about
Yiyili is a community on Gooniyandi country between Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing in The Kimberleys, W.A. Yiyili has seven outstations: Pullout Springs, Monngardie, Guninya, Kurinyjarn, Rocky Springs and Goolgaradah.
Joonba is the Gooniyandi word for song. ‘Yiyili Joonba’ is the title of this CD and translates as Yiyili Songs.
The idea for a CD came about because of the songs that were written by the students at Yiyili School in 2012. With the encouragement of our Principal Nick Try, the generous support of PAKAM Radio Network (thanks to PRK Manager Bukola Esin) and Tonchi Macintosh from Nindilingarri in Fitzroy Crossing as producer, we had almost 3 weeks recording school and community songs on the condition they could be used for broadcast.
About 50 songs were written during the year with both students and members of community. In music classes this year, each class wrote a song together as a group and performed it at school assembly. There were also performances during Naidoc Week and at the School Fair. Sahalia from Middle Primary said about performing the songs “I feel shame but it was skudda”.
Students got to write their own song individually, in pairs or small groups. Music and Song Writing is very strong in Yiyili Community and is embraced as a great means of strengthening of culture, language and community
Tamara from Upper Primary said she likes recording because “we get to have a CD at the end. We can play it to our family and friends”. Frida from Middle primary said she liked it because “we get to sing into the microphone and it makes your voice loud”.
lyrics
Basketball Stars (Bo and Darren’s Song)
The Stars are going to Broome in a big white bus
Play the Bulls in Perth flying QANTAS
In blue tracksuits with the silver star
Ride the limousine, look at the city lights shine (we’re gonna win)
CH
We’re Stars, basketball stars
We’re Stars, basketball stars
Windmill through the leg 360 alley-oop, spin around
Flat dunk, glide dunk, shoot for 2 point rebound
It’s a draw now the stars are winning you slam that dunk
Ring is broken stop the game, can’t you fix it up
They say Stars are disqualified
We play our next game our star shines bright (we’re gonna win)
(CH)
Windmill through the leg 360 alley-oop, spin around
Flat dunk, glide dunk, shoot for 2 point rebound (we’re gonna win)
(CH)
(note: song based on "What For" by James)
credits
released September 28, 2015
produced by Tonchi Macintosh.
license