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Bali Ha'i

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"Bali Ha'i"
Song
Released1949 in South Pacific
GenreShowtune
Composer(s)Richard Rodgers
Lyricist(s)Oscar Hammerstein II

"Bali Ha'i", also spelled "Bali Hai", is a show tune from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific. The name refers to a mystical island, visible on the horizon but not reachable, and was originally inspired by the sight of Ambae island from neighboring Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu, where author James Michener was stationed in World War II.

In South Pacific

In the musical, Bali Ha'i is a volcanic island within sight of the island on which most of the action takes place. The troops think of Bali Ha'i as an exotic paradise, but it is off-limits—except to officers. The matriarch of Bali Ha'i, Bloody Mary, conducts much business with the troops, and she meets Lt. Joseph Cable soon after he arrives. She sings to him her mysterious song "Bali Ha'i", with its haunting orchestral accompaniment, because she wants to entice him to visit her island. She doesn’t tell him that she wants him to meet, and fall in love with, her young daughter, Liat.

Resemblance to score for Bride of Frankenstein

Several commentators have noted that the opening melody of Bali Ha'i bears a resemblance to the "bride motif" in Franz Waxman's musical score for the 1935 film Bride of Frankenstein.[1][2][3][4] The two melodies share an identical three-note pattern.[3]

Cover versions

Several versions of the showtune made the bestsellers list in 1949. Perry Como's version was the most successful at #5. Other versions appearing on the charts were by Paul Weston and his Orchestra (#10), Bing Crosby (recorded March 10, 1949)[5] (#12), Peggy Lee (#13), and Frank Sinatra (#18).[6] Later, Harry James released a version on his 1955 album, Jazz Session (Columbia CL 669); Andy Williams released a version on his 1958 album, Andy Williams Sings Rodgers and Hammerstein; and Sergio Franchi included this song on his 1965 RCA Victor tribute to The Songs of Richard Rodgers.[7]

Connections to actual islands

"Bali Ha'i" was based on the real island of Ambae (formerly Aoba Island). Ambae is located in Vanuatu (known as New Hebrides at the time the song was written).[citation needed]

Ambae is visible on the horizon from Espiritu Santo island, where James A. Michener was stationed in World War II. Michener referred to the island in his book, Tales of the South Pacific, which is the basis for the musical South Pacific. The author used the tranquil, hazy image of the smoothly sloping island on the horizon to represent a not-so-distant but always unattainable place of innocence and happiness. Hence the longing nature of the song.[citation needed] In his memoir, The World Is My Home (1992), Michener writes of his time in the Treasury Islands: "On a rude signboard attached to a tree, someone had affixed a cardboard giving the settlement's name, and it was so completely different from ordinary names, so musical to my ear that I borrowed a pencil and in a soggy notebook jotted the name against the day when I might want to use it for some purpose I could not then envisage: Bali-ha'i."

In the 1958 film adaptation, Bali Ha'i is portrayed by the real-life island of Tioman in Malaysia. However, the scene[clarification needed] was filmed on the north shore of Kauaʻi; Mount Makana was used as Bali Hai and is still known as Bali Hai today. Tunnel's Beach is often referred to as "Nurses' Beach", and the scene where Bloody Mary sings "Bali Ha'i" is set on Hanalei Bay.[citation needed]

Mr. Bali Hai is the name of a mixed drink that originated at the Bali Hai restaurant on Shelter Island in California.

Bali Hai is the brand name for a beer produced by Bali Hai Brewery in Indonesia.[8]

Italian Swiss Colony produced the "pop wine" Bali Hai wine in the 20th century.[9][10]

In the 2016 Better Call Saul episode of the same name, Saul Goodman sings this song to his romantic interest Kim Wexler.

References

  1. ^ Pratt, Douglas (2004). Doug Pratt's DVD: Movies, Television, Music, Art, Adult, and More!, Volume 1. Sag Harbor, NY: Harbor Electronic Publishing. p. 195. ISBN 9781932916003. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  2. ^ Senn, Bryan (1996). Golden Horrors: An Illustrated Critical Filmography of Terror Cinema, 1931-1939. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 282. ISBN 9780786427246. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  3. ^ a b MacDonald, Laurence (2013). The Invisible Art of Film Music: A Comprehensive History. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, Inc. p. 40. ISBN 9780810883987. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  4. ^ Bond, Jeff (2000). "Bride of Frankenstein". Film Score Monthly. 5 (9–10): 27. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  5. ^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  6. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. p. 474. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  7. ^ Sergio Frenchi's The Songs of Richard Rodgers at discogs.com
  8. ^ "BALI HAI". balihaibeer.com. Bali Hai Brewery Indonesia. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  9. ^ Chris Sherman (December 31, 1987). "A Toast To Auld Lang Wine". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  10. ^ Gerald D. Boyd (October 11, 2005). "Wine Lore". Winereviewonline.com. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
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