The Moais – huge stone statues of Easter Island – are world-renowned. There are approximately 900 of them scattered around the island. It is suspected that the Moais were famous chiefs or worshipped ancestors. Usually they were set up on an Ahu, a burial site and functioned as guardians and as a link between this world and the afterlife.
The song „MOAI“ was the first song and at the same time the theme song of the project. It is a fantastic story about a young man who carves a Moai out of rock with his own hands. The statue embodies his father who he has worshipped and whom he wants to build a monument. He explains that he would love to give it a Pukao, a hat out of red stone. In Rapa Nui culture, the Pukaos were reserved for highly important Moai. The young man says he would love to give his Moai the title of Ariki, of a chief. It is said that his Moai does not have an ancestor and therefore does not have a decent burial site as the young man alone cannot move the statue.
Overall, the Moais are said to have spiritual power, a mysterious energy as described in the refrain. When I stood in front of my first Ahu, Ahu Vai Uri, in 2013, I stood there for minutes. It felt like I was spellbound. This does not mean I am claiming a magical energy had captivated me but I was certainly fascinated by the massive stone structure. That the Moais have provided me with enough fantasy and creative input, however, is out of question.
Verse I
He´s got no ahu, he´s got no place to be,
doomed to stay at rano raraku.
I´d like to give him a pukao and the name of an ariki,
for me he´s worth it to be a Superstar of stone.
The time has come to reveal his face,
and show the world the person that I praise.
Chorus
Just put your hands on my MOAI
do you feel the mana entering your heart?
Just put your hands on my MOAI
and believe me he will never break apart.
Verse II
There were countless quite hard windy nights
countless strikes on dark cold stone,
my aching battered hands stroking his face
at the end it was a reasonable price to pay.
The time has come to reveal his face
to show the world the person that I praise.