Weekend Rewind: All-star Kiwi singalongs

Flight of the Conchords Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement 2016 tour of the Unted States of America. Photo / Supplied

NZ On Screen's Zara Potts takes a look back at some of the best (and worst) all-star singalongs we've embraced and endured over the past few decades.

Those of you long enough in the tooth to recall both the brilliance and battiness of the 80s will be well-versed in the celebrity charity single.

It really kicked off with Sir Bob Geldof's Band Aid song Do They Know it's Christmas and from that moment, it seemed every celebrity couldn't wait to get in front of a microphone and belt out a well- meaning chorus or two.

Good causes are magnets for musicians and our singers here in New Zealand are no exception as we have embraced the all-star-singalong with gusto – with protest songs, rallying songs and charity songs all getting a look in.

In 1985 – awareness songs at their peak – New Zealand musicians rallied to express their opposition to a proposed All Black tour of then-apartheid South Africa. The result was Don't Go, a simple song pleading for our rugby players not to go offshore.

Don McGlashan, Chris Knox and Rick Bryant were front row for the single and the message is simple and effective – just like Chris Knox's mullet and shorts.

Watch Don't Go here:

We love our sport in New Zealand and not just because we're good at it – it also gives our songwriters material for both protest and patriotism. Sailing Away is perhaps one of the best examples of patriotic fervour, as an impressive array of mid-80s celebrities with questionable haircuts get together to rally support for the very first Kiwi challenge of the America's Cup. The tune is borrowed from Pokarekare Ana, which helps go some way in explaining its popularity.

Watch Sailing Away here:

Babies are also very popular topics for ensemble singalongs. This video for Red Nose Day which raises awareness around Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, makes the most of a powerhouse combination: cute babies and not-quite-as-cute celebrities. The video features possibly the largest pile-up of famous kiwis to cram into a single music video. Sportspeople, newsreaders, actors and kooky local faces are all featured here.

Watch You Make the Whole World Smile here:

In 2012, Cure Kids got a big lift when Flight of the Conchords, Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, lent their skills to the charity organisation. What resulted was a hilarious song straight from the mouths of babes. Nonsensical rhymes mixed with lyrics about bowls, robbers, the entire banking system and bubbles made the song's message more surreal than Dali – but it worked. Add to that a superstar team of Kiwi singers and rappers and the song had 'hit' written all over it.

Watch Feel Inside (and stuff like that) here:

New Zealand's hip-hop royalty star in this charity single which was aimed at encouraging young people to Think Twice before committing a crime. The subject matter wasn't perhaps quite as universal as babies or rugby, but the song and accompanying video was simple and effective. The line up of singers and rappers includes Che Fu, Scribe, P-Money, Savage and DJ Sir-Vere – who initiated the project.

Watch Think Twice here:

As well as creating original songs which can be rousing or poignant – or just plain funny – charity singles can also give new life to old songs. An all-star cover of The Mutton Birds' classic Anchor Me was made to mark the 20th anniversary of the bombing of the Greenpeace ship, Rainbow Warrior. The song features some of our best female singers including Anika Moa, Hinewehi Mohi and Kristen Morrell.

Watch Anchor Me here:

Chris Knox's classic love song Not Given Lightly was given the celebrity treatment for the very worthy cause of raising breast cancer awareness after TV presenter Helena McAlpine was diagnosed with the disease. Directed by Toa Fraser, the video shows a host of well-known Kiwis holding pictures of women they love, to make the point that breast cancer can affect anyone. Sadly, McAlpine lost her battle with cancer in 2015.

Watch Not Given Lightly here: