Pacific Song Contest

Press, 25 September 1980, Page 15

Pacific Song Contest

Three years ago New Zealand pioneered a song contest for countries in the Pacific region. The aim .was. to bring those countries closer together by means of a televised popular song contest to be seen in each of the competing countries. The Pacific Song Contest, which will screen on Network One on Sunday, was staged fbr the first two years from the Christchurch Town Hall and was an outstanding success, both in creating inter national goodwill and as a television show, attracting the biggest New Zealand' audiences:" for an , entertainment show both . i years. In addition, an esti- , mated 50 million people in Japan, South Korea, Australia, the Philippines, Ca-. nada, and Hong Kong saw .the shows.

- This year, the Pacific Song Contest has moved to Canada, where it is being produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Ottawa. However, there will be a number of familiar aces in the show — the cohosts are Canada’s singers at the two Christchurch contests, Gloria Kaye and Arlene Duncan. Also making a return appearance is New Zealand’s Tina Cross, having won th? contest last year and out for the double this year in a duet with Derek Metzger. This is the first year any country has been represented by other than a solo singer, even though the rules of the contest have never prevented duos or groups. And the break with tradition is reinforced by both Australia and the Philippines, who are also represented by duos.

Of the composers, Carl Doy, who penned New Zealand’s winning entry last year, has also written New Zealand’s song this year, “Once Again With You.” Nonoy Ocampo, who wrote Hong Kong’s song for the beautiful Margaret Miao in the first contest, has also written this year’s Hong Kong entry.

Christopher Bourn, Television New Zealand’s head of publicity, promotion, and presentation, and international co-ordinator of the contest, reports from Ottawa that the Canadian Prime Minister (Mr Pierre Trudeau) will make an appearance at the final function preceding the contest.

Shots of the Christchurch Town Hall are being, used in the Canadian production, and Mr Bourn himself is appearing on the C.B.C. network to explain the contest and promote New Zealand. Representing Canada is one of their rising young stars, Peter Pringle, singing a song co-written by three well-known Canadian composers. Television New Zealand will screen the show a few hours after it arrives by direct satellite telecast on Sunday afternoon. New Zealand’s judges; Tom Parkinson (head of entertainment for Television New Zealand), Peter Blake, (musical director on “Ready To Roll”), Pat Bell (A.P.R.A.), and Bruce Warwick (entrepreneur) will vote by return toll link while viewing the incoming telecast. The spokesman for New Zealand will be John Hayden, last year’s host of the show.