Six Months in a Leaky Boat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "Six Months in a Leaky Boat" |
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| Single by Split Enz | ||||
| from the album Time and Tide | ||||
| B-side | "Fire Drill" | |||
| Released | May 1982 | |||
| Genre | Pop, rock | |||
| Length | 4:21 3:48 (edited version) 3:14 (US edited version) |
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| Label | Mushroom Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Tim Finn, Split Enz | |||
| Producer(s) | Hugh Padgham, Split Enz | |||
| Split Enz singles chronology | ||||
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"Six Months in a Leaky Boat" is a famous song by the New Zealand art rock band Split Enz. It came out in May 1982 as the second single from their eighth album, Time and Tide.
The song's title has two main meanings. First, it refers to the long journey early settlers took by boat to reach Aotearoa (New Zealand). Second, it's a way of talking about lead singer Tim Finn going through a really tough time.
This song became a huge hit! It reached the top 10 in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. In 2001, it was even voted the fifth-best New Zealand song ever by the Australasian Performing Right Association.
However, the song didn't do as well in the United Kingdom. It was released during the Falklands War, a conflict involving ships. Even though the song was recorded before the war started, some people in Britain thought it was a hidden message about the war. Because of this, many radio stations, including the BBC, stopped playing the song. They felt that talking about "leaky boats" was not appropriate during a naval war.
At the 1982 Countdown Music Awards, "Six Months in a Leaky Boat" was nominated for Best Australian Single.
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The Music Video
The music video for "Six Months in a Leaky Boat" is quite interesting. It shows the band members dressed up in clothes that look like sailor outfits. The video also features Māori artists performing a traditional dance called poi.
Who Played on the Song?
The talented musicians who played on "Six Months in a Leaky Boat" were:
- Tim Finn – He sang the main vocals and played the piano.
- Neil Finn – He also sang vocals and played the guitar.
- Noel Crombie – He played the drums and other percussion instruments.
- Nigel Griggs – He played the bass.
- Eddie Rayner – He played the keyboards and some percussion.
How Popular Was It?
"Six Months in a Leaky Boat" was very popular in several countries. Here's how well it did on the music charts:
- Australia (Kent Music Report): Number 2
- Canadian Singles Chart: Number 7
- New Zealand: Number 7
- UK Singles Chart: Number 83
- US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles: Number 104
- US Cash Box Top 100: Number 81
At the end of 1982, it was the 18th most popular song in Australia.
Other Versions of the Song
- The Australian indie rock band Little Birdy covered "Six Months in a Leaky Boat." Their version appeared on the 2005 album She Will Have Her Way. They also played it live at the Sydney Sound Relief concert.
- The Australian children's entertainers The Wiggles also covered this song! It's on their album and video called It's a Wiggly, Wiggly World. Tim Finn himself sang backup and appeared in their video. However, The Wiggles changed the lyrics a lot to be about their character, Captain Feathersword.
The Song's Lasting Impact
The song has a special place in New Zealand music history. In 2001, music experts voted it the 5th best New Zealand song of all time.
"Six Months in a Leaky Boat" was also used in a very touching way. It was played at the funeral of famous explorer and sailor Sir Peter Blake. Tim Finn sang it with just an acoustic guitar during the service.
