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Anthems: New Zealand's Iconic Hits (excerpts)
Television (Excerpts) – 2019
TV series Anthems celebrated the stories behind some of New Zealand's most influential pop songs. These excerpts spotlight two female acts: a supergroup of five talented vocalists, and a Devonport teen who gave away her first single for free and became a global pop star. When The Cat's Away recall how in the late 80s Kiwis "went nuts" for them, and how a deep sense of fun and friendship was behind the success of their 1988 hit 'Melting Pot'. Then Ella Yelich O'Connor (aka Lorde) describes how 'Royals' reflects her own peer group and how she sat on a "tatty" couch watching its massive success unfold in real time.
I always had a sense of 'Royals' as something for me and my peers. You know, I was 15 and most of my friends were 15 or 16, and I really felt like I hadn't heard a lot of pop music that was talking to us in language that actually felt authentic to us.– Lorde (Ella Yelich O'Connor) on writing breakthrough 2013 single 'Royals'
Key Cast & Crew
Debbie Harwood
Kim Willoughby
Dianne Swann
Annie Crummer
Margaret Urlich
Aaron Wakely
Acknowledgements
Made with funding from NZ On Air
Music
'Melting Pot' composed by Roger Greenway & Roger Cook, and performed by When the Cat's Away
'Royals' composed by Ella Yelich O'Connor & Joel Little, and performed by Lorde (Ella Yelich O'Connor)
Categories
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Melting Pot
When The Cat's Away number one hit and crowd favourite
When the Cat's Away
Documentary about Cat's Away on the road
Loyal
Lorde's legendary first single
Intermediate Schools Battle of the Bands - Lorde excerpt
An early taste of Lorde
Heatwave - L&P
A soft drink ad featuring members of Cats Away band
It's Only Wednesday (Series One, Episode Nine)
When the Cat's Away have fun on a chat show
Royals
Lorde's global smash hit
Asian Paradise
A later hit for When the Cat's Away
Escaping
Margaret Urlich's first solo hit
See What Love Can Do
Solo single from Annie Crummer
As the Sun Goes Down
Dianne Swann'a pre-Cat's Away band
Secrets from a Girl (Who's Seen it All)
A later song by Lorde
Green Light
Single from Lorde's second album