Dave Dobbyn ~ Slice of Heaven
(written: 2 March 2004)
Wow.
I had to turn this song on... so I could accurately write about how it feels to listen to it.
If they could encapsulate any song into a visual and put it on a flag, then I'd say FORGET THE SOUTHERN CROSS FOR A MINUTE! Let's see how it looks flapping over parliament...
A sure-fire recipe to make chills fly down your back and your patriotic heart swell with pride so severely you'd probably explode and then die from massive internal bleeding.
Ahh but what a way to die...
There are just so many reasons why this song deserves to be a part of this highly prestigious list. The very fact that I keep pausing while typing just to break into song...
I don't think you'd be worth your weight in fish n chips as a New Zealander if you didn't have some soft spot in your heart for Slice of Heaven. It's without a doubt our unofficial anthem and if (heaven forbid) a freak accident wiped out the Finn family, Dave Dobbyn would be crowned as royalty. Even if he does (by his own admission) closely resemble Yoda.
From it's beginnings...
You know me. Still the same old G but I been low key...
uh..
You know me. When it comes to NZ film only one movie can claim itself to be my ALL TIME FAVOURITE. It just so happens to be a cartoon about a sheep dog. When I was about 6 or 7, having grown up reading the Footrot Flats cartoon books by Murray Ball, the animated movie was released. My father, then the manager at the main radio station in Nelson of course scored preview tickets and I begged to go along. I BEGGED! My parents were wary. They tried to fob me off by saying I wouldn't find it funny, or "it'll be a documentary, you won't like it". At the time, after seeing the movie and feeling the kind of love only your favourite cartoon character can bring you, I didn't understand what the hell they were talking about. These days I see all the dirty filthy jokes that I missed at the time. But that's not what I'm talking about here (YEAH! FOOTROT FLATS RULES!!! 1986!!!!).
Footrot Flats is an incredibly musical film. Characters break into song here and there... most notably Wal Footrot, the dog's owner, farmer and All Black wannabe. Strangely enough Wal, though voiced by the incredible John Clarke, sounded suspiciously like former DD Smash and Th'Dudes singer Dave Dobbyn when he sang. Come to think of it, so did the dog. And the evil killer rat Vernin the Vermon.
Why? Because Dave did the entire score and soundtrack. While the Wal Footrot serenading Cheeky Hobson scene in downtown Raupo featured a big hit in the song "Oughta Be In Love", it was the song that played over the credits that really caught everyone's attention.
The country caught on quick, as did other countries, using Slice of Heaven as NZ's theme tune in tourism ads. I can't say I actually know what the song is about. I'd say it's equal parts love song to a woman and love song to a country.
Howdy angel, where did you hide your wings? Her love shines over my horizon, she's a slice of heaven. Moonlight over my horizon, she's a slice of heaven
From the unforgettable intro, Dave and the Herbs sounding like a bunch of drunks in a pub -- DA DA DA BOOM BOOM -- to the perma-80s sounding synthesizers and flutes, it survived the 1980s, endured the 1990s and lives on as one of the most memorable and important songs in NZ history. Slice of Heaven sits nestled snuggly towards the top of the list of 75 best NZ songs of all time.
He still plays it. Kids who didn't even grow up hearing it in it's heyday still love it. There are very few things musically that you can experience as a NZer that are as uplifting and unifying as hearing Mr. Dobbyn perform this song live. Maybe nothing. And no matter what sins the man commits musically (say... selling your SOUL... er... SONG to be used in the most corporate of whorey ways... DAVE... you ruined Loyal for everyone), so long as he leaves Slice of Heaven as it is, he'll always be forgiven.
Besides, it best speaks as a representative for itself and the country. I trust that when I venture overseas I'll be able to listen to this song, close my eyes and remember the landscape, the green rolling hills, the forests, the ocean and those happy smiling farm animals. So I guess you could say, so long as I had a CD player with me I'd always have a slice of heaven.
Heheh. Cheese anyone?