Wonderland Burlesque's Down The Rabbit Hole: Wa Wa Nee

Wonderland Burlesque's 

Down The Rabbit Hole: 

Wa Wa Nee

Down The Rabbit Hole merely places a spotlight on something slightly unusual that's caught my interest. With the help of Wikipedia, YouTube, and other sites, I gather information and learn something new.

Today, we take a look at New Zealand's Wa Wa Nee and their Prince-inspired pop!

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Formed in 1982, Wa Wa Nee consisted of singer/songwriter Paul Gray, guitarist Steve Williams, bassist Geoff Lundren, keyboardist/singer Elizabeth Lord and drummer Chris Sweeney. They signed with CBS Records in 1985 and Mark Gray (Paul's brother) and Phil Witchett were brought on board. Their debut single, Stimulation, was released in April of 1986 and peaked at #2 in Australia. It also managed to reach #11 in New Zealand. This was followed by I Could Make You Love Me in August of 1986 and it peaked at #5 in Australia. 

The group released their self-titled debut album in November of 1986. It managed to reach the #9 slot in Australia. An additional two singles were spun off the album: the top-Ten Sugar Free (#10, December 1986)) and  One and One (Ain't I Good Enough), which peaked inside the Top 20 in Australia in April of 1987. Sugar Free was also released in the United States in July of 1987 and peaked at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100. Sugar Free was also featured in the Australian horror film Cassandra. Stimulation was then released as the follow-up single in the US, where it peaked at #86. It was featured in the Justin Bateman, Liam Neeson, Julia Roberts film Satisfaction.

To fill the gap while awaiting their follow-up album, a remix album, titled Ulta Mixes was released in 1987.

Tragedy struck during the recording of the second studio album in 1988, with the unexpected death of keyboardist Phil Witchett. The group soldiered on, releasing the album's lead single, Can't Control Myself in November 1988. The song peaked at #31. Their second studio album, Blush was released in May of 1989. It included two more singles, So Good (#36) and I Want You (#52), however, the album's commercial performance was disappointing, and the group disbanded later in 1989.

And that's all she wrote.

The individual group members would go on to join other groups, but they never truly came back together (though one member is currently touring as Wa Wa Nee). 

But that's the way of pop... one day you're coming into focus, the next... you're fading away.

Stimulation - Wa Wa Nee

I Could Make You Love Me - Wa Wa Nee

Sugar Free - Wa Wa Nee

One And One (Ain't I Good Enough) - Wa Wa Nee

Can't Control Myself - Wa Wa Nee

So Good - Wa Wa Nee

I Want You - Wa Wa Nee