Purest Form

Purest Form were a New Zealand vocal harmony group. They are best known for their television commercial for the Rainbow's End amusement park and for their 1994 cover of Split Enz's song "Message to My Girl".

Purest Form
OriginAuckland, New Zealand
GenresR&B, soul, doo-wop
Years active1993 (1993)–1996 (1996)
LabelsMadame X
Past members
  • Ben Leauanae
  • Keli Pepa
  • Mark Tautai
  • Tym Matagi

Purest Form were the first all-Polynesian pop group to achieve chart success in New Zealand and were considered positive role models for a generation of young Polynesian New Zealanders.[1]

History

Purest Form originally formed as a vocal quartet at Onehunga High School.[2] The group were discovered busking in downtown Auckland by a manager of the Rainbow's End amusement park. Purest Form then recorded an a cappella doo-wop version of the Rainbow's End ad jingle and filmed a television commercial.

The group were managed by Ondrej Havas and Steven Mountjoy and were signed to their label Madame X. Ondrej later went on to manage boy band Spacifix.[3]

Purest Form released five singles, with the first four charting in the New Zealand top 40. Purest Form's debut single was a cover of Split Enz's song "Message to My Girl", which peaked at number two. Split Enz band member Eddie Rayner co-produced the song. The "Message to My Girl" single included mixes of the Rainbow's End song.[4] Purest Form also covered the Beatles' song "If I Fell" and released three original songs, including the Christmas ballad "You Don't Have To Cry".[5]

At the 1995 New Zealand Music Awards, "Message to My Girl" won Single of the Year, with Purest Form also nominated for Most Promising Group.[6]

The group eventually split up in 1997, with Mark Tautai joining the Polynesian vocal quartet Jamoa Jam.[7]

In October 2013, the group reunited on the TV3 comedy panel show 7 Days, where they performed the Rainbow's End song.[8]

Discography

Singles
Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Album
NZ
[5]
1994 "Message to My Girl" 2
  • RMNZ: Platinum
 Non-album single
"It's Christmas (You Don't Have To Cry)" 11 Non-album single
1995 "U Can Do It" 31 Non-album single
"If I Fell" 30 Non-album single
1996 "Lady" — Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
1995 "Message to My Girl" New Zealand Music Awards - Single of the Year Won [9]
Purest Form New Zealand Music Awards - Most Promising Group Nominated [9]
1996 "If I Fell"/"U Can Do It" New Zealand Music Awards - Best Polynesian Album Nominated [10]

References
  1. "Niu Daze: Niko". Niu FM. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  2. "Index Auckland: local history, arts and music". Auckland City Libraries. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  3. "Spacifix - Gotta Get Managed Like This". NZ Musician. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  4. "Purest Form, A Message to My Girl". Trade Me. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  5. "PUREST FORM IN NEW ZEALAND CHARTS". charts.nz. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  6. "1995 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  7. "Jamoa Jam". Amplifier. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  8. "7 DAYS FRIDAYS, 9.30PM | SEASON 5 EP 23". TV3. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  9. "1995 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  10. "1996 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
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