Music: O le taualuga

            Music is the definition of emotion and learning. I find music as a gateway for individuals to create a connection with a particular song in order to relate his or her emotions, whether it’s to feel happy, sad, hype, or relax. Music also conveys a certain message that an artist wants the audience to learn and understand its significance. For example beautiful by performing artist Christina Aguilera is a song based on the beauty of every person despite his or her imperfections. The message conveyed in this song is that no individual should feel insecurity from judgment of others. It also sets an emotion of happiness to ease persons of mutual feeling pertaining to the song’s mood and message. Sometimes messages create a story that is narrated within the lines of a song to tell of an important event whether historic or not. Artists use music to reach out to the audience in order for their message to be listened, felt, and understood.

            “O le taualuga” by performing group artist Pacific Soul is an old traditional song of my Samoan culture commonly played at most fa’afiafiagas (functions). Taualuga is the final dance performed by a single female dancer called the taupou. A taupou is a young female of high rank within a village that is selected by a high chief in honor of performing the taualuga. I purposely selected the song o le taualuga because it is a well written song in my language detailing preparations and actions of the taupou. For example the beginning lines of the song “O le taualuga o le a fa’ai’u mea uma, olioli malie se’ese’e mai, ua matagofie.”  It’s statement meaning the finale of the fa’afiafiaga and the taupou’s graceful dance performance. Other lines that explain the taupou’s actions are “Fa’avai lou tino, tasi ou taga fo’i e manino” meaning cover your body with baby oil, your actions must be cleared. “Siva ma le ataata ata, ole aso ua maualuga faaali lou fia fia i si ou siva Samoa” meaning dance with a smile and showcase your happiness of the Samoan dance.

            A taualuga is a type of performance that brings happiness and joy from the audience. Selecting this song not only details the actions of the taupou but is considered a story. Before modernization reached my people, my culture used local hand-made instruments to create music in order to narrate the significance the taualuga. O le taualuga is one of the oldest songs past down from generation to generation played for the taupou. I enjoy this song because it plays a major role in my culture following the importance of history and meaning behind it.

            Mahatma Gandhi created a quote called “a nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” I strongly agree with his statement because my culture is of immense importance to me. The selected song o le taualuga is a message that I find interesting following its lyrics for me as an audience to understand the traditions that today are still carried on.. Songs in my language brings me happiness because it reminds me of where I come from and who I am. Music is a strong connection between me and my culture because it reminds me of who I am the traditions I hold