McGlashan song hits the top

Don McGlashan took the Silver Scroll for the second time.

The song from No. 2 was judged Number One last night with Bathe in The River winning its composer Don McGlashan the 2006 Apra Silver Scroll.

The gospel-styled song, which was written and recorded for the soundtrack of film No. 2 with lead vocals by Wellington singer-songwriter Hollie Smith, was judged the best New Zealand song of the year by the Apra judges.

The song has spent nearly 30 weeks in the local singles charts since the release of the film at the beginning of the year.

It's the second time McGlashan has won the Silver Scroll, after taking the honour in 1994 for his similarly water-themed Anchor Me. McGlashan was a double nominee this year, also in the running for Miracle Sun from his debut solo album Warm Hand.

The other nominees were Evermore's Hume brothers for Running, James Milne of the Reduction Agents for The Pool, and Anika Moa for Stolen Hill.

In the other prizes awarded at the Auckland Town Hall ceremony, the Maioha Award for best Maori waiata of the year went to Richard Bennett for E Hine, and the SOUNZ Contemporary Award recognising excellence by a New Zealand composer was won by Ross Harris for his Symphony No. 2.

The award for most performed work in New Zealand - effectively an award for broadcast airplay popularity - went to the feelers' James Reid for Stand Up, and the international equivalent again went to Neil Finn for his Crowded House classic Don't Dream it's Over.

The Silver Scroll's tradition of having upcoming and/or unlikely acts reinterpret the nominated songs as part of the ceremony produced some intriguing performances, with the Mint Chicks reinventing Stolen Hill, Spacifix taking to The Pool, The Tutts putting a new shine on Miracle Sun, North Shore Pony Club with Aaradhna giving Running a funky sidestep, and the Jubilation Choir fronted by Russell Harrison and Anthony Gold making Bathe in the River even more gospel than the original.

But there was as big a crowd on stage for a version of the 1984 Maori pop hit Poi E performed by the Patea Maori Club with P-Money and 4-Corners.

The lyrics

Like a bird
Through prison bars
I'm escaping
And behind me on the long highway
Lies all that I've forsaken
Cool river, flow
I am bound for where ever you go
Chorus: I'm gonna bathe in the river
Gonna hold my head up in the river
Not gonna worry any more
Gonna reach that golden shore
I don't feel afraid
For now I see
That if I believe
I will be free
Wide river, flow
I'm gonna learn whatever you know
(Chorus)
Mighty river, hear that rushin' sound
Cool clear water, lay my burden down
(Chorus)