Bali Ha'i
"Bali Hai", is a show tune from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific.
In the musical, Bali Ha’i is a volcanic island within sight of the island on which most of the action takes place.
The troops think of Bali Ha’i as an exotic paradise, but it is off-limits – except to officers. The matriarch of Bali Ha’i, Bloody Mary, does a lot of business with the troops.
She sings her mysterious song Bali Ha’i.
In 1949, Perry Como recorded the song as a single.
Bali Ha'i was based on the real island of Ambae (formerly Aoba Island). Ambae is located in Vanuatu (known as New Hebrides at the time the song was written). |