Pop song 'Tsunami' off the list as band plays it safe

One of New Zealand's most successful rock bands has reconsidered its next single choice in the wake of the Boxing Day tsunami.

Steriogram had the choice of Tsunami - written well before the disaster in Asia - and On and On, from their debut album Schmack, as its next single.

Tsunami - about a relationship gone wrong - is believed to have been rejected at least partly because it might not go down well in the light of the Asian disaster.

Singer Tyson Kennedy confirmed to the Weekend Herald yesterday that the two songs were the main contenders but the band had not made any decisions as yet.

"We've been talking about it for a while. I think we decided a few weeks ago that we're probably not going to go with [Tsunami]. That was actually before the [tsunami]."

The Weekend Herald understands that the decision has been confirmed following the disaster.

Kennedy said it would be stupid to cash in on the tsunami disaster and believed On and On would be the next release from the band.

He said Tsunami - a more commercial song than the rocky On and On - might be released as a single later in the year.

The band has gained a huge international profile since their debut single Walkie Talkie Man featured in the international iPod advertising campaign.