Wa Wa Nee

Wa Wa Nee was an Australian funk/pop band, active from c. 1985 to 1989.

Career

Led by singer/songwriter Paul Gray and guitarist Steve Williams, bassist Mark Gray and drummer 'The Sween', the band signed with CBS Records in 1985. Wa Wa Nee had four singles in the Australian top 40 from their debut album release of the same name. These included "Stimulation" which reached number 2 nationally in Australia^[1] in 1986, "I Could Make You Love Me" reaching number 5^[1] in the same year, and both "One And One (Ain't I Good Enough)" and "Sugar Free" making the Top 20. "Sugar Free" also reached the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Top 40, peaking at number 35.^[2] This, however would be their only success in America; "Stimulation" was released as the follow-up single, but only reached #86,^[2] culminating their chart career there.

The band's self-titled debut album went platinum in Australia, despite only reaching #29^[1] on the charts.

Their follow-up LP Blush was released in early 1989, and spawned three more Top 100 hits in Australia, "Can't Control Myself", "So Good" and "I Want You". The album however, received a lukewarm response, and the band has not charted in Australia since.

Paul Gray of Wa Wa Nee appeared in the Countdown Spectacular 2 concert series in Australia between late August and early September 2007 as a performer and musical director. He sang two songs: "Stimulation" and "Sugar Free". He has also appeared with 80s Enuff and Idols of the 80s.

Gray performed Wa Wa Nee hits on 28 March 2010, at a fundraiser for the children of Jenin, a devastated area of the West Bank, Palestine. All funds went directly to the building of a pre-school in the area.

Wa Wa Nee's "Stimulation" featured in the first episode of Channel 9's Underbelly: The Golden Mile (on Monday 12 April 2010). Gray performed at local music venues in Melbourne in 2010, with fellow 1980s hitmakers, Scott Carne (Kids in the Kitchen) and Brian Mannix (Uncanny X-Men). It was also featured in the 1988 film Satisfaction.

"Sugar Free" appeared on the soundtrack to the film Cassandra (1986).

Paul Gray supported Belinda Carlisle on some of her dates of her 2011 Australian Tour. Wa Wa Nee also supported Rick Astley during his 2012 and 2014 tour of Australia.

Discography

Albums

• Wa Wa Nee (AUS: 1986, USA: 1987 - AUS #29,^[1] US #123)

1. "One and One (Ain't I Good Enough)"
2. "Teacher"
3. "Stimulation"
4. "Jelly Baby"
5. "Gone"
6. "Sugar Free"
7. "When The World Is A Home"
8. "Man Child"
9. "Love Reaction"
10. "I Could Make You Love Me"

• Ulta Mixes (remixes EP) (1987)

1. "Gone" (12" Mix)
2. "Stimulation" (12" Mix)
3. "Sugar Free" (New York Mix)
4. "Never Been So In Love"
5. "One And One" (12" Mix)
6. "I Could Make You Love Me" (12" Mix)
7. "Sugar Free" (12" Oz Mix)

• Blush (1989) (AUS #32^[1])

1. "Can't Control Myself"
2. "So Good"
3. "Giving Everything"
4. "One Day"
5. "Never Been So In Love"
6. "I Want You"
7. "Bright Lites"
8. "Do It To Me"
9. "Moral Inspiration"
10. "Blush"
11. "Tossing And Turning"

Singles

• 1986: "Stimulation" (AUS #2,^[1] US #86^[2] [released as follow-up to "Sugar Free"])
• 1986: "I Could Make You Love Me" (AUS #5^[1])
• 1986: "Sugar Free" (AUS #10,^[1] US #35^[2] [1987])
• 1987: "One and One (Ain't I Good Enough)" (AUS #19^[1])
• 1988: "Can't Control Myself" (AUS #31^[1])
• 1989: "So Good" (AUS #36^[1])
• 1989: "I Want You" (AUS #52^[1])

See also

• List of 1980s one-hit wonders in the United States

References

1. Australian chart peaks:
   • Top 100 (Australian Music Report) singles and albums peaks to 26 June 1988: Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 331. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
   • Top 50 (ARIA Chart) singles and albums peaks from 26 June 1988: "australian-charts.com > Wa Wa Nee discography". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2015-09-17.
   • "I Want You" (ARIA Chart) peak: "25 Years Ago This Week: May 28, 1989". chartbeat.blogspot.com.au. Retrieved 2015-09-17.
2. "Billboard > Artists / Wa Wa Nee". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-09-17.

External links

• Wa Wa Nee at Allmusic