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Lyrical themes: Hope, respect, getting back on one's feet, love song.
Similarities to past winners: It has the same sort of soulful, heartfelt approach as Drive by Bic Runga and Albertine by Brooke Fraser.
The Phoenix Foundation - Bob Lennon John Dylan
Length: 3 mins 48.
Key: E major.
Time signature: 4/4.
Structure: Verse/chorus/verse/chorus bridge/chorus over rhythm section upbeat patterns.
Genre: Guitar-rock-synth-pop.
Instrumentation: Guitars, bass, drums, synths, piano, vocals, electronic wizardry.
Vocalist: Male.
Watch the music video for Bob Lennon John Dylan by The Phoenix Foundation:
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Lyrical themes: Quirky take on love song, including words like rhinoplasty. No, not a song about a 1960s rock'n'roll hotel reservation mix-up.
Similarities to past winners: Phoenix Foundation member Luke Buda also helped to write Lawrence Arabia's winning tune Apple Pie Bed, and this song has a similarly upbeat, quirky vibe, though it's a much more driving, almost rock-oriented tune.
Broods - Bridges
Length: 3 mins 19.
Key: E minor, sometimes moving to G major.
Time signature: 4/4 with some strong syncopation.
Structure: Verse/pre-chorus/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus.
Genre: Electro-pop.
Instrumentation: Piano, vocals, beats, synths, electronic wizardry.
Vocalist: Female.
Watch the music video for Bridges by Broods:
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Lyrical themes: Apology, heartbreak, repairing past misdeeds, leaving the past behind, burning bridges.
Similarities to past winners: The last three years have all seen the top prize go to young artists writing songs about youthfulness, with electronic-based instrumentation and an emphasis on beats and synths - The Naked and Famous won in 2011 for Young Blood, LIPS won in 2012 for Everything To Me, and Lorde won last year for Royals. Bridges fits a similar song profile.
Tiny Ruins - Me At The Museum You In The Wintergardens
Length: 2 mins 35.
Key: B flat major.
Time signature: 4/4 with gentle acoustic guitar motif.
Structure: No repetition, just one flowing story.
Genre: Folk-chamber-pop.
Instrumentation: Vocals, acoustic guitar, double bass, drums, strings, organ.
Vocalist: Female.
Watch the music video for Me At The Museum You In The Wintergardens by Tiny Ruins:
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Lyrical themes: Dreamy love song, nostalgia.
Similarities to past winners: There are no real similarities to draw between past winners and this beautiful, gentle yet incisive folk song, written and sung so poignantly by Hollie Fullbrook.
Tami Neilson - Walk
Length: 2 mins 46.
Key: C sharp minor.
Time signature: 4/4.
Structure: Verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus.
Genre: Soul-blues-Rockabilly-country-jazz.
Instrumentation: Vocals, backing vocals, guitars, bass, percussion.
Vocalist: Female.
Watch the music video for Walk by Tami Neilson:
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Lyrical themes: Illogical love, heartbreak, trouble, real traditional southern lament.
Similarities to past winners: Much like Tiny Ruins there doesn't seem to be any precedent for a sassy, bluesy, soul track in the past winners list, though it is a showcase for a powerful, compelling voice like Bathe In The River was.
The awards will be presented at the ceremony at Wellington's TSB arena on Thursday October 30. The ceremony - including performances, speeches, and the next induction into the NZ music Hall of Fame - will be streamed live on nzherald online thanks to Yealands Family Wines.
- TimeOut
