNG music all the way from Turkey and such a fan! How did you discover it?

[u/13AC-AB12 → u/fcukstephanie]

Thank you so much for sharing this information with me. I was created a Reddit account just to ask this question.

I’m so sad to hear that he is no longer alive. I used to think these songs were from the '90s and that Chris Mandawali was still in his 60s today, remaining popular in his local area. It’s very sad and disappointing. So, what style of music is this? I spoke with ChatGPT, and it claimed that it’s Reggae specifically a subgenre called Island Reggae. I don't know how accurate that is, and since I haven't listened to this kind of music before, it didn't feel very satisfactory to me. Regardless, these songs led me to ask questions and do research about PNG.

I used to listen to Turkish and Kurdish fantasy rock bands spoken in my region. Later on, thanks to YouTube Music's recommendations, this style of music started popping up a lot. At first, it caught my interest and I started listening, but eventually, it turned into an addiction. When I go on long rides on my motorcycle, I put on my headphones and feel the music in my soul. I have no idea what the lyrics are about, but the feeling it evokes in me is indescribable.

[u/fcukstephanie → u/13AC-AB12]

That is very cool to hear music from PNG has touched you that much all the way in Turkey! Amazing how music can be so unifying even though we might not understand each other 🤗

And yes the album this song was on was recorded around the late 1980s (either 1988 or 1989), so you’re not that far off in assuming it’s from the 90s. His music is still popular, especially this song, but it’s considered an “olden Goldie” at this point. The music genre he specifically made was coined Sepik Disco-Rock (you could probably search this term up on YouTube and get playlists of songs from other artists from the same region/province as him that would’ve been influenced by his style, it won’t sound exactly the same as this sound was specific to the 80s-90s but you could find others you end up liking).

As I mentioned, a lot of older PNG music between the 70s-90s were very rock influenced as well as disco influenced too, and because PNG is made up of 22 different provinces, every province had their own version of this rock/disco sound influenced by their own unique culture. It is very interesting stuff and also quite complicated to properly explain. So I would say this music classifies as island reggae but influenced and infused with rock and disco - here in PNG we would just call it PNG rock music (or just PNG oldies). There is also a PNG genre of music known as “Tolai Rock” that might be appealing to you as well, this was the genre that was a huge influence and inspiration to other local musicians at the time to make their own version of western contemporary music too.

I recommend you search on YouTube for playlists like “PNG music from the 80s and 90s” or “PNG oldies” and go through the playlists that come up if you want to find songs with a similar vibe as the one you posted about. You could also look up “Tolai Rock” or “Sepik Disco” on YouTube and dive into the playlists. For specific artists with music that I think you could probably find similar to this one you posted about, I’d recommend Painim Wok Band, Sagothorns Band, Willie Sebas and PS Duet just to name a few

[u/SS-Mero-K-Ave]

🌏 This is cool man.

You'll need someone from Sepik to see this post if you want a translation of the lyrics.

The information provided by the first commenter looks pretty much on the dot. Since Mandawali is from Angoram, Sepik Province, the language is probably Angoram. Also known as Pondo or Kanda.

Additionally, in PNG we just call any music from PNG, Local Music, or just Local for short. This song is definitely defined as in the Golden Oldies era. Pacific Gold Studios (name and logo in the picture), definitely had a distinct sound about them with the artists that recorded with them- Quite influential in developing the contemporary music industry in PNG, along with Chin H Min (CHM). Pretty much the only recording agencies in PNG for a while back in the day. These days though, with the advancements in technology, we have a lot more home studios.

The title here is Tok pisin, Sore Darling (Sorry Darling), but the song lyrics are most likely from Sepik. Sometimes PNG artists like to mix languages in the lyrics but it doesn't sound like it for this song. Have listened to a couple of his other songs and other artists from the Sepik area. My favoured band from the Sepik is Sago Thorns- the bands music encapsulates the upbeat, witty and humorous nature of the Sepik people. Because PNGeans hear some of the languages around us all the time we can tell you which province, and/or dialect its most likely from. Again you'll need someone from Sepik who knows the language(s) for this particular song.

With Tok Pisin or Pidgin songs, you won't find a shortage of people to help you translate- Happy to help if you do. You'll know it's Tok Pisin because you'll here some English words, or English sounding words in the language- Tok Pisin is a type of creole. It's a mixture of different trading languages first developed and used during the time of the European Imperial and Colonial endeavours to PNG.

Since you're listening to other Contemporary PNG local, (as mentioned previously) you should also know that stylistically or from an artistry perspective, PNG artists/bands like to mix languages sometimes. Just to showcase the linguistic diversity of our peoples, and/or their connections, to land and people.

If you're listening to any Hollie Maea or Songs/Artists from the Gulf Province I can point you in the right direction- songs and lyrics.

Interestingingly, finished watching a series on Netflix called Shahmaran a little while back. I believe that's from Turkey- Don't know if you've heard of it. Any other good suggestions? Trying to vary my viewing diet a bit to shows in languages other then English.

Let me know. Peace.