It doesn't matter where you are in the world, New Zealand is a long way away. This physical distance has allowed them to hide not only hobbits, but also their music industry. In an age where the only musical difference between English-speaking countries seems to be who won X-Factor/Pop Idol, the difficulty in naming a single Kiwi artist is all the more amazing.
In 2008 for example, the most played song on New Zealand radio was from a group called Opshop. To most English speakers, the name is more likely to conjure images of a commercial back street surgery in Calcutta where Sanjeet offers kidney transplants at discount prices rather than Kiwi rocksters. In fact in the same year, their anonymity was proven at Heathrow airport when they arrived in the UK for a tour. Not only were they detained for 10 hours for visa regulations, UK immigration then refused to waste good British ink in their passports and instead shoved them on the next flight back to New Zealand! Why don't they do the same with Britney Spears? I'm sure she'd love Christchurch...
Anyway, in homage to the unknown, enjoy New Zealand's favourite song from 2008, Maybe from Opshop.
Anyway, in homage to the unknown, enjoy New Zealand's favourite song from 2008, Maybe from Opshop.
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